Thiruvanpurushothamam (Purushotama 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.
|
Purushothama Nayaki fed Vykrapada Son:
Similar
to the story of Mother Parvathi feeding Saivite child saint Tirugnana Sambandar
with wisdom milk, Lord Perumal brought here the very milk ocean itself to feed
a hungry child. Sage Vykrapada came to this temple with his child Ubamanyu,
placed him at the entrance of the temple and went to pick flowers for
Lord. The child began to cry for food which fell in the ears of Lord
reclining in the milk ocean. He immediately created a milk ocean in this
place. Mother Purushothama Nayaki fed the child with the milk.
Thiruppaarkadal Theertham:
As Lord
Narayana gave generously the Thiruppaarkadal to Ubamanyu Maharishi, the
theertham is known as Thiruppaarkadal Theertham.
Sanjeevi Vigraha Vimaanam:
Sanjeevi
Mooligai (An herb) saved Lord Rama itself. So in order to indicate this, the
Vimaanam of this place is named as Sanjeevi Vigraha Vimaanam.