Azhagiyasingar Temple, Thiruvali – Legends
Narasimha Aalinganam:
As per
another legend, Vishnu took the avatar of Narasimha to slay the demon king Hiryankasipu. Hiranyakasipu
was troubling the Devas as he got a boon from Brahma that no human can kill him. His son Prahalada was an ardent devotee of Vishnu, against the likes
of his father. Hiranyakasipu tried to slay Prahalada by various means, but was
saved by the divine grace of Vishnu. Vishnu took the avatar of Narasimha and
appeared from a pillar. Narasimha was a human with lion face and slayed
Hiranyakasipu on an evening time in a doorway, which was neither land nor air.
His anger was not quenched even after slaying the demon king and Lakshmi came
and sat on his lap, after which he calmed down. It is believed that since
Narasimha did an aalinganam (meaning hug), the place came to be known
as Thiruvali.
Story of Thirumangai Azhwar & his consort
Kumudhavalli:
The
mythology was that the Thirumangai azhwar, who born at Thirunagari was named as
“Neelan”. He was said to be the army chief of Chola king. And as a testimony,
the Chola king made him as the king of “Aali Nadu”, which was the capital of
Thirumangai. Sumangali, the head of the Deva Kanni, the young ladies of heaven,
was said to be cursed by the saint Kabila for the act of disturbing him by
making a freaky remark while he was preaching about the remarkable qualities of
Lord Narayana.
She was
cursed to born as a normal girl on earth. And due to the curse of saint Kabila,
Sumangali born was said to be born on the earth found on a Lilly flower and
hence named as Kumudhavalli. Thirumangai azhwar who was ruling Aali nadu was
attracted by her beauty and wished to marry her. When he proposed Kumudhavalli
for his marriage with her, she made a condition that he should become a
Vaishnavite, the followers of Lord Vishnu.
He
accepted her condition and went to Thirunaraiyur and worshiped the deity over
there to guide him being his guru (teacher) to convert him into a pure
Vaishnavite. When he was done with her condition, he approached Kumudhavalli
again to get married, but she placed another condition that he should offer
food for 1008 Brahmins every day and to accept the remaining food which has
been kept by the Brahmins and also to drink the water which has been used to
wash their lotus legs.
Thirumangai
azhwar accepted her new condition and married Kumudhavalli. But Thirumangai
azhwar faced a very complicated situation to fulfill her second condition. Thirumangai
azhwar was unable to pay the revenue for his ruling area as he was offering
food for 1008 Brahmins every day. But the king of Thirumangai pushed him to pay
the revenue and ordered to imprison him. He was in jail for three days without
having food as he took pledge that he would eat only after offering food to the
Brahmins.
In his
dream, a divine voice asked him to come to the banks of Vegavathi River and to
collect the required money. Along with a complete security he came to the banks
of river Vegavathi in search of money. And shockingly he got the required
money. He spent all the money he got and had no money for further expenses. At
last, he made up his mind to steal money from the rich people. He found a
couple passed him, who was dressed up as a bride groom. They were with a crowd
who was praising them with marriage songs.
Thirumangai
azhwar became happy that he could find more money and jewels from the bride
groom. The bride groom was none other than Lord Narayana and Periya Piratti,
who came in the form of a bride groom. He stopped everyone and asks for the
jewels owned by the bride groom. As he was unable to get the precious ring of
the groom, he took out the ring by biting the finger of the groom. When he
wanted to weigh all the jewels along with his servants, they were not able to
lift it.
He
berated the groom for using the mantra against him, which caused them unable to
lift the jewels. The groom politely asked Thirumangai azhwar to come closer to
him to know the mantra he chanted. When Thirumangai azhwar came near him, he
preached the sacred “Ashtakshara Mantra – Om Namo Narayana” and gave Dharshan
to him in his original form and proffered him with the title of “Nam Kaliyan”,
where Nam means ‘Our’, and Kaliyan means ‘Thief’.
This is
the only temple where Thirumangai azhwar is honored with his beloved consort
Kumudhavalli. Thirumangai aalwar refers to the Lord at Thiruvali as Vayalali
Manavalan. However Lord Vayalali Manavalan is enshrined at Thirunagari and
hence both these temples together comprise of one divyadesam. The Mandap where
Tirumangai Azhwar intercepted the divine couple still exists
here. This ‘way laying’ event is celebrated in the temple is
celebrated in the temple each year.
Pancha Narasimha Kshetrams:
Sri
Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal temple is considered as one of the Pancha Narasimha
Kshetrams (five temples of Lord Narasimha), located in and around Thiruvali-
Thirunagari.
The
Pancha Narasimha Kshetrams are:
·
Thiruvali Lakshmi
Narasimhar
·
Kuraiyalur Ugra Narasimhar
·
Mangaimadam Veera
Narasimhar
·
Thirunagari Yoga
Narasimhar
·
Thirunagari Hiranya
Narasimhar
