Thirukkurungudi Dhivya Desam, Thirunelveli
Thirukkurungudi
Dhivya Desam consists of Thiruvattaparai Temple, Thirumangai Alwar Tiruvarasu
Temple, Azhagiya Nambi Temple, Thirupaarkadal Nambi Temple and Malaimel Nambi
Temple. Main Temple is Vaishnava Nambi Temple, located in Thirukkurungudi village in Thirunelveli
district in the South
Indian state of Tamilnadu. It is located 45 km (28 mi) from Thirunelveli and 11 km (6.8 mi) from Nanguneri. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya
Prabhandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the
6th–9th centuries AD.
It is
one of the 108 Divya Desam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as
Vaishnava Nambi and his consort Lakshmi as Thirukurungudivalli. The temple is locally
referred as Dakshina Vaikuntam, the holy abode of Vishnu. A granite wall surrounds the
temple, enclosing all its shrines and two of its three bodies of water.
Vaishnava Nambi is believed to have appeared to slay the demon Somuka who
abducted the four Vedas. The temple follows Thenkalai tradition of worship.
Araiyar Sevai, the visual song and dance enactment
of Nalayira Divya Prabhandham is originated here at Thirukkurungudi. It is also
known as ‘Dakshina Badri’. The Lord
here is seen 5 different Kolams- Ninra Kolam, Iruntha Kolam, Sayana (Sleeping)
Kolam, Thirupaarkadal Nambi and Thirumalai Nambi (on top of the Mahendra hill).
The place is referred to as the ‘Southern Home’ of Lord Vishnu.
Lord
Vishnu took the role of a disciple and obtained Vaishnava initiation from
Ramanuja at the place. Thirumangai Azhwar attained Moksham at the place. Thirukkurungudi
is a holy Divyadesam complex of 5 temples and 5 Nambis (“Nambu” in Tamil means
believe and “Nambi” means believed by all). The main temple of Thirukkurungudi
has 3 Nambis in Nindra (standing), Irundha (sitting) and Kidantha (reclining)
postures. The other two Nambis are in the nearby Thiruparkadal Nambi Temple and
Malaimel Nambi temple.
The
other two nearby temples Thiruvattaparai and Thirumangai Azhwar Tiruvarasu are
also very significant and part of this Divya Desam. Nammazhwar, the foremost
amongst the Vaishnavite saints, is considered to be the incarnation of this
Lord Nindra Nambi. He was born to his mother Udaya Nangai after her prayers
here. The famed Araiyar Sevai and Kaisika Puranam originated from here. It
ranks 89th Divya Desam temple (out of 108 Divya Desams).
Six
daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the
ten-day annual Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Chittirai (April - May) and
Brahmotsavam during the month of Chittirai, being the most prominent. The
temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment
Board of the Government of Tamilnadu.
Legends
For brief
details, please refer below link;
History
For
brief details, please refer below link;
The
Temple
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 6.30 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Religious
Significance
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Singers
Celebrated
Vaishnavite Saints Tirumazhisai Azhwar, Nammazhwar, Periazhwar and Thirumangai
Azhwar had praised the glory of the Lord of the temple in their Mangalasasanam Prabhandham
hymns.
Mangalasasanam:
·
Periyalvar - 1 Pasuram
·
Tirumazhisai Alwar - 1
Pasuram
·
Nammalwar - 13 Paasurams
·
Thirumangai Alwar - 25
Paasurams
Periazhwar
refers to Thirukkurungudi, Thiruvellarai and Thiru Kannapuram in this following
Pasuram;
உன்னையும் ஒக்களையிர் கொண்டு
தம் இல் மருவி உன்னோடு தங்கள் கருத்து
ஆயின செய்து வரும்
கன்னியரும் மகிழ, கண்டவர் கண்குளிரக்
கற்றவர் தேற்றிவர, பெற்ற எனக்கு அருளி
மண்ணு குறுங்குடியாய் வெள்ளறையாய்
மதில் சூழ் சோலைமலைக்கரசே
கன்னபுரதமுதே
என் அவலம் களைவாய் ஆடுக செங்கீரை
ஏழுலகும் உடையாய் ஆடுக ஆடுகவே
தம் இல் மருவி உன்னோடு தங்கள் கருத்து
ஆயின செய்து வரும்
கன்னியரும் மகிழ, கண்டவர் கண்குளிரக்
கற்றவர் தேற்றிவர, பெற்ற எனக்கு அருளி
மண்ணு குறுங்குடியாய் வெள்ளறையாய்
மதில் சூழ் சோலைமலைக்கரசே
கன்னபுரதமுதே
என் அவலம் களைவாய் ஆடுக செங்கீரை
ஏழுலகும் உடையாய் ஆடுக ஆடுகவே
Prayers
People
pray to Perumal for salvation. Devotees light ghee lamps.
Contact
Thirukkurungudi
Dhivya Desam,
Thirkurungudi
– 627 115
Thirunelveli
District
Phone: +91 4635 265 289
Mobile: +91 94432 05739 / 94863 21552
Connectivity
Thirukkurungudi is
located at the foothills of the Western Ghats and 40 km to the North of Kanyakumari
and about 120 km from Thiruvananthapuram the capital city
of Kerala. Thirukkurungudi is approachable by road. It is located at about 45 kms
from Thirunelveli, 15 kms from Nanguneri (Vana Mamalai) and 10 kms
from Vallioor.
Jeeps
are available from Thirukkurungudi to Malaimel Nambhi temple (Even if you have
your own vehicle, hiring one of the many jeeps available in Thirukkurungudi is
recommended due to poor rood conditions and the hilly terrain). Visiting other
temples (Thiruvattaparai, Thirupaarkadal Nambhi, and Thirumangai Alwar
Tiruvarasu) is easier when you have a vehicle. You can ask the local people /
priests to take you to these temples.
From
Chennai, one can take the Kanyakumari/Ananthapuri Express to Valliyur. From
here, one can reach Thirukkurungudi (10 km) in 20 minutes by boarding the
Papanasam bound bus via Eruvadi. By car, one can reach the shrine in 45 minutes
from Thirunelveli. One can also visit Vaanamamalai Divyadesam in Nanguneri.
Nearest Railway Station is located at Valliyur. Nearest Airport is located at Madurai,
Thiruvananthapuram and Thoothukudi.
References