Thirukkavalampadi (Gopalakrishna Perumal Temple),
Thirunangur – Legends
Vishnu appearing in eleven forms on Shiva request:
The
legends of all the eleven temples of Thirunangur are closely associated with
each other. As per legend, the Hindu god Shiva started dancing in fury at this place after the
death of his consort Uma due to the yagna (sacrifice) of Daksha. Each time his lock of hair touched the ground; there
were eleven other forms of Shiva who appeared. The celestial deities were
worried that if the dance continues, it would result in decimation of entire
creations. They prayed to Vishnu for help, who appeared at this place.
On
seeing Vishnu, Shiva's anger was reduced and he requested Vishnu to appear in
eleven forms like he did. On his request, Vishnu appeared in eleven different
forms at Thirunangur. Arimeya Vinnagaram literally translates to the place
where Hari (another name of
Vishnu) resides.
The
eleven places where Vishnu appeared are believed to be where the eleven temples
in Thirunangur are located. They are;
Thirukavalampadi
|
Gopalakrishnan along with Rukmini and Satyabama.
|
Thiruvannpurushothamam
|
Purushothaman along with Purushothama Naayaki.
|
Thiru Sempon Sei Kovil
|
Perarulalan along with Allimaamalar Naachiyar.
|
Thiru Devanar Thogai
|
Deiva Naayagan along with Kadal Magal Naachiyar.
|
Thiru Mani Koodam
|
Varadharaja Perumal along with Thirumagal Naachiyar
and Bhoomi Piratti.
|
Thiru Paarthanpalli
|
Thamarai Kelvan along with Thamarai Naayaki, in
standing posture in all the above Kshetrams.
|
Thirumanimaada Kovil
|
Narayana Gyana Nandha Vilaku along with
Pundarigavalli.
|
Thiruvaali Thirunagari
|
Amrudhavalli Vedharajan, Narashimar along with Amrudha
Kada valli.
|
Thiru Vaigunda Vinnagaram
|
Vaigunda Nadhan along with Periya Piratti.
|
Arimeya Vinnagaram
|
Kudamaadu Koothan along with Amrudha Kada valli, in
sitting posture in above 4 Kshetrams.
|
Thirutheythri Ambalam
|
Shenkann Maal along with Sengamalavalli, in sleeping
posture of the type Bhujanga Sayanam.
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Krishna and his consort Sathya Bhama chose this location
for their garden:
As per
another legend, Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu and his consort
Sathya Bhama chose this location for their garden as it was looking like the
one in the palace of the king of celestial deities, Indra.
Krishna saved an elephant at this place:
Kavalam indicates
elephant and padi indicates place - it is believed that Krishna saved
an elephant at this place leading to the name of the temple. The event is
described in the verses of Tirumangai
Azhwar in Nalayira Divya Prabandham.
Etymology:
Kavalam means
a small quantity of food. Here the Lord accepts the pure state of His devotees
as food and so this place is called Kavalampadi. So there is no Madapalli
(place to cook food for the lord) here.
Shiva directing Krishna to this place:
Krishna
went in search of the Parijatha flowers to please the desire of Satyabama.
After a long search he meditated on Siva, who revealed to him that the lake
filled with Parijatha flowers is at this Kshetram.
Equivalent to Dwaraka:
This
shrine is considered equivalent to Dwaraka since the Lord is present with Rukmini
and Sathyabama.
Prathyaksham:
Prathyaksham
is given for Vishwaksenar, the army chief of Nithyasuri and the son of
Kundalai, Lord Varuna (Rain god) and Rudhran.
Vishwaksenar got Dharshan of Krishna here:
Once Sage
Dhurvasar was doing the penance, God Indra wanted to disturb the penance. So he
sent Kundali to disturb the penance of the sage Dhurvasar. Hence she
gained the curse of the Sage Dhurvasar. Because of this, she had to be born as
a hunter's daughter. One day, Lord Varuna loved her and as a result, they got
married. Vishwaksenar was the son born to them. Vishwaksenar did a hard penance;
hence he was made as the chief of Nithyasuris - the good spirits who live in Paramapadha,
which is near to Lord Narayana. Then Vishwaksenar requested Lord
Narayana to give the darshan as Lord Krishna and the Lord fulfilled his wish
here.
Rudra worshipped Vishnu here:
As once
Rudran killed Lord Brahma, he was caught by the Brahma Hathi Dhosham. To
overcome this dosham, he prayed to Lord Vishnu at Kadamba kshetram,
Kandiyur and this is a place to get rid of the Dhosham.
