Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple (Arulmaakadal Perumal
Temple), Tirusirupuliyur – Legends
Story behind the name Tirusirupuliyur:
Shiva ordered sage Vyakrapada to perform penance at Srirangam requesting the
god Vishnu to give him place in his abode Vaikunta. Vyakrapada was joined by sage Patanjali in his journey. Because of his poor eyesight, the
sages instead went southward, lost their way and reached Krupa Samudram, modern
day Tirusirupuliyur. They
prayed to Vishnu to come to Srirangam to grant them moksha(divine attainment). It is believed that Vishnu
originally gave darshan (appeared) to the sages as Ranganatha, the form worshipped in the Srirangam temple.
Because
of their old age, the sages could not see the big image of Vishnu clearly and
hence he appeared in a smaller form known as Bala Sayanam (smaller
recline), the sleeping posture of a small kid. Being in smaller form, and the
saint who worshipped was in the form of a tiger, this place is called Siru (meaning
small) Puli (meaning tiger) yur (meaning dwelling place).
Vyakrapada has also got a seat under the feet of the Perumal in the Moolavar
Sannathi.
Egoistic Fight between Garuda and Adhiseshan:
It’s
been said the Perumal of this place gave protection to the snake Adhiseshan
from his enemy Garuda. Once Garudan and the Serpent Adhishesha on whom Lord
Vishnu reclines got into a egoistic fight that who was more powerful and
devoted to the lord. They came down to this Tirusirupuliyur Divyadesam and
asking the lord for the solution. Lord appeared as Kirupasamudran and by seeing
Garudan more arrogant, He went in favour of Adhiseshan.
Disappointed
Garudan became more anger and because of which Garuda never flies over this
place even now. By seeing angry Garudan, Adhiseshan got frightened and
expecting an angry reaction from Garudan begged lord to save him. Pleased lord
asked him to roll himself and lie under him. Since then Adhishesha became his
bed.
Practice of touching the Lizards while coming out from
Sanctum:
Once the
disciples of the sage Gouthama Rishi, was careless and a Lizard jumped out from
the water they placed in front of his guru. By noticing this sage got angry and
cursed the disciples to become Lizards. They got then relieved when Indiran
came here as Gajendran to worship Varadaraja here. It is strongly believed that
the people who prays Moolavar Varadaraja and touches the Lizards on their way
out will get cured from all their chronic diseases and disorders.
Sayana Kolam Posture:
A
special feature of this temple is that this is one of the only two Divya Desams
where the Lord in Sayana Kolam (sleeping posture) is facing the Southern
direction, the other being Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam.
Thiru Mangai Azhwar worry on the small size of the Lord:
When
Thiru Mangai Azhwar visited this place, initially he felt let down by the tiny
size of the Lord. Thirumangai, who had seen different displays and different
forms of Lord Vishnu, was then impressed upon by Kripasamudra Perumal that this
was indeed something very special and that he should savour for the moment.
Then he could come to Thiru Kannamangai (Divya Desam about 25 km south – west
of Sirupuliyur) for a darshan of his full form in a standing posture. A happy
Thirumangai showered 10 verses of praise on Kripasamudra Perumal in his Periya
Thirumozhi referring to the Lord as Sala Sayana Perumal and making a specific
reference to Adisesha.
Prarthana Sthalam:
As this
was the place where Kripasamudra Perumal accorded a special status to Adisesha
by placing him above Garuda, this temple is of special significance for relief
from Naaga Dosha and Kaala Sarpa Dosha. This is the only Divya Desam where
there is a separate temple for Adisesha.