Soundararajaperumal Temple, Nagapattinam – Religious
Importance
The
temple finds mention in Brahmanda
Purana in the Utharakanda
Gyana Yoga section. The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th –9th century Vaishnava
canon, by Thirumangai Alvar. The Azhwar has sung praise, imagining himself as
a lady and Soundarajan as his lover. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in
the book. Many Acharyas have also written songs on the various forms of Soundarajan
in this Temple.
Thivyakavi
Pillai Peruman has revered the presiding deity in his works of Notriyettu
Tirupathi Kovai and Paravai Ramanujar in his works of Notriyettu Tirupathi
Thirupugazh. Muthukrishna Dasar, a poet of the early 20th century,
has glorified Soundararaja Perumal and Soundaravalli in his works
in Pancharatna Pathigam. Soundararaja Perumal Thasavathara
Pathigam is a work on the presiding deity by Subbaraya Pillai. One of the
three Sangeetha Mumurthi, namely Muthuswami Dikshitar, has sung praise of the deity in his verses.
