Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Thiruvellakkulam (Annan Perumal Temple), Thirunangur – Literary Mention

Thiruvellakkulam (Annan 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 temple has the Mangalasasanam by Saint Tirumangai Azhwar.
Thirumangai refers to the Lord as ‘Anna’. “Kaliyan Sonna Maalai Vallaaravar Vaanaraguvai Thaamey” shows this Lord as the elder brother. In his Periya Thirumozhi verse on Thiruvellakkulam, Thirumangai Azhwar praises the temple as one with ‘Huge Walls’. The temple, he says, had a sacred tank where red lotuses bloomed and was surrounded by rich orchards, big lakes, fertile fields and flower groves, giving us an indication that this was once a very prosperous place.
Thiru Nangur seemed centric to this region that is home to 13 Divya Desams close to each other that Thiru Mangai Azhwar in his praise of the Lord of Thiruvellakkulam refers to this temple in each of his verses as being in Thiru Nangur. As seen from Thirumangai Azhwar’s praise, this place reverberated with Vedic recitals through the day and there was positive energy among the people in this Divya Desam as they enjoyed listening to the recital with devotion.