Vedarajan Temple, Thirunagari – Legends
Story of Thirumangai Azhwar & Kumudhavalli:
As per
Hindu legend, a son of Brahma named Karthama Prajapathi did penance worshipping
Vishnu to attain Moksha. Vishnu was no pleased and Lakshmi, his consort was not
convinced with Vishnu testing Karthama. She hid herself in the lotus tank at
this place. Vishnu came in search of her and after finding her, he took her to
Vaikunta. It is believed that Vishnu is sported in hugging posture in the
nearby Thirunagari also on account of the legend. Karthama took many births
during various ages like Treta
Yuga and Dwapara
Yuga, but Vishnu told him that he would get Moksha only
during Kali Yuga. During Kali Yuga, Karthama was born as princess
Sangabalan. During his young age, he wanted to marry Kumudhavalli.
She was
an ardent devotee of Vishnu and stipulated that she would marry him only if he
feeds thousand Vaishnavites, the devotees of Vishnu. Sangabalan started feeding the
devotees and he also resorted to burglary to fund it. Vishnu came with Lakshmi
incognito in his path and he tried to rob them as well. Vishnu uttered the Ashtotra
Mantra in his ears and he turned into Thirumangai Azhwar. Since Vishnu in the form of Ranganatha gave darshan to
the Azhwar and his wife, the presiding deity is called Kalyana Ranganatha. The
place is locally called Azhwar Koil and also called Vedarajapuram.
Etymology:
Thirumal
searched for the Thirumagal everywhere and found her finally in a Lotus flower
in the Pushkarini here and hugged her; hence this place is known as Aalingapuri
(Aalinga means hugging) and Sripuri (Sri meaning the Goddess); hence it became
Thirunagari (Sri-Thiru, puri-nagar) in Tamil.
Thirumangai Golden Idol:
Thirumangai
had a golden sculpture of his done at Thirukurungudi. It is believed that he
transferred all his powers to this sculpture before he attained Moksham at
Thirukurungudi. This idol was then moved to Thirunagari, near the birth place
of Thirumangai Azhvaar and to date remains the idol of Thirumangai, on whom the
daily pooja is undertaken here at Thirunagari.
Mangai Mutt:
To win
over his sweet heart Kumudhavalli, Thirumangai fed a 1000 vaishnavites here as
per the condition laid down by her. To this day, one can see the mandapam,
called Mangai Mutt, where Thirumangai fed these Vaishnavites.
Pancha Narasimha Kshetrams:
Sri
Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal temple is considered as one of the Pancha Narasimha
Kshetrams (five temples of Lord Narasimha), located in and around Thiruvali-
Thirunagari.
The
Pancha Narasimha Kshetrams are:
·
Thiruvali Lakshmi
Narasimhar
·
Kuraiyalur Ugra Narasimhar
·
Mangaimadam Veera
Narasimhar
·
Thirunagari Yoga
Narasimhar
·
Thirunagari Hiranya
Narasimhar