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Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Sarangapani Temple, Kumbakonam – Legends

Sarangapani Temple, Kumbakonam – Legends
Sarangapani:
As per legend, there was a dispute among the rishis about the benefactor of Yagna which they were performing. They were confused whom to give more importance among the trinity (Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu). The Rishis could not come to a conclusion. Rishi Bhrigu was unable to decide the benefactor of the Yagna. Rishi Bhrigu was unable to decide the benefactor of the Yagna. Hence, they sent Brighu Maharishi to test the Trinities and select the best one among them.
First, Brighu Maharishi went to Kailasha (abode of Lord Shiva). Nandi is said to have stopped him from going inside because Lord Shiva and Parvati were enjoying their private moment then. Bhrigu loses his temper and curses that Lord Shiva would be worshipped only in Linga form. Next, he went to Brahma Loka (abode of Lord Brahma). Lord Brahma was busy reading the scriptures, in a very arrogant way without bowing.
Lord Brahma paid no attention towards the Bhrigu. Bhrigu was angry with disrespect shown by Lord Brahma, cursed him that no one so forth shall worship Brahma in Kaliyuga. So, angrily he went at last to Vaikunda (abode of Lord Vishnu). Lord Vishnu was fast asleep. Maharishi tried to wake him up, but Lord was in deep sleep. Bhrigu kicked Lord Vishnu extremely hard right on his chest, where goddess Mahalakshmi lives, to trigger him.
Lord Vishnu woke up and immediately touched Bhrigu’s feet enquiring if the sage had hurt his feet while kicking him. Lord Vishnu said that his chest can endure the force but the Bhrigu feet were not so strong and far too delicate. Seeing the decorum of Lord Vishnu, Bhrigu was moved and declared Lord Vishnu to be the greatest. It is said that the mark of Bhrigu’s foot is still visible on Vishnu’s chest known as the Sri Vatsam.
Rishi was impressed by his composure and decided to dedicate the Yagna to Lord Vishnu. However, Goddess Lakshmi was very angry over what occurred and left Vaikuntha to Karavirapura (Kolhapur). She settled in Kolhapur. Maha Lakshmi is said to have observed strict penance in Kolhapur for several years until upon hearing the news of her husband being married to Tirumala Padmavati, another avatar of Mahalaskhmi.
Lord Vishnu had a fight with Padmavathi and once again he was left alone. Mahalakshmi came to know about the news of Lord Srinivasa's marriage from Naradha. She became very angry and started to search Lord Srinivasa who had fled to Kumbakonam, to escape from Mahalakshmi's angry. To avoid her anger, Vishnu resided in the underground chamber in the temple as Pathala Srinivasa. Goddess Maha Lakshmi searched Lord Srinivasa everywhere but her effort gave her no fruits.
In the meanwhile, the sage Bhrigu sought his apology and requested Mahalakshmi to be born to him as Komalavalli in his next birth. The sage was born as Hema Rishi and performed penance to attain Mahalakshmi as his daughter. Lord Vishnu was pleased by the penance and he wished the sage to get Lakshmi as his daughter. Lakshmi emerged from the Potramarai tank among thousand lotuses and was thus named Komalavalli (the one who emerged from lotus).
The place thus is revered as the Avatara Sthala (birth place) of Mother Komalavalli (Lakshmi).  Brighu Maharishi took rebirth as Hema Maharishi for his sin of kicking Mahalakshmi who resided in Lord Vishnu Chest. He found Komalavalli and started to raise her as his own daughter. When she reached marriageable age, Hema Maharishi performed intense penance and pleaded Lord Vishnu to accept Mahalakshmi. Lord Vishnu granted his wish.
Lord Vishnu emerged out from Vaideeka Vimanam contained in the Pranava Vimana of Sri Rangam on a Makarsankranti day. Lord Vishnu descended to earth as Aravamudhan in a chariot drawn by horses and elephants from his abode Vaikuntha. He stayed in the nearby Someswaran Temple to convince Lakshmi to marry him and the couple eventually got married. As Komalavalli was angry with Lord Srinivasa who has a standing posture to soothe her anger Lord Vishnu now adapted the sleeping posture of Ranganatha of Sri Rangam and became Sarangapani in Kumbakonam.
The name Sarangapani (one who has the bow in his hand) derives from the Tamil word Sarangam meaning bow of Vishnu and Pani meaning hand. As Lord Vishnu came to wed Mother holding a bow (Saranga), he came to be called as Sarangapani. Goddess Mahalakshmi repented for her mistake and from then onwards she took a vow that she would never leave her husband. Hence even today she never leaves out of her chamber. Hence, he came to be called as Padi Thanda Pathini.
Recovery of Nalayira Divya Prabandham by Nathamunigal:
Vaishnavite Saint Natha Muni, who lived in Kattumannar Koil, was responsible for bringing back the Nalayira Divya Prabandham that had been previously lost to the world. Veera Narayana Perumal, the presiding deity at Kattumannar Koil, is the Lord who asked Nathamunigal to collect and spread the sacred verses of the Azhwars. The Nalayira Divya Prabandham is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses composed by the 12 Azhwars. Prominent among them are the 1100+ verses known as the Thiruvaimozhi, composed by Nammazhvar which forms the third portion of the overall Divya Prabandham.
Many modern academics place the Azhwars date between 5th and 10th century CE, however traditionally the Azhwars are considered to have lived between 4200 BCE – 2700 BCE. For a period of several centuries after the last Azhwar, the priceless 4,000 verses were lost without any trace. Then came Nathamunigal during the 9th – 10th centuries (the first of the Acharya Parambara) who was born and lived in Veera Narayanapuram, the present day Kattumannar Koil.
Nathamunigal, who mastered himself in Vedas at a young age, was very attached to Veera Narayana Perumal and spent most of his time performing daily poojas for the Lord here. One day, while he was performing his daily poojas, he heard a set of devotees who had come here from Thiru Narayanapuram of Melkote (Karnataka) reciting the Paasuram of Aaraavamudhe of Nammazhvar which praises the Lord of Kumbakonam.
The recital ended with the mentioning “Aayiraththul Ippaththu” (these 10 out of the 1000). Captivated by these pasurams, Nathamunigal wanted to know the remaining 990 but they did not know anything about them. A restless Nathamunigal went to Kumbakonam, where Lord Aravamudhan asked him to go to Thiru Kurugur. Thiru Kurugur is the birthplace of Nammazhvar (Kurugur Sadagopan is the birth name of Nammazhvar).
Nathamunigal proceeded to Thirukurugur or Azhwar Thiru Nagari (one of the Nava Thirupathis of Thirunelveli), the birth place of Nammazhvar, seeking the 1,000 verses. The people there also did not know anything, but they told him about “Kanni nun Siruthaambu”, the 11 pasurams of Madhurakavi Azhwar, a deep disciple of Nammazhvar. Nathamunigal, then went to Thirukkolur nearby (another Nava Thirupathi of Thirunelveli), the birth place of Madhurakavi Azhwar but again he could not get any clue out from there.
He came back to Thirukurugur and sat under the tamarind tree where Nammazhvar sat from birth to 10+ age without any food and water. Nathamunigal recited the 11 pasurams 12,000 times. Pleased with his penance, Nammazhvar granted him not only his 1,000 pasurams, but the entire collection of 4,000 pasurams of all the Azhwars. Veera Narayana Perumal then called Nathamunigal back to Kattumannar Koil where the Vaishnavite Savant chanted and shared the Nalayira Divya Prabandham with the world.
Thus, Nathamunigal of Kattu Mannar Koil, was instrumental in bringing back to the world the 4000 verses of the Azhwars. He also initiated the Vaishnava Sampradaya from here. After the period of 12 Azhwars from Poigai Azhwar to Thirumangai Azhwar, the Acharya Parambara starts with Nathamunigal as the Mudhal (first) Acharya. Some of Nathamunigal disciples include Uyyakondan, Thiru Kannamangaiaandan and Deivanayagaandan.
Lord Vishnu performed last rites to his devotee:
A devotee Lakshmi Narayanswami served Lord throughout his life. He is the one who built the Rajagopuram of the temple. But he was childless. He reached the Lotus feet of Lord on a Deepavali day. Anyone having no heir to perform the last rites would go to hell, according to shastras. But Lord cannot ignore his devotee. He performed the last rites for his devotee. Next day, when the temple was opened, people saw him with a wet dhoti and his sacred thread (Poonool in Tamil and Yagnopavita in Sanskrit) changed on the right shoulder, Darba in hands in rite-performing manner. This event is followed in the temple on Deepavali days during the midday puja, but devotees are not allowed to see this puja.
Uthaana Saayee:
Once, Thirumazhisai Alwar visited this temple to have a dharshan of Aravamudha Perumal. He was very much impressed by his beauty and wanted to have a chat with him. Seeing the sleeping posture of the Lord, Thiru Mazhisai Azhwar questioned if his tiredness was the reason for him to be lying down in his sleeping posture. After hearing this, it is believed that the Lord slightly raised his posture to greet the Azhwar. Feeling the guilt of having caused strain on the Lord, Thiru Mazhisai Azhwar asked him to remain in the same posture. Lord remained in the posture permanently. To this day, one can see the Lord in a slightly raised reclining posture (Uthaana Saayee).
நடந்த கால்கள் நொந்ததோ நடுங்கு நில மேனமாய் 
கிடந்த  மேய்  குலுங்கவோ விலங்கு மால் வரைசுரம்
கடந்த கால் பரப்பிக் காவேரிக் கறைக் குடந்திஆயுள்
கிடந்த  வாரே எழுந்திருந்து பேசு, வாழி கேசவனே
No Swarga Vasal in this Temple:
Most of the Divya Desa temples have Swarga Vasal (Paramapada Vasal) open on the Vaikuntha Ekadasi day occurring in December-January. But there is no one such in this temple as Lord Vishnu came to this Divya Desa directly from his Vaikunda. The very worship of Perumal Lord Sarangapani would take devotees to salvation. It is also believed that passing through the Uttharayana and Dakshinayana entrances is no different from the Swarga Vasal passing. 
Kumbakonam is the birth place of Mother Komalavalli. After the marriage Lord chose to stay here itself with his consort (i.e. in his mother-in-law’s house).  Hence, he is called as Veettodu Mappillai. Hence, Mother is dominant in the temple. The first worship goes to Mother only. As a philosophy, as Mother is first for all respects, to establish this rule, the way to Perumal shrine is also structured accordingly.  The Go Puja (puja to cow) is performed in Komalavalli Thayar shrine. Pujas to Lord are offered only then.
Maha Pralaya:
As per another legend, during the great deluge, the pot of nectar came down swirling. The pot of nectar fell down into different pieces as Shiva shot his arrow at the pot. The nectar is believed to have relieved lives in the planet. The various places where the nectar spilled are