Thiruneermalai Dhivya Desam – Legends
Ranganatha appearing as Lord Rama due to Sage Valmiki
penance:
As per
Hindu legend, sage Valmiki, after composing the epic Ramayana, worshipped Ranganatha at the top of the hill. When he
came downhills, Valmiki is said to have missed the presence of Lord Raama at foot
hills and is said to have undertaken penance thinking of Lord Raama. Due to his
penance, Ranganatha appeared as Lord Rama, Lakshmi appeared as Sita, Adi
Sesha appeared as Lakshmana, Vishnu's shankha as Bharatha, Sudarshana
chakra as Shatrugna, Garuda in the form of Hanuman and Vishwakarma
as Sugreeva.
Thirumangai Azhwar 6 month wait:
Thiru
Mangai Azhvaar came here to sing praise of the Lord but heavy rains flooded the
place and he could not reach this temple. Having come this far, he decided to
wait till the rains stopped. It proved to be a long wait of 6 months before
Thiru Mangai could meet his Lord. The hill on which he stayed during these 6
months still exists and is called Thiru Mangai Azhvaar Puram. This is the only
Divya Desam where Thiru Mangai waited this long to meet the Lord.
One has
seen in the stories relating to a few of the other Divya Desams where Thiru
Mangai has left/threatened to leave without waiting for the Lord. Pleased with
his devotee, Perumal granted four darshans to Azhwar – Neer
Vanna Perumal standing, Narasimha sitting, Ranganatha reclining and Ulagalandha
Perumal in walking postures. The devotee can enjoy these darshans in
the temple. Lord Neervanna Perumal is at the foot of the hills while
Ranganatha, Narasimha and Ulagalandha Perumal are at the hill temple.
Utsavar goes up the hill only thrice a year:
The
Utsavar deity of Ranganatha is seen at the Neer Vannan temple at the foot of
the hill. Only thrice a year - on the first and last day of Brahmotsavam
festival and on the Panguni Uthiram day - is he taken up the hill to be
alongside the Moolavar Lord Ranganatha.
Madhya Rangam:
This
place is called Madhya Rangam and Lord Ranganatha is seen in Bhoga
Sayanam.
Oldest Hill Divya Desams:
During
Dwapara Yugam, there were only two Divya Desams that were on hills. One was
Ahobilam and the other was Thiruneermalai.
Lord Narasimha darshan to Arjuna:
It is
believed that Lord Narasimha gave darshan to Arjuna after he performed the
Ashwamedha Yaagam here at this place.
Prarthana Sthalam:
This is
a Prarthana Sthalam and the Lord is said to answer prayers relating to different
issues, especially marriage.
Ashta Swayamvektha Kshetrams:
Eight
Vishnu temples in India are considered very important as Lord Vishnu manifested
himself and these places are praised as Swayam Vyaktha Kshetras of which this Thiruneermalai
temple is one. Others are Srirangam in Trichy District, Srimushnam
in Cuddalore District, Tirupathi in Andhra Pradesh and Salagramam,
Naimisaranyam, Pushkaram and Narayanapuram in north.
Only Dhivya Desam where Lord Narasimha in Cool Posture:
Only
Divya Desams where Lord Narasimha is seen in a cool posture – called ‘Shanta
Narasimhar’. Though Lord Narasimha is known for his furious appearance, He is
smiling and cool here. After killing Hiranya to save his devout son Prahladha
from his tortures, He was still furious. Boy Prahladha was very much
afraid of Lord’s fury. To make his devotee happy, Lord Narasimha shed his
fury and appeared before Prahladha as a smiling boy himself. He thus
became Bala Narasimha. There is a shrine for him in the hill
temple. Behind Bala Narasimha is Ugra (furious) Narasimha with two
hands. We can worship Narasimha in two forms Bala and Ugra.
Girivalam:
As this
is a hill temple, Giri Valam is observed on Poornima-new moon days.
Boga Ranganatha darshan to sages Markandeya & Brugu:
After
the darshan of Lord in Srirangam in reclining posture, sages Markandeya and
Brugu were returning to their places. The darshan at Srirangam was
afresh in their minds. They prayed to Lord to grant them darshan again at
this place. Lord granted the darshan as Boga Ranganatha in reclining posture in
this place and continues to bless from the hill top His
devotees. Abishek is not offered to Him except a Thaila Kappu –
applying cosmetic oil on the idol- once in a year in Karthikai month-November-December.
Etymology:
This
Thiruneermalai Kshetram is also called as "Thoyagiri Kshetram" and
also as "Thothadri". Thoya means "Water" and Adhiri means
"Mountain" (malai). Since the mountain is surrounded by water, this Sthalam
is named as "Thiru Neer Malai" in Tamil. Brahmanda Purana refers
this place Thodatri, meaning a mountain surrounded by water.