Thiruneermalai Dhivya Desam – Literary Mention
Thiruneermalai
Dhivya Desam is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabhandham, a great Tamil canon, and
the hymns were sung by Thirumangai Azhwar and Boothathazhar.
Thirumangai Azhwar Praise:
Rain and
floods forces Thirumangai Azhvaar to have his longest wait at any Divya Desam. Thirumangai
Azhwar has glorified the temple highlighting the unique aspect of the temple
where Vishnu is seen in four different poses of Standing (Neervanna Perumal), Lying
(Sriranganatha), Sitting (Narasimha) and walking (Trivikrama). Giving
Thiruneermalai a special status, Thirumangai compares it with Naraiyur,
Thiruvali, Thiru Kudanthai and Thiru Kovilur and reveals that one can see the
Lord of all these four temples at Thiruneermalai. Thirumangai Azhwar sung 19
Paasurams on this Temple.
Among
the Divya Desams, this is the first Thaayar (Goddess) – Mani Maa Malar- that
Thiru Mangai has praised with his Paasurams. In his reference to Thiru
Naraiyur, Thirumangai talks about the standing Lord residing amidst groves in
the well-watered town. He refers to Kudanthai as the Lord in a sleeping
posture, to Thiruvali, where the Lord is seen sitting and to Thiru Kovilur as
the one in a standing posture. In conclusion Thirumangai says that on the hills
of Thiruneermalai, one can find him in all these four postures and hence it is
sacred to visit this place.
அன்றாயர் குலக்கொடி யோடணிமா
மலர்மங்கையோடன்பளவி அவுணர்க்
கென்றானு மிரக்க மில்லாதவனுக்குக்
குறையுமிடமாவது இரும்பொழில்சூழ்
நன்றாய புனல்னறையூர்த் திருவாலி
குடந்தை தடந்திகழ் கோவல்நகர்
நின்றானிருந்தான் கிடந்தான் நடந்தாற்
கிடம் மாமலையாவது நீர்மலையே
- Periya Thiru
Mozhi
Boothathazhar Praise:
Boothathazhar
in his only Paasuram compares this temple to Srirangam and Tirupathi.
