Ulagalantha
Perumal Temple, Thirukovilur – Legends
Ulagalantha
Perumal:
As per legend, Lord Vishnu descended as
the Vamana avatar to restore the authority of Indra over
the heavens, as it had been taken by Mahabali, a
benevolent Asura King. Mahabali was the grandson of Hiranya Kasipu,
the son of Prahalada. King Mahabali was generous and engaged in severe
austerities and penance and won the praise of the world. With the praise from
his courtiers and others, he regarded himself as the invincible in the world.
Emperor Mahabali, though good natured, ever helpful to
those in need, had a desire that none should exceed him in status and
fame. To realize this aim, he conducted a great yajna headed by his
Guru Sukracharya. Lord thought to bring down his pride. He took
the form of dwarf, came to the Yajna field and sought three footsteps of land
(three steps by his foot) as charity. Guru Sukracharya sensed some mischief in
the dwarf and understood that the visitor was none other than Lord
Vishnu.
He vehemently warned Mahabali and did his best to
prevent his promise. Mahabali did not relent. He was only keen to keep up
his word to dwarf and offered his wish. Lord took his Viswaroopa, measured
the earth by one foot step and the Akasha by the second step and there was no
place for the third step and asked Mahabali for the third. Mahabali
gracefully accepted his inability and offered his head for the third. Lord
placed his head on Mahabali and demanded that he solemnize the charity with
water from his right hand.
Mahabali took the water bowl to confirm his promise but Sukracharya
took the form of a bee and blocked the hole of the bowl from releasing the
water. Lord Vishnu took a grass piece, put it on the bowl hole that
blinded the Guru. Mahabali was pressed by the Lord Vishnu to the Padala
Loka and taken later with him. It is said that the above incident happened in this
temple. The same legend is associated with Thrikkakara
Temple in Kerala and Ulagalantha
Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram.
Oruvar
Padukka, Iruvar Irukka and Moovar Nirkalam:
Once, the first three Azhwars namely Poigai Azhwar, Boothathazhar and Pey Azhwar wanted to
worship the Trivikrama, a form of Lord Vishnu in Thirukkovilur.
One fine day, they started from their respective places to worship the Lord
Vishnu in Thirukovilur,
separately. They reached Thirukovilur
on a dark and stormy night. They found all houses shut, all Choultries locked
up except a narrow passage in the front portion of an ashram belonging to
Mrikandu Maharshi.
Poigai Azhvaar, of Kanchipuram was the first one to sought
refuge for the night at the ashram of Mrikandu Rishi. Mrikandu Rishi informed him
that the place would be sufficient for just one person to sleep. Rishi welcomed
Poigai Azhwar to sleep for the night. Bhoothath Azhvaar, from Mamallapuram,
followed shortly and he also requested for stay in the ashram for the night.
Poigai Azhvaar welcomed him and said that the place would be sufficient for one to sleep and two to
sit and took him inside. Finally, Pey Azhvaar, from Mylapore, also reached
the ashram. He was told that the place would be sufficient for one to sleep,
two to sit and three to stand. The three of them stood in the small space and
were sharing their experiences. The famous phrase ‘Oruvar
Padukka, Iruvar Irukka and Moovar Nirkalam’ refers to this incident.
After some time, the three Azhvaars felt the presence of
a fourth person and with space only for three to stand, the Azhvaars felt
uncomfortable. They found that the fourth person was none other than Lord
Vishnu with Mahalakshmi adorning his broad chest through their divine vision. They
started glorifying him with each one of them composing 100 songs. Thus, the
literature later called Divya Prabandha came into existence.
It is believed that the ashram where the 3 Azhvaars
stayed that rainy night is the one where one, today, finds the sanctum. The
first of the three Azhvaars also find a place inside the Sanctum. Also, the
temple is believed to be the place where the first three Azhwars,
the Vaishnava saints, namely, Poigai Azhwar, Boothathazhar and Pey Azhwar attained
salvation.
Lord
Vishnu’s Viswaroopa darshan to Sage Mrikandu & his wife Mitravathi:
Sage Mrikandu wanted to have Viswaroopa darshan of Ulagalantha
Perumal and approached Lord Brahma to realise his wish. Lord Brahma advised the
sage to visit Krishnaranya on the banks of Krishnabadra River to realize his
wish. The sage along with his wife Mitravathi came to this place and
performed severe penance for the darshan of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu visited
his ashram in the guise of an old Brahmin and begged for food.
They didn’t have even a single grain of rice to
offer. Mrikandu requested his wife to organize food from somewhere. Mitravathi
went in, took a bowl in hand and prayed to Lord Vishnu to fill the bowl with
food if she was the chaste wife of the sage. The bowl was full of
delicious food. Pleased with their penance, Lord Vishnu granted his
Viswaroopa darshan to the couple.
Vishnu
Durga Shrine:
As per legend, Goddess Durga came here from her original
abode in Vindhya Mountains to stay with her brother, Lord Vishnu. After his
Trivikrama Avathara, Goddess Durga sought permission from Lord Vishnu to go
back to Vindhya Mountains but Lord Vishnu advised her to stay here and bless
the devotees. It was said that the Goddess Durga is guarding the Lord
Trivikrama shrine. This
temple has shrine for Goddess Durga, which is not common in
Vishnu Temples.
Chakra
Theertham:
Chakra Theertham is believed to have been from the
waters used by Lord Brahma to wash the feet of Vamana. It is believed that
the water is source of river Pennar, which flows nearby the
temple. According to tradition, Agasthya bathed in this tirtha
before the commencement of his penance to get the darshan of Lord Trivikrama.
Varaha
Theertham:
It is believed that Parasurama, an incarnation of Lord
Vishnu, is said to have bathed in this Theertham to atone his sins of having
killed the kshatriyas.
Arjuna
worshipped Trivikrama here:
As per legend, it is believed that Arjuna visited this
temple during his Theertha Yatra. He took bath in Thenpennai River
and worshipped Trivikrama.
Sage
Parasurama and Sage Agasthya performed penance here:
It is believed that Sage Parasurama and Sage Agasthya
had performed penance at Thirukkovilur.