Divya Desam 14-Nachiyar Koil-Sri Thirunaraiyur Nambi Perumal Temple
Divya Desam 14-Nachiyar Koil-
Sri Thirunaraiyur Nambi Perumal Temple
The Temple
Nachiar Kovil or
Thirunarayur Nambi Temple in Thirunarayur, a village in the outskirts of
Kumbakonam in the South Indian state of
Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god
Vishnu and his wife
Lakshmi. Constructed in the
Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the
Divya Prabandha, the early medieval
Tamil canon of the
Azhwar saints from the 6th to 9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108
Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Srinivasa Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Nachiyar. The temple is the place where god Vishnu is believed to have initiated
Pancha Samskara (religious initiation) to
Thirumangai Azhwar. The temple follows
Thenkalai mode of worship.
The temple is believed to have been built by
Kochengat Cholan of the late 3rd century AD, with later contributions from
Medieval Cholas and
Vijayanagar kings. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines, while it has a 5-tiered
rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower.
The southern side of the temple has a garden where the Vilva tree, the Sthala Vriksha (temple tree) is present. The Vasantha Mandapa or the spring hall is located next to it, which hosts the Vasanthothsavam or spring festival during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May–June).
The temple also has a 100-pillared hall where the wedding festival is held during the Tamil month of Aavani(September–October). There is a separate shrine in the north that houses images of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita and another shrine in the south that houses the image of Hanuman. There is a shrine for Chakrathazhwar and Yoga Narasimha, believed to have been installed and worshipped by sage Medhavi. The first precinct has separate shrines for Manavala Maamuni and Nigamantha Maha Desikan and idols of the utsava deities (festive images) of the 108 divyadesams.
The temple has an elevated structure approached through a flight of 21 steps. The presiding deity of the temple is Vishnu in the form of Narayur Nambi and his consort Lakshmi as Vanchulavalli Thaayaar (also called Neela Devi Nachiyar), both of whom are housed in the main sanctum. Unlike other Vishnu temples where Vishnu is given importance, in this temple Nachiyar (Thayar) is prominent. The sanctum also houses the images of Brahma, Pradyumnan, Aniruddhan, Sankarshanan and Purushothaman and a set of devas who are depicted attending the wedding. The festive idols of Srinivasa, Sridevi, Vanjulavalli and Bhoodevi are housed in the same shrine.
Sthala Puranam:
Once upon a time there lived a saint named Medhavi here in
Nachiyar Kovil. He wanted Mahalakshmi to be his daughter so he pleaded Mahavishnu and on an auspicious day under the tree called "Vanjula Maram", he found a very beautiful girl child. He named her "Vanjulavalli" after the tree from where he found her.
He led a peaceful life then by teaching Gnana to his students. Gradually Vanjulavalli grew up and reached the marriage stage.
One day Lord Narayanan split him into five of his forms:
Shankarshanan, Prathyumnan, Anirudhan, Purushothaman and vasudevan and visited saint Medhavi's Ashram as a Guests.
His students bore the guests a warm welcome and Vagulavalli prepared a delicious meal for them. AFter finishing their meal, all the five went to wash their hands. When Vagulavalli helped them by pouring water, suddenly Vasudevan caught her by hand and immedietely she shouted for help.
Hearing her cries, her father came running for rescue. But before he could catch and curse Vasudevan, all the five guests disappeared to bring forth the original one (ie) Mahavishnu saint Medhavi was spellbound, when Mahavishnu asked his daughters hand for marriage.
Happily, saint Medhavi accepted for marriage. But before that he asked 3 Boons from Mahavishnu
1. He should attain life beyond birth and death (ie) he should attain eternity.
2. All the living beings in Narayur which gave the Lord food and wife, should also attain salvation and
3. His daughter should be given the first place in all the aspects.
Hence from that day, this place is called as Naachiyar kovil, (ie) temple of Mahavishnu's wife.
As Madurai stands in the name of lordess Meenakshi, the wife of Lord Shiva, Naachiyar Kovil stands in the name of Lord Vishnu's wife.
Greatness of the Temple
Here Lord Vishnu stands in a begging posture seeking Varulambika's hand from saint Medhavi in the Moolavar Sannadhi. In accordance to the saint's wish, Thaayar stands a step ahead to perumal.
Shankarshnan, Prathyumnan, Anirudhan and purushothaman too bless us in the Moolavar sannathi by standing a step back to the Narayur Nambi.
Here Stone idol of the bird Garuda, Stands as the Vahanam or Vehicle to Narayur Nambi whereas Annam or the Swan is the Vahanam of the Godess Vagulambika.
Garuda has a seperate sannathi in this temple extending about 10 1/2 sq.ft's. He has beautiful big wings, broad chest and long hair. In tamil month Margazhi and Panguni the festival "Kal Garuda Sevai" (ie) the festival where the idol of Narayur Nambi placed on the stone idol of Garuda and taken out into vibrant procession is taken place every year.
There is a unique speciality regarding the stone idol of Garuda. when taken out for a procession, until a step out fo his sannathi he can be easily carried by 4 persons. Then inside the temple his weight would increase as to be carried by 8 persons, then further outside the praharam he would weigh heavy so that 16 persons are required to carry him. Totally outside the temple not even 32 persons are enough to carry him, he would get heavier and heavier ahead. He would sweat a lot too so that his cloths get drenched in the sweat.
But after the procession is over, while returning to his sannadhi he would start losing his weight (step by step) or (stage by stage). This is a remorkable wounder that takes place only at this place.
This Garuda is treated in equivalence to Lord Vinayaka and so a dish Mothakam named as "Amudha Kalasam" is offered to him.
Also, the slow progress of Lord Narayur Nambi with Garuda reveals his commitments with saint Medhavi indirectly.
As all know, the swan or Anna Patchi is a delicate bird which moves in a slow and delicate manner. But, Garuda is a huge bird which can fly swiftly.
But when both the god and godess are taken out in a procession, the lord god should lead the procession as he is carried by the bird. But his promise that his wife would have the first place in every thing would be broken.
Hence, Garuda becomes heavier and it becomes tough for the devotees to carry him faster than the light weight Annapatchi. So, in this way perumal fulfilles his world.
This place is greatly associated in Thirumangai Alwar's life. He fell in love with a damcel named Kumudhavalli. She was a devotee of Lord Narayana. So, she ordered Alwar to become a devotee of Lord Narayana by rendering food for 1008 vaishnavities daily and transform himself as a devoted slave of Lord Narayana by performing the ritval "Panchasamskaranam", taking the 12 divine names of the Lord god to the depth of the soul and imprinting the images of Chakaram and Sangu (shell) in both the arms.
As Thirumangaialwar could not find a suitable master to perform the above rituals. He came to Naachiyar kovil and mentally accepting Narayur Nambi as his teacher, he performed all the rites and finally led a happy married life with Kumudhavalli.
So as a reward for the great help rendered by Narayur Nambi. Thirumangaialwar sang totally 118 Paasurams in his ravour of that 40 Paasuram's is of Siriya Thirumadal where alwar consideres himself as a girl in love of Lord Narayanan and the remaining 78 in the Periya Thirumadal group.
The Narayur Nambi Sannadhi was once called as "Mani Mada kovil". The Chola King Koshenkannan rendered the money for Temple works. There after Sadavarma sundara pandiyan took over the work and donated lands to the temple. Then Ragunatha naicken of Thanjore constructed a Mandapam for Naachiyar.
There is huge tank of 648 feet length and 225 feet breadth infront of the temple, It has a number of steps in the 3 sides. This tank is like a big pond and so it is called as "Mani Muthaaru".
There is a beautiful tale behind the name of this pond. Once king of the birds Gauda, took a diamond head ornament to Narayur Nambi from Thiruparkadal. A diamond (Mani) accidentally fell from the ornaments into this pond. As the precious stone fell into the pond degrading it's status equivalent to ordinary pearl (Muthu) this tank is known as Mani + Muthi + Aaru (tank or pond).
This temple extends its border for about 690x288 feets. As Narayur Nambi is also known as Srinivasan, the Vimaanam of this temple is known as "Srinivasa Vimaanam".
This place is also called as "Suguntha giri".
Religious Significance of the Temple
The temple is revered in
Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by
Thirumangai Azhwar in hundred hymns. It is the second temple revered by Thirumangai having more than hundred verses, the first one being the
Neelamegha Perumal Temple at Thirukannapuram. Thirumangai compares Srinivasa Perumal of the temple with
Venkateshwara (form of Vishnu) at
Tirupathi and believes that he found the same beauty in both of them. It is also believed that when Thirumangai was asked to present a
madal (ballad) by Ranganatha of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, Thirumangai replied that he built the walls in Srirangam, while he built the verses for Thirunaraiyur.[SUP]
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The temple is classified as a
Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. The temple is the place where Vishnu is believed to have initiated
Pancha Samskara (religious initiation) to Thirmangai. The temple is also quoted as a Siddhi Kshetra, a sacred place where sages attain earthly liberation. The place is considered sacred on account of being the hermitage of Sage Medhavi.[SUP]
[/SUP] In Vaishanava theology,
Varadaraja Perumal Temple at
Kanchipuram is referred as Athigiri and Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirupathi as Seshagiri and the temple at Thirunaraiyur is referred as Suganthagiri.[SUP]
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Nachiyar Koil is one of the few
Divyadesams where the goddess has prominence over Vishnu. Some of the other temples where the such female dominance are observed are
Andal Temple at
Srivilliputhur,
Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple at
Woraiyur and
Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple in Thiruvellarai. While Srivilliputhur is called Nachiyar Thiru Maaligai, Thirunaraiyur is called Nachiyar Koil.[SUP]
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Vishnu was of the view that during
Kali Yuga, men would have to listen to women. Hence he decided that he would first set an example and listen to goddess here. During all festive occasions, the first rights are reserved for Nachiyar, who moves ahead, while Srinivasa follows her. Even the food is first served to Nachiyar and then to Srinivasa. Being a temple where goddess has prominence, Vishnu is located slightly by the side and goddess has the prominent position inside the sanctum.
Utsavam:
The very special Garuda seva Utsavam is conducted twice a year. One is during Margazhi month and another during Panguni month.
Specials:
Kal Garuda, an image of Vishnu's
mount - Garuda, is the most prominent feature of the temple. As per local legend, the sculptor who sculpted the idol of Garuda got frustrated as the bird flew away each time, a new image was prepared. In frustration, he threw a stone at Garuda, who got injured and decided to stay in the temple as Kal Garuda. The image of Kal Garuda is made of
saligrama and is housed in the shrine outside the main sanctum. During festive procession during the Tamil months of
Margazhi (December–January) and
Panguni (April - May), the festive images are carried out in procession in Kal Garudar. While only four people are needed to carry the idol of Garuda out of the shrine, it multiples to 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 people when the image is taken outside the temple. On the way back only 4 people are required to carry the float. The aspect is treated magical as drops of sweat are also observed on the image of Kal Garuda during the six hour long procession. During the festive occasion, Garuda receives honors from Srinivasa Perumal (presiding deity) in the form of dress and ornaments. Jewels and dress are also presented to Garuda by
Ranganatha, the presiding Vishnu form of
Srirangam Ranganthaswamy Temple
Moolavar:
The Moolavar of this sthalam is Thirunarayur Nambi. Also called as Srinivasan and Vasudevan. The Moolavar is giving his seva in standing posture being ready to marry the Thaayar, facing east (Kalyana thirukkolam). Prathyaksham for Medavi Munivar and Brahma devan.
Thayaar:
The Thayaar found in this sthalam is Vanjulavalli Naachiyar. She is found next to the Moolavar in Garbhagriham ( Moolavar Sannadhi ).
Mangalasasanam:
- Thirumangai - 110 Paasurams.
Total - 110 Paasurams.
Pushkarani:
- Mani mukthi Nadhi Theertham.
- Aniruddha Theertham.
- Pradhyumna Theertham.
- Samba Theertham.
- Sankarshana Theertham.
Vimanam:
Srinivasa Vimaanam.
Temple Timings:
Morning : 6.30 AM to 12.30 PM
Evening : 4.30 PM to 8.30 PM
Contact Person: | Gopinathan Bhattar |
Phone: | 94435 97388 / 0435 2467167 |
How to reach?
Nachiarkoil which is just 9kms away can be reached by road from Kumbakonam by SH 65 . Kumbakonam is well connected by road and train services. Station at Kumbakonam and visit many heritage temples in the surrounding area of within 15 kms radius.
Other important places around Nachiar Koil Sri Ramanatha swamy temple nearby is a famous Shiva temple. The Sani Bhagawan here is very powerful and he is seen here with his family.
Thirucherai another one of the divya desam is a few kilometers away from this place.
Nachiyar Koil - Divyadesam, Kumbakonam Temples, Thiru Narayoor, Nachiyar Kovil Sri Thirunarayoor Nambi Perumal Temple, Naachiyaar Kovil
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