Kallazhagar Temple, Alagarkoil, Madurai – Legends
Kallazhagar redeeming Manduka Maharishi:
The
legend has it that sage Suthapas (Munivar) was bathing in Nupura Ganga at
Azhakar Hill and did not pay heed to Durvasa Maharishi, who was passing by. The enraged Durvasa cursed
Suthapas that he would turn into a frog until he is redeemed of his curse by
Lord Sundararajar, who is also known as Kallazhagar. The Suthapas Maharishi,
who is named as ‘Manduka maharishi’ Munivar because of his frog status,
performed ‘Thapas’ (prayer) on the banks of river Vaigai, which is otherwise
known as Vegavathi, at Thenur.
The Lord
Kallazhagar comes from his abode in Azhakar Hill to redeem Manduka Maharishi of
his curse, when he is praying. Since days unknown, it is believed that the lord
Kallazhagar comes to Thenur via Malaipatti, Alanganallur and Vayalur. In Thenur
Mandapam, the lord redeems the sage of his curse and leaves for his abode.
"During Thirumalai Nayak regime (1623 to 1659 AD), in 1653 the
Manduka Maharishi relieving ritual was shifted to Vandiyur village where the
event is performed at Thenur Mandapam, built by Thirumalai Nayak himself,"
Chitrai Festival:
Every
year in the Tamil month of Chittirai, Azhagar is taken on his Garuda Vahanam on
a 20 km procession. He is said to go to the Vaigai in Madurai to provide
Moksham to Manduka Maharishi. During this trip, he stops at different places
along the way, with the Maduraites welcoming him into the city.
On the
way to the Vaigai River, Kallazhagar makes an important stop at Thallaakulam
Perumal koil to collect the garland sent by Aandaal of Srivilliputhur. Only
after wearing this, does Azhagar get into the Vaigai River. During the Aadi
Thiruvadi Pooram festival, marking the birthday of Aandaal, Lord Azhagar sends
his attire to Srivilliputhur as a ‘return gesture’ to her.
In
course of time, Thirumalai Naayakkar, the then ruler of the Pandya Kingdom
decided to combine this festival with the Meenakshi Amman festival to make it
the biggest festival of Madurai. The belief is that Kallazhagar makes it to
Madurai to witness the wedding of his sister Meenakshi (Amman). This is yet
another case of the Unity between Saivites and Vaishnavites.
18 Steps at Azhagar Koil:
Once
there was an attempt to take away the idol of Kallazhagar. A priest at this
temple put together a team and captured the 18 men who had come there to steal
the idol. These 18 men were so lured by the beauty of Azhagar that they prayed
to the Lord and requested that they stay here forever. It is believed that each
of these 18 men have taken a step each and now reside in the 18 steps of the
temple at the main Eastern entrance.
Realizing
their mistake, they sought to act as security guards of the Lord and solve any
issues relating to the people. Hence, Karupannaswamy almost acts as a court to
solve all issues in this area and is said to provide a fair judgment for those
who believe in him.
As a
mark of this event, there is an image of ‘Karupanna Swamy’ (the representative
of these 18 men) at the main entrance. This main Eastern Entrance remains
closed through the year except for 9 days in the Tamil month of Aadi and one
can get inside the temple through the North East entrance. Every night, during
the pooja time, the flowers adorned by the Lord are brought to Karupanna Swamy.
Aandaal Weds Azhagar:
Aandaal
and her father Periyazhvar are said to have come here from Srivilliputhur and
legend has it that Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam appeared before Aandaal as
Azhagar and married her. Aandaal who had promised to provide Azhagar with 100
pots of sweet morsel and butter could not do so as she merged with Lord
Ranganatha. Much later, Ramanuja fulfilled her promise by providing the Lord
with the morsel and butter. As a thanking gesture, Aandaal is said to have
called him ‘Annan’, as a result of which Ramanuja came to be called ‘Kovil
Annan’.
Vishwakarma designing the Somachandra Vimana:
Legend has
it that the Somasundara Vimanam, also known as the Somaskanda Vimanam or the
Somachandra Vimanam was designed by Vishwakarma.
Dharma Deva building this Shrine:
Legend
has it that this shrine was built by Dharma Deva, upon whose request Vishnu
took this place as his permanent abode.
Story behind Raya Gopuram:
Krishnadeva
Raaya, whose intent it was to build huge temple towers at Vaishnavaite temples,
also started the construction of a big temple tower at Azhagar Koil. As with
several other temple towers, his defeat left this tower too unfinished. The
temple tower is called Raya Gopuram or Mottai Gopuram (having remained
unfinished).
Silappathikaram reference to Alagarmalai:
In
Silappathikaram (one of the five maha Kaapiams of Tamil language), also the glory
of this hill had been highlighted, that one brahmana (one who learn the Veda
and Upanishad etc.) had told Kovalan (hero of the kaapium), Kannagi (Heroine)
and gownthiadigal (jain guru), when approached Madurai for their survival, that
they should visit "Thirumalirunkundrum", which is on the way to
Madurai, and there they could capable of finding three holy Theerthas namely,
Sravanam, Bawahaaruni, and Ista Siddhi, provided if they could fulfill some
rituals there, which had been very difficult to follow.
Otherwise,
they simply worship the feet of the lord Thirumal (lord Vishnu) and could get
the moksha definitely. But the sign of those three theerthas has not been here,
only Noopurangangai or Silambaaru is the only theertham seen nowadays. It has
been there under the shrine of Goddess "Sri Rakkachi amman".
References of Alagar Malai in Ancient Epics:
Moorthy,
Sthalam and Theertham of this temple had been described in Varaaga Puranam,
Pramaanda Puranam, Vaamana Puranam, and Anjaneya Puranam clearly. The
compilation of all these at in one form named as Virushapaathiri mahathmium
found in Hindi language. Among the 108 Dhivya deshams of lord Vishnu, the name
'Sundaraja Perumal' has come in as common in the following three Sthalams,
namely Anbil, Thirunaagai (Nagapattinam), and Koodal nagar (Madurai).
Alagar Malai
had been highlighted in the Valmiki’s Ramayanam, Veda Vyasar's Mahabaratham and
Sugar's Maha Bharatham. Vyasar quoted in his Mahabaratham, that Yudhishtra (Dharma)
came here, when they had been experiencing the forest life for 12 years. Again
in Sugar's Bhagavatham, Balarama, the incarnation of lord Vishnu, had reached
the Virushapaathiri (Alagar malai), and had gone to Sethu (Rameshwaram), when
on his pilgrimage.
Other names of Azhagar Malai:
·
Thirumalirunsolai
·
Uthiyaanasylam
·
Solaimalai
·
Maalirunkundrum
·
Irunkunram
·
Vanagiri
·
Virushapaathiri