Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam – Attru
Azhagiasingar Temple
Attru
Azhagiasingar Temple is a Narasimha Temple located in Srirangam on the river’s
edge is not well known to many of the devotees. This Temple is located at
Oduthurai, on the very edge of the south bank of the river Kaveri between the
road and rail bridges that connect the town of Trichy to Srirangam. As one
comes from Srirangam on the Trichy Chennai road, after crossing the bridge over
Kaveri, one has to take a left turn, actually a left U turn.
This
road leads to a level crossing, Oyamori the cremation Ghat and the bypass road
on to the south Kalannai road further eastward. Almost half way between the
point one turned left after the Kaveri Bridge and the railway crossing there
are steps leading downwards to this Temple. The steps are high, about 15 in number
and these lead to small approach between two houses.
Climbing
up the few steps one reaches the entrance into the temple. Inside it is clean.
The sanctum is open to the east; it is in the east west direction. The ceiling
is low, about nine feet only. Right at the eastern end there is a Dhwaja
Sthambha and a small sanctum of Garudazhwar, as always with hands folded. He is
forever gazing at the Divine Couple.
Legends
Srirangam
being an island was not very easy to get to in those days. Circular plate like
“parisals” and boats used to ferry people and pilgrims to the island of Sri
Ranganatha. The British, like the Romans much before them, realised the need
and importance of good roads and bridges to administer their vast empires. So
they set about building a bridge to span the mighty Kaveri, so that
Trichinopoly could be connected to Srirangam.
They
began building about 2kms from the base of the Rock fort. Kaveri playfully
washed the structure away. They tried again and again. Legends say that thrice
the masonry was taken apart by the waters. Then one of the chief engineers had
a dream. Sri Lakshmi Narasimha appeared and instructed that an old temple of his
on the southern bank of Kaveri near one of the piers needed renovation and on
this being done, Kaveri would allow a bridge to be built. The small temple was
found amongst unapproachable bramble and tangled bushes at the river’s edge.
Workers
were scared to go near because it appeared to be protected by a mighty serpent.
The snake was appeased and a new sanctum was built for the deity. The
construction was solid as can be seen even today. The walls are about a foot
thick. In front of the sanctum sanctorum there is a low area. The deity inside
is on a slightly elevated platform. Kaveri was in spate about five years ago.
Water and slush entered the temple. For three days the archaka couldn’t enter.
When the silt was washed aside and the sanctum approached it was seen that Sri
Lakshmi Narasimha was above the water level and Kaveri was dutifully lapping
well below his foot.
The Temple
The
Divine Couple are seated under the shade of a tall five hooded Adiseshan.
Thayar is on his lap. She is seated daintily and her body and face are turned
towards him, partially. She has her hands together in the welcoming posture.
This is an unusual posture. Sri Lakshmi usually has one hand in the “abhaya”
and the other in the “varada” mudra. In some places she has a lotus in one of
her hands. Here she sits with her head slightly bent, hands folded together in
a pose of supplication. That is why this is “venduthal sthalam” a wish granting
place.
Sri
Narasimha is seated with the left leg folded and only the right foot is
visible. His right lower hand is in “abhaya mudra” and he has fearsome
moustaches. His lower left arm is invisible behind her and his upper two arms
have Chakra and Sankha. He is smiling, showing all his teeth. The five hooded
Adisesha is covered by silver plates dwarfs the “Thiruvasi” the arch over the
Divine couple.
To one
side of the Divine Couple, stands Anjaneya in a vinitha, humble posture. The
surprising point is that he has three eyes, the third one in the center of the
forehead. The next unusual thing is the Utsavar Idol. He is as handsome as a
new bridegroom. He is not a man-lion. To either side of him are Sridevi and
Bhudevi. His name is Azhagiyamanavalan, the handsome bridegroom, same as the
renowned processional deity of Ranganathaswamy Koil, fondly called Nam Perumal.
It is Azhagiyamanavalan here who is taken out on all the processions, in fact he
goes upto the base of the Rock fort about two kms away.
There is
a small idol of Vainatheyan behind Anjaneya. To the right side of the sanctum,
an idol of Sri Lakshminarasimhar on Garuda vahana can be seen & it is made
of sandal paste. Huge pictures of Padmavathi Thayar and Venkatachalapathi adorn
the wall next to the sanctum. In the westward, there is an entrance to a huge
hall, extending in the south – north direction. On the posterior wall of the
sanctum Sri Sudarshana, as in Srirangam, is painted on the wall. Coming to the
left of the sanctum (north), the steps that lead down to the Kaveri can be seen.
From the
steps leading to the Kaveri if you go further eastward, you can see a big
mandapa in front of the sanctum, closed on all sides. Near the northern wall
there is a lovely image of Venugopala. On the wall there is an old painting of
Srinivasa in the Mysore style. There is an antique handsome Tanjore painting
nearby depicting deities of many Divya desas. In the southern wall, there is an
alcove in the middle, housing a smiling Anjaneya in a standing pose.
He is
facing northwards, towards Peria Perumal in Srirangam and Perumal, Rama, in
Ayodhya. He appears to be a “Vara prasadi” boon granter, as several paper
garlands around his neck attest. These papers are full of “Sri Ramajayams”. To
the right of Thiruvadi we have a seated Sri Nammazhwar and to the left Sri
Ramanuja and Sri Manavalamamunigal.
The
ceiling has frescoes, some of which are in excellent condition. The ceiling
right in front of Anjaneya has the ten azhwars and Andal. They are not in order
and identification is not easy, though the paintings are in good condition. In
the middle, right above Garudazhwar is a fresco of Narasimha with many hands
disemboweling Hiranyakasipu. Near the Asura a swan like bird is drawn. The same
white bird makes an appearance in the same context on the southern wall in
front of Kattu Azhagiasingar temple.
On the
ceiling to the east is the “pranavakara vimana” and Sri Ranganatha. Here he has
his left hand near his crown. Maybe this painting must be seen in a mirror held
below, and then the image will be correct. Coming to the ceiling near the
sanctum, the northern portion has a lovely untouched picture of Sri
Ranganayaki, but the southern portion has a distorted drawing of Nam Perumal
with Ubaya Nachiyars. Sri Ranganayaki is beguiling and the painting is in good
condition. These frescoes point to the fact that this temple is quite old.