Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple, Thiruvellarai – Literary
Mention
The
Temple is the fourth among the 108 Divya Desams (Azhwars or holy Vaishnavite
saints, who invoked Lord Vishnu with the hymn of Nalayira Divya Prabhandham or
4000 holy hymns compositions in 108 shrines. Thiruvellarai Divya Desam or
Vaishnavite shrine was invoked by Periazhwar and Thirumangai Azhwar. The shrine
is believed to be much older than Sri Rangam, the First Divya Desam. Periyalvar
had 11 hymns written and Thirumangai Alwar had 13 Hymns written on the Lord of
this Temple.
In ten
poems, he portrays the childish pranks of Lord Krishna. But for Thirumangai
Azhwar the Lord here is the one who took incarnations as Parasurama, Rama,
Krishna, Narasimha, Varaha and Koorma. He also refers to the Lord taking the
form of Hamsa and Parimuka Perumal (Hayagriva), which are not so well known. He
has also sung the glory of the Lord in his `Siriya Thirumadal' and `Periya
Thirumadal.' Both the saints have dedicated to the Lord 24 Pasurams.
This is
the birth place of Uyyakkondan (a disciple of Saint Naradhar) whose given name
was Pundarikaksha. He wrote ‘Sri Bashyam’ but was left unfinished by him and
was finally completed by Vishnu Sitar. So, this rock is called as ‘Uyyakkondan
Malai’. Uyyakondar taught the people Azhwars ‘4000 Divya Prabhandham’ songs,
which were brought back from the oblivion by his mentor Saint Naradhar.
Another
preceptor, Engalazhwan whose given name was Vishnuchitthar, a contemporary of
Ramanuja and an expert in Sri Bashyam, was also born here. He created a tank
called Udayavar kulam for the use of his mentor Ramanuja during his stay here. Engal
Azhwan, the Vaishnava saint-poet has written the great ‘Nadaa thooram Aalukku
oppatra pungai Maalai’. ‘Nadaathoorammaal’ means ‘Bhaktha (disciple) who is
totally engrossed with devotion and his heart and soul on the divine’.
The two
acharyas of Thiruvellarai complemented each other – while Uyyakondar celebrated
Tamil Vedam (4000 Divya Prabhandham) and Engal Azhwan celebrated the Sanskrit
Vedam. Both of them have separate shrines here. Manavala Mamuni and
Desikacharyar have also sung of this shrine. Vedanta Desikar (1269–1370 CE) has
revered the temple in his work ‘Hamsa Sandesam’. Udayavar Sri Ramanujar stayed in
the Pundarikaksha Perumal Temple and expounded on Vaishnavism and spread the
message.
When
Nathamunigal, an expert in `Ashtanga Yoga,' offered to impart training in the
same to him, Uyyakondar was said to have politely turned down the offer saying
that `how can one celebrate a marriage in a house where death has occurred.' The
inference thereby was that when there were thousands of souls to be redeemed,
there was no point in his learning the Yoga to attain eternal bliss.
Azhvaar Praise:
இந்திரனோடு பிரமன் ஈசன் இமையவர் எல்லாம்
மந்திர மா மலர் கொண்டு
மறைந்து உவராய் வந்து நின்றார்
மந்திர மா மலர் கொண்டு
மறைந்து உவராய் வந்து நின்றார்
சந்திரன் மாளிகை சேரும் சதுரர்கள் வெள்ளரை நின்றாய்
அந்தியம் போது இது ஆகும்
அழகனே காபிட வாராய் - Periyaazhvaar's Kaapidal
அந்தியம் போது இது ஆகும்
அழகனே காபிட வாராய் - Periyaazhvaar's Kaapidal
