Thirukkurungudi Dhivya Desam – Legends
Varaha
Purana:
As per
accounts in the Varaha
Purana, a treatise of Varaha, an avatar of Vishnu, Varaha preferred to stay at this
place with his consort Varahi in a small form and hence came to be known as
Thirkurungudi (literally meaning a small house).
Vaamana Kshetram:
This
temple is also called as “Vaamana Kshetram” which infers that the shrine is
related to the Vamana Avathara, one of the ten Avatharams of Sriman Narayanan.
Vamana was born in Purattasi month – Sukla patsham in Sravana Thuvadasi for
Kaasyabha Maharishi and Athithi. He was taught the Savithri mantram by Suryan
and Brahma Soothram by Vyazha Guru Bragaspathi.
He got
the Dharbai from his father, Kaashyaba Maharishi; Krishna Aasanam from Bhoomi
(earth); Thandi (used as a support for the hand) from Chandran; Koupeenam
(clothes) from Athithi; Kamandalam from Brahmma; vessels from Guberan.
Bharadhwaja Maharishi was his Guru and taught all the Vedas.
Mother
Parasakthi gave him food with her holy hands when he begged for food. In spite
of taking the gigantic Thirivikraman – Ulagalandha Perumal Kolam, Vaamana is
giving his Seva as a short sage in this Sthalam. Because of this, this Sthalam
is called as “Kurungudi”.
Lord Shiva got relieved of Brahmahatti Dosham here:
When
Lord Shiva got his Brahmahatti Dosham by plucking the head of Brahma, he came
to this Sthalam and as advised by the Nindra Nambi, begged from Kurungudi Valli
Thaayar for Amudham (food) and got out of the Dosham. He also learnt the
Sudharsana Japam from Vaamanar and got completely out of the Dosham.
Thirumangai Azhwar Moksham:
As per
the Vaishnavite Sampradayam, Thirukkurungudi is said to be the ‘Southern House’
of Lord Vishnu. Hence, it is believed that ‘Vaikuntam’ (the ultimate
destination for Vaishnavites) is in ‘calling distance’ from Thirukkurungudi. Thirumangai
Azhvaar who built the huge walls of Srirangam and contributed in no small
measure to the temple asked for Moksham from Srirangam Ranganatha, who directed
Thirumangai to visit his ‘Southern house’. Thirumangai composed the last of his
Paasurams here at this temple and is believed to have attained Moksham from
here. An idol of Thirumangai Azhvaar, with folded hands, that was created here
at Thirukkurungudi was later sent to his birth place (near Thiruvali
Thirunagari).
Legend of Kaisika Puranam:
Thirukkurungudi
is a very ancient village referred in Varaha
Purana and Brahmanda
Purana. Kaisika Puranam is
within Varaha Puranam and was narrated by Varaha
Nainar (Third incarnation
of Lord Mahavishnu) to Sri Bhoomi
Devi. Nampaduvan (Madangar) was a great devotee of Lord
Nambi, though he was born in a very low class society. He used to sing in
praise of the Lord Nambi. One day, on Sukla Ekadasi night in the month of
Karthigai (Vrichika masam), he was going to Temple crossing through a dense
forest. The legend of Kaisika Puranam revolves around Nambaduvan, a low caste
person belonging to the Baanar (musician) family who had unflinching faith on
Lord Nambi. Since Nambaduvan was a low caste person, he was embarrassed to come
to the temple during the day time and so used to come during every night. He
will stand in front of the temple and sing the praise of Lord Nambi with a
Veena all through the night and leave before dawn.
During
one such night, on the way, he was intercepted by a hungry wild demon which
wanted him for the dinner. Undaunted, Nambaduvan requested the demon to wait
for a little time so that he could complete his Kaisika Ekadasi Vratham and the
Dharshan of Kurungudi Nambi assuring that he will return back. Unable to
convince the demon, Nambaduvan made 18 promises that night to the demon.
Through
these promises, narrated beautifully in the Kaisika Puranam as a lengthy
discussion between the two, one comes to know of the different sins we commit
every day in our lives as a result of not adhering to some of the basic values
in life. 17 promises later and not having got the nod from the demon,
Nambaduvan made the 18th promise:
“Swarva Swamiyum Moksha Pradhaana Sriman Naarayananaiyum
Devathai Galaiyum Samamaaga Bhaavikiren Yaavaroruvan
Avanai Poley Nithya Samsaari Yaaven”
If I do
not return, I would have committed the biggest sin that exists – that of
comparing and equating Lord Narayana with others. And I will become a sinner
who will never get Moksham from this cycle of births.” This extraordinary
promise moved the demon and the demon let him go.
Nambaduvan,
after singing the Nammalwar Paasurams in a mesmerizing musical note in front of
the temple, was returning to see the demon as promised. On the way, Lord Nambi
in the guise of an old man, stopped Nambaduvan and after knowing his story from
Nambaduvan, advised him to escape in some other route and not to get in the
clutches of the demon. But Nambaduvan reiterated that he would not deviate from
his promise.
The old
man gave Dharshan of his original form of Lord Nambi, blessed Nambaduvan and
also gave him the title “Nampaaduvaan”, meaning “the person who will sing the
praise of me (Lord)”. Nampaduvan then went straight to the demon and offered
himself as the demon’s food. But the demon changed his mind and asked for the
fruit of the songs he sang on Lord. After repeated submission by Nambaduvan,
the demon explained that he was a Brahmin in earlier birth and became demon due
to a curse.
Only the
purest of the Nambi devotees had the power to relieve him from his curse – and that’s
why he wanted to listen to Nambaduvan’s praise of Lord Nambi. Nambaduvan shared
with him the ‘Kaisika’ verses, which he sang that very night in front of Lord
Nambi. Just listening to these verses helped the demon getting liberated from
the curse and attains Moksham. Belief is that those who undertake fast, and
listen to the Kaisika Puranam, on Kaisika Ekadesi will attain
Paraasara Bhattar - The one who composed the Kaisika Puranam:
Paraasara
Bhattar took the story of a complex Kaisika Puranam (in Sanskrit) and composed
it in a simple, easily understandable language. He made it more interesting by analyzing
the different Avatars of Lord Vishnu and showcasing Varaha Avatar as the best
and the purest, despite the Lord taking the form of a pig (Human beings
typically give pigs the poorest treatment). In the Varaha Avatar, the Lord took
the form of a pig and yet saved the world. Paraasara Bhattar dissected the
Kaisika Puranam and created the vyakyaanam for the entire Kaisika Puranam,
which was hitherto non-existent.
Vaikunta Moksham:
If
Srirangam is known for Vaikunta Ekadesi, Thiru Kurungudi is said to be the home
to the Vaishnava tradition of ‘Kaisika Ekadesi’ and Kaisika Natakam (drama) -
worship of the Lord through dance, music and drama is a special event at the
Thiru Kurungudi Nambi temple on the Kaisika Ekadesi day. Kaisika Ekadesi is
celebrated in the Tamil month of Karthigai and precedes Vaikunta Ekadesi.
It is
believed that those who undertake fast and sing and/or listen to the Kaisika Puranam
on the Kaisika Ekadesi day will attain Vaikunta Moksham. Kaisika Puranam, which
is a part of Varaha Puranam and comprises several hundred songs- all in small
stanzas - shows Lord Narayana as the ultimate supreme force and is a case study
in this modern money making world of keeping up one’s word at the cost of
anything, even life.
The story of Ramanuja:
The
story of Thiruvattaparai is very engaging & interesting. The
great Vaishnavite saint Ramanuja was preaching the Vishistadwaitha philosophy
in Thiruvananthapuram city and his fame was spreading far and wide. Lot of
people there became disciples of Sri Ramanuja (amongst whom Vaduga Nambhi
was close to Ramanuja), which couldn’t be tolerated by the Nambhoodhiris there.
So the Nambhoodhiris with their black magic move Ramanuja to
Thiruvattaparai overnight (just a hill separates this place from Kerala).
The next
day, the unsuspecting Ramanuja, thinking he is in Kerala, wakes up calling his
disciple, “Vaduga... Vaduga...” The Nambhi of Thirukkurungudi, moved by
poignancy of the moment, immediately appears before Sri Ramanuja as Vaduga
Nambhi and renders service to his favourite Acharya. Ramanuja had the habit of
keeping his remnant Thirumaan to Vaduga Nambhi. On the eventful day too,
Ramanuja keeps Thiruman, but for the Supreme Lord himself. The both then go to
the main temple to worship the moolavar.
The
Perumal in the guise of Vaduga carried the pookkudalai and thiruthuzhai in the
baskets and went past the dwaja sthambam, entered the garbha griham, placed
them there and went further inside and vanished. Later when Ramanuja goes to
temple, he sees the Thiruman on the deity’s still fresh & exactly as he had
kept for Vaduga Nambhi. Sri Ramanuja begged his pardon, but the Lord told him
that he was not satisfied with his own Avataras and that he wanted to act as a
sishya to a great Acharyan and to get upadesam from him.
He requested
the Acharyan to preach him the Thirumanthiram or Mahamanthiram. Accordingly
Ramanuja sat on a pedestal befitting his dignity and the Lord seated himself at
a lower level in an obedient posture with his right ear just below the face or
mouth of Sri Ramanuja. Hence, Lord Vishnu is also called as 'Vaishnava Nambi'. Even
to-day we can see the great teacher and the Lord in this position in the
Ramanuja’s temple at Thiruvattaparai.
Ramanuja’s early trip back to Thirukkurungudi:
Ramanuja
who stayed at Thirukkurungudi made trips to other Divya Desams such as
Thiruvattaru, Thiruvan Parisaram and also Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple in
Thiruvananthapuram, where the Lord asks Garuda to carry him fast that same
night back to Thirukkurungudi. And to Ramanuja’s surprise, he was on top of the
Thirukkurungudi rock at the blink of an eye. As a result of this event, it is
believed that one does not find Garuda in the Ananthapadmanabhaswamy temple.
Araiyar Sevai:
Araiyar
Sevai is a performing art form centered on the ritual singing and enactment of
the hymns of Divya Prabhandham. It originated in this village and was
introduced by Nathamuni. Araiyars, the descendants of Nathamuni, have since
carried the Araiyar Sevai. Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam is believed to have
given the Araiyars the right to perform the unique musical chanting at the
temples and presented them with the cone-like red cap, two cymbals and the
sacred garland.
Legend
has it that Lord Nambi used to listen to Araiyar’s Abhinayam (song and dance
enactment of the Paasurams) hiding behind a wall in Bashyam Street (South Mada
Street). Hence the Lord here is also referred to as ‘Gaana Priyan’. In
recognition of this significant event, one can, to this day, find the name of
this street in Tirunelveli’s Gazette.
Nammalwar:
As per
another legend, it is believed that Nammalvar was born due to blessing of Lord
Nambi in this temple.
Ramayana Connection:
As per
Ramayana, Lord Hanuman is believed to have leaped to Sri Lanka in search of
Sita from Mahendragiri, the hill located in this village. Malaimel Nambi temple
is found on the hill.
Story behind Flag Post slightly moved to a side:
There
lived one Nambaduvan, belonging to a backward community at the foot of
Mahendragiri hills, was a staunch Vishnu devotee. He was sad that he could
not have the darshan of the Lord Azhagiya Nambi even from outside the temple as
the flag post-Kodimaram was shielding the sanctum sanctorum. To oblige
Nambaduvan, Lord asked the flag post to move a little to enable the devotee to
have his darshan. We see the flag post in the temple slightly moved to a
side.
Saiva-Vaishnava harmony:
The
temple also houses the shrines of Lord Shiva and Lord Bhairava as a symbol of
Saiva-Vaishnava harmony. When pujas are performed to Lord Nambi, to
ascertain whether pujas are performed to Lord Shiva also, a priest nearby would
ask “anything short for Lord’s beloved friend”. The other one will reply
“nothing”. This is in vogue even today.
Kuranga Kshetram:
Kurangam
in Tamil means Mother Earth-Bhoomadevi. As Mother prayed here on Perumal,
the place is also known as Kuranga Kshetram.
Story behind formation of Silambaru:
When he
took the Vamana (Dwarf) Avatar and then grew touching the sky, the spring that
came out of his anklet is named Silambaru, Silambu-anklet, according to ancient
scriptures.
