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Monday, October 17, 2016

Thiruarimeya Vinnagaram (Kudamudakoothan Perumal Temple), Thirunangur – Literary Mention

Thiruarimeya Vinnagaram (Kudamudakoothan Perumal Temple), Thirunangur – Literary Mention
The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by PeriazhwarThirumalisai Alvar & Thirumangai Azhwar. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar. The Lord of the temple is praised by Saint Tirumangai Azhwar in his Mangalasasanam hymn. His songs are long in meters, pregnant with devotion praising his deeds from very childhood in destroying demons and the pleasant serene environments where his temples are situated. His songs constitute all richness of the Tamil language.
Tirumangai Azhwar in his Mangalasasanam hymn describes this place – Ariyameya Vinnagaram – as the abode of Lord who destroyed demons, extracted nectar from the Milk Ocean and guiding people on the righteous path.    
Thirumangai Alwar sings about the Lord of Arimeya Vinnagaram in ten beautiful songs:
Gopal resides in Arimeya Vinnagaram with Lakshmi and Bhoomi Devi on both sides. He removes all sins of His servants and blesses them. He is worshipped and His glories are sung by eternal residents of Vaikuntha and the people of seven worlds. This place is beautiful with plenty of flowering plants and trees in the forests, lotuses in all ponds and well versed brahmanas who spread the fame everywhere. Thirumangai asks his mind not to go stupidly after worldly things but to worship him.
My very sweet nectar resides in Arimeya Vinnagaram where brahmanas sing hymns with seven swaras and chant Vedas teach Ithihasas and Puranas and who possess excellent gunas that speak of the wealth of the city. Our Lord who resides here is the one who killed Narakasura with His discus, churned the milk ocean with Mandara mountain to give nectar to the devas. Oh! My mind! Worship and meditate on his form.
He is the sweet boy who once swallowed Brahma and devas, seven worlds and seven seas. He is the boy who once killed the wild bull whose head looked like a pot and who pulled Kamsan from his throne and killed him, causing relief and happiness to the devotees. He resides in Arimeya Vinnagaram in Nangoor where there are champaka trees whose buds look like white pearls and whose full bloomed flowers look like gold. The women of this city are very beautiful with hood-like hips and arrow-like eyes.
He who split open the chest of Hiranya with his sharp nails and protected his son Prahalada, resides in Thirunangur where there are forests full of champaka, Punnai, and jasmine  dispersing their variety of aroma in the air. Added to it is the aromatic smoke from the sugarcane cottages where jaggery is made by boiling the sugar cane.
The Supreme Lord took a charming Vamana avatara for the sake of Indra and begged Bali only three feet of land. When He got it He measured with His huge Trivikrama form, the whole of the upper regions, the Bhoomi, the oceans and all other objects. He resides in Arimeya Vinnagaram where the sound of the playing of musical instruments, the sound of Vedic chanting, the sound of the buzzing of bees and the jingling sound of women’s anklets when they dance and walk—all of these together produce a sound similar to the roaring of the sea during pralaya when the waves rise sky high.
The son of Dasaratha (Sri Rama) fought with Ravana, the king of Lanka and cut off his ten heads and twenty arms since he abducted Sita Devi and put her in a secluded place. He is my sole asylum since he is the savior, as he is the chief of even eternal residents of Vaikuntha. He resides in Thiru Arimeya Vinnagaram where there are big lotus ponds full of different kinds of fish.
The Supreme Lord killed the raakshakas called Dhenuka and Puthana who were sent by the wicked Kamsan to kill Krishna. He is dark in colour, having Manmatha (Cupid) as his son. He resides in Arimeya Vinnagaram—where brahmanas chant four vedas, meditate on his gunas, perform sacrifices, do Pancha maha yajnas, teach Vedangas, discourse on Ithihasas and Puranas, having moksha as their final goal.
Sri Krishna, who killed Kapitasura by throwing Vatsasura on him causing the fruits to fall for the Vraja boys to eat; who lifted Govardhana mountain to prevent the heavy rain tormenting the men and animals of Vraja; who played the pot dance; who is dark like clouds and who possesses all auspicious gunas—resides in Arimeya Vinnagaram. The city is rich with great mansions, forts with flags flying on their walls, public halls with gem-studded walls, brahmanas who chant Vedas, wide roads, thick forests where birds chirp and flowers shed honey which the bees drink and then buzz with joy.
Sri Krishna, the ever youthful one, consumed the life of Puthana, the life of Kamsan, the curds and butter and the whole world (during pralaya). He resides in Arimeya Vinnagaram where the brahmanas offer flowers praying “Oh Hari! You are one sole refuge!”; where the Cauvery flows, bringing sandalwood trees and gold along her current; where the river irrigates the forests and fields bringing wealth and prosperity to the city.