Thiruvazhmarban Temple, Thiruvanparisaram – Religious
Significance
Thiruvazhmarban
temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabhandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Nammazhwar. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in
the book. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in
several works like 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai
Perumal Aiyangar. As per Hindu legend, Nammazhwar, the most prominent Azhwar saint from the 9th century was born in
Thirupathisaram. There are other accounts, which place his birthplace as
Thirukurukur (modern day Alwarthirunagiri) in the southernmost region of the Tamil country.
Some
sources consider his to have been a princely family, although of shudra status. It is believed that he was born fully
enlightened as the baby he never cried or suckled and never opened his eyes.
The child did not respond to no external stimuli and his parents carried him in
a golden cradle from Tirupathisaram and left him at the feet of the deity
of Sri Adhinathar in Alwarthirunagiri. The child got up and climbed into a hole in a tamarind tree, sat in a lotus
position, and began to meditate. He was in
this state for sixteen years when a Tamil poet and scholar in North India named Madhurakavi
Alvar saw a bright light shining to
the south, and followed it until he reached the tree where the boy was
residing.
Madhurakavi
asked a divine question on existence to the boy for which he responded that if
the soul identifies with the body, it will be the body but if it serves the
divine, it will stay in Vaikunta and think of God. The boy was named
Nammazhwar and he went on to recite verses, which were recorded by Madhurakavi
and later went on to be compiled as Nalayira Divya Prabhandham along
with the works of other Azhwars.
