Neelamegha Perumal Temple, Thirukannapuram – Legends
Sowri Rajan:
One day,
the Rangabhatta an ardent devotee and priest of the temple gave the garland
used in the Perumal puja to his sweet heart. It so happened quite unexpectedly
the king came to the temple, but the priest had no puja garland to receive the
king. He simply used the second hand garland he presented to his
lover. The king noticed a hair and enquired the priest how it came
there. The priest replied that it was the hair of Perumal.
When demanded
to show it, the priest assured the king to show it the next day. The king
agreed but warned him of punishment if he failed. The priest fell at the
feet of Lord to protect him. When the king came the next day, Perumal
gave him darshan with hair. Thus, he became Sowrirarjan
Perumal. Sowri means hair. Devotees can see this Thirumudi (hair)
darshan only during the procession on new moon day.
Lord Vishnu accepting Garuda as his Vahanam:
Garuda
was returning from the milk ocean (Parkadal in Tamil and Ksheera Samudra in
Sanskrit) with nectar to free his mother. While flying over this temple, he
proudly thought he was carrying the nectar which others cannot do. He lost
his energy and fell on the sea. Realizing his folly, Garuda sat on a rock in
the sea and performed penance on Lord Vishnu to pardon him. Lord not only pardoned
Garuda and accepted him as his Vahanam. This event is celebrated on the full
moon day in Masi-February-March.
Munayodharan Pongal:
The
region was once under the rule of chieftain named Munayodharan, a staunch
Vishnu devotee. He used to have his food only after worshipping
Lord. He spent all his earnings in the service of Lord and became
poor. He could not remit the taxes to his king and was arrested for
default of payments. Lord appeared in king’s dream and ordered release of
chieftain immediately. The king obeyed. When he returned home, his
wife gave him Pongal made of rice, a little dal and salt. Munayodharan
worshipped Lord in his mind, offered the Pongal as nivedhana and ate it then. When
the priest opened the doors of the temple the next day, he found Pongal
sticking to mouth of Perumal and informed the matter to king and
others. They understood that Lord had accepted the Pongal nivedhana
submitted by Munayodharan. Since that day, Pongal nivedhana is offered to
Lord at the night puja known as a Munayodharan Pongal.
All Rivers cleanse their Sins here:
During
the Utharayana period covering six months from January-February to June-July,
it is believed that all rivers join here for a dip to cleanse their own
sins.
Kulasekhara Azhwar kept Child Rama in his Lap:
Saint
Kulasekhara Azhwar saw the Lord as Child Rama and experienced the pleasure of
keeping him on his lap and sung the Thalelo song - a melodious soft song to
make the child sleep comfortably.
Vishnu granting Darshan to Sage Garudathandaga:
Perumal
granted darshan to sage Garudathandaga in this place.
Uparisaravasu encounter with Lord Vishnu:
Many
years ago, sages performed penance on Lord Vishnu relinquishing food and sleep
and thus were physically reduced as thin as paddy stalks. Almost they lost
human form. A king Uparisaravasu by name blessed with the Ashtakshara
Mantra Upadesa from Lord himself was passing through this place with his
men. As they were hungry, they began to cut the sages for food mistaking
them as paddy stalks. Lord rushed to their rescue in the guise of a small
boy and defeated the king and his men.
As his
army could not resist the boy, he finally applied the Ashtakshara Mantra to win
over him. The Mantra simply surrendered at Boy’s feet. Realizing that
the boy was none other than Lord himself, the king fell at his feet and begged
his pardon. Lord pardoned the king and appeared before him as Neelamegha
Perumal. The king built this temple with the help of Vishwakarma the divine
sculptor. Perumal agreed to stay here at the request of the king.
Lord Vishnu in receiving posture:
The Lord
here is in the receiving posture and not in the abhaya Hastha signifying he
will receive all our troubles.
Bhoologa Swargam:
There is
no Swarga vasal as this land is considered Swargam on bhumi.
Lord Vishnu taught Ashtakshara Mandhiram to Thirumangai
Azhwar:
"Om
Namo Narayana" is the Thirumandiram and Thirumangai Azhwar was taught by
Lord Neelamegha perumal itself. This sacred Mandiram consists of eight
syllables and here Sriman Narayanan is said to live in each syllable and hence
this place is also called "Srimathasthakshara Maha Manthira Siddhi
Kshetram".
Nithya Pushkarani:
The
temple tank is called as Nithya Pushkarani (Nithya -daily). Unlike other Pushkaranis
where you are blessed if you dip on signified days, you can bath all days and
be blessed hence the name. Bathing during the Amavasai days (new moon days) and
performing karmas for the Pitrus (deceased ancestors) is equivalent of doing it
in Gaya.
Fishermen Community conducting Special Poojas:
Neelamegha
Perumal or Vishnu married the princes Padmavathi of the fishermen
community. Once a year, a special pooja is conducted by all the fisherman
of this area.
Walking Beauty of the Lord:
This is
the temple where the Lord showed Vibheeshana, brother of Ravana, his walking
beauty. After seeing the sleeping beauty of Vishnu as Lord Ranganatha at
Srirangam, Vibheeshana wanted to see the walking beauty of the Lord, upon which
he was directed by the Lord to his “Keezh (akku) Veedu’ (Eastern Gateway of the
Lord). Lord Vishnu displayed his ‘walking beauty’ to Vibheeshana here on
the new moon day. To mark this event, on every Amavasya day at 12noon, Lord Sowrirarjan
comes out of his sanctum and provides darshan to Vibheeshana.
Lord Narayana in 3 forms:
On the
7th day of Vaikasi, Lord Narayana provides darshan in all his 3 forms (Trimurthy
Swaroopam) - Maha Vishnu in the day, Brahma in the night at around 11 pm and
Lord Shiva early next morning.
