Thiruppaarthanpalli (Thamaraiyaal Kelvan 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.
|
Krishna taught Arjuna here:
Padmapurana details
the legend associated with the temple. As per Hindu legend, Arjuna, one of the five Pandavas from the epic Mahabharata reached this
place on a pilgrimage. He was thirsty and sought water from sage Agastya who was doing penance. There was no water with the
sage and all places around. Agastya realised that it was the trick of god Krishna, who was the Lord of Arjuna. He advised Arjuna to pray
Krishna, who did accordingly. Krishna was pleased with the prayer of Arjuna and
offered him a sword.
Arjuna
dug the land with the sword which resulted in a gush of water resulting in the
Katka Pushkarani, the temple tank. Arjuna is depicted in the temple sporting a
sword, following the legend. Krishna also appeared to Arjuna as Parthasarathy
and initiated his knowledge to understand who he actually was. Since
Parthasarathy initiated education here for Arjuna, the place is called Paarthanpalli
(Parthan + Palli, meaning school of Arjuna).
People who performed penance here:
It is
believed that several sages like Agastya, Bharadwaja, Gautama
and Varuna performed penance at this place.
Varuna got relieved of Brahma Hathi Dhosham here:
Varuna,
the Rain God, once stole the wife of Bhragaspathi, the Devaguru and was caught
by the Brahma Hathi Dhosham. He got relieved of it by praying to Lord here.
Sharma Sloga:
It is
said that the meaning of the Sharma sloga, the Gota slogam (“Sharva Dharman….”)
was got at this place only.