Veda Narayana
Perumal Temple, Thottiyam – Legends
Mahabali built this Temple:
When the
emperor Mahabali took his army towards Mysore for war, he took rest on the way
on a sand dune. At that time, the Lord Perumal appeared in his dream and said
that on that spot under the earth there was an idol of the Lord. The Lord
instructed the king to unearth the idol and build a temple there. He also
blessed the king and said that he would be victorious. After the king got up,
he excavated the idol, installed it, built a temple and worshipped there. He
established a village there and named it “Tirunarayanapuram”. He granted the
lands and the village to the temple’s name and then went to Mysore for war and
was very victorious.
Lord appeared as Shantha Swaroopa Moorthy to Prahaladha
here:
Lord Vishnu
took the Narasimha Avatar to save Prahaladha and to slaughter demon Hiranyakasipu.
When Prahaladha requested to the Lord to give him Dharshan in his composed
state, Perumal ordered him to come to Thiru Narayanapuram. Accordingly, the
Lord appears as Shantha Swaroopa Moorthy and blesses the devotees who come to
worship him here. Lord Vishnu also promised a place for Prahalad near his feet
- another unique feature seen at this temple is a 3-year-old boy Prahaladha in
a standing posture at the feet of the sleeping Lord.
Vedic Initiation to Brahmma:
Brahmma
once turned arrogant as he was the only one who could ‘create’ things in this
world. Wanting to teach him a lesson, Lord Vishnu created a unique idol that
left Brahmma wondering about its creator. When asked, Lord Vishnu feigned
ignorance saying that Brahmma was the only one bestowed with the rights of creation.
While agreeing to this, Brahmma questioned the Lord as to who could have
created this image and how this could have appeared without his knowledge and
approval.
Lord
Vishnu brought the truth before Brahmma and a message to the people at large
saying that we should do what is expected of us. However, we should not become
arrogant as a result of the exclusive/ special powers given to
us. Realizing his folly, Brahmma requested Lord Narayana for the
initiation of the Vedas. Lord Narayana is believed to have appeared before him
here at Thiru Narayanapuram and undertaken the Vedic initiation.
As he
initiated the Vedic lessons to Brahmma, the Lord is referred to here as ‘Veda
Narayanan’. Having played the role of an Acharya and Brahmma having been a
student/disciple of Lord Vishnu, this temple is said to be a ‘Guru’ and
‘Budhan’ Sthalam.
Other Names:
This
place which is now called as “Thiru Narayanapuram” was known as ‘Chathur Vedhi
Mangalam’, ‘Vedapuri’ and ‘Aadhi Rangam’ in the past.
Pillai Thiru Naraiyur Abhimana Kshetram:
Thiru
Naraiyur Araiyar came here with his wife and 6 children in the hope of finding
Moksham. One night, the leaves from the palm tree at the temple caught fire.
Shocked at seeing this, Thiru Naraiyur Araiyar immediately threw his 6 children
towards the Lord as a cover for him and to protect him from the raging flames.
Unfortunately, the Lord continued to burn. Araiyar then threw himself into the
flames and hugged the Lord so the fire would not touch his favourite Lord. Pleased
with his devotion, the Lord appeared before him and granted Moksham to the
entire family of the Araiyar. Hence, this place came to be called Pillai Thiru
Naraiyur Abhimana Kshetram.
Success in Education:
Veda
Narayana Perumal of Thiru Narayanapuram is said to help devotees in their
education and learning. As Brahmma himself was initiated with Vedic Education,
this is a special temple on the education front. Students/ children who visit
this temple offering their sincere prayers and place their books at the feet of
Veda Narayanan are believed to come out with flying colours in their education.
Sri Ramanuja in saffron:
When Sri
Ramanuja visited the place, Lord advised him to have a dip in Cauvery and come
back dressed in saffron. Ramanuja did accordingly. The Acharya comes in
procession in saffron on Tiruvadhirai star day in the month of Chithirai,
April-May. He is dressed in white on other days.
People worshipped Lord Vishnu here:
This
temple which is praised as “Adhi Rangam” or “Mudhal Rangam” is the place where
Brahma, Prahaladha, Sugreeva, Hanuman, Garuda, Araiyar, Cholas, etc. worshipped
and got divine sanction.