Uthra Ranganathar Temple, Pallikonda – Legends
Etymology:
This
temple is situated in the village called Pallikondaan or Pallikonda on the
banks of River Palar. As Lord is in his reclining form as in the milk ocean
(Sheera Sagara or Par Kadal), the river is named as Palar which means “River of
Milk" and the place is called Pallikondaan which means "The Reclining
God".
Place for Salvation:
According
to Brahmanda Purana, staying in this temple for a night and worshipping Perumal
ensure salvation to the soul. It is considered that if you stay for 3
nights at Kanchi, you get salvation but here if you stay just one night, you
get salvation.
Chotta Ranganathar:
During
foreign invasions, original Ranganathaswamy was hidden and replaced with a
small idol of Sri Ranganathar known as Kasthuri Ranganathar or Chotta Ranganathar. Even
today Pujas are performed to this Chotta Ranganathar.
Indira got relieved of Brahmaharthi Dosham here:
Once
Indira got Brahmaharthi Dosham, then as per Kashyapa Rishi's advice Indira took
sacred bath in this temple pond "Vyasa Pushkarani" for one year and
got rid of the Dosha.
Lord took reclining form on Brahma’s request:
Mothers Mahalakshmi
and Maha Saraswathi once had a debate about the supremacy of the one over the
other. They approached Lord Brahma who said Mahalakshmi is
superior. So, Devi Saraswathi got angry and left Brahma, came to Nandhi
Durga hills and began penance to attain supremacy. Meantime, Lord Brahma
organized a Yagna dedicating to Lord Vishnu. As a rule, such rituals
should be performed along with wife by the side. Brahma invited
Saraswathi to join him the Yagna but She refused. Brahma created Savitri
with the attributes of Maha Saraswathi, married her and began the Yagna which
further infuriated Mother Saraswathi.
To
destroy the Yagna, Saraswathi took the form of a river, Sheera Nadhi or Palar
River and began to flood furiously. Brahma prayed to Lord Vishnu to
stop the flood and save the Yagna. On Brahma request, Lord Sri Vishnu took
Reclining Form on Adhiseshan at three sacred places in front of the flood and
stopped it and the Yagna also got completed successfully. The first place where
Lord took reclining Form is Pallikonda which is also known as Vada Arangam, the
second place is Thiruparkadal near Kaveripakkam and the third is Tiruvekkaa or
Yathothkari Perumal (Sonna Vannam Seitha Perumal) Temple in Kanchipuram.
Marriage Parihara Sthalam:
Also in
this sthalam, Lord Vishnu married Shenbagavalli Thayar on Panguni Uthiram
day as per Sage Sampathi's request and prayer. As Lord himself got married
in this sthalam, many weddings are conducted in this temple and it is believed
that the couple will live together happily with long life.
Brahmotsavam:
As per
Sthala Purana it is believed that after Lord Brahmma successfully performed the
Yagna which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Sriman Narayana appeared from the
Yagna Kundam as Sri Varadharaja Swamy and Brahma performed ten days Urchavam
to this Sri Varadharaja Swamy in this sthalam and this Urchavam was first
referred as Brahmotsavam. Though nowadays Brahmotsavam is celebrated in almost
all Vishnu temples it was first celebrated in this Pallikonda temple and it was
first performed by Lord Brahma.
Amba Raja got darshan of Lord Vishnu here:
According
to the Sthala History, there lived a king called Amba Raja who was ruling this
part of the country called Thiruvedhimangalam (today’s Pallikonda). He has been
highly victorious and was enjoying all the worldly pleasures as a king. Having
fed up with materialistic life, he one day realized that the purpose of his
birth is only to get the Dharshan of Sri Maha Vishnu. He started worshipping
Maha Vishnu for years together and was eagerly waiting to have his Dharshan.
Years
rolled by. But there was no sign of God appearing to him. He got frustrated and
attempted suicide. While he was trying to commit suicide, a heavenly voice from
the sky told him to be patient and to continue his prayers so that he will soon
get the Dharshan of God. The king became happy and continued his worships. After
stopping Saraswathi from disturbing Brahma’s Yagam, Lord Vishnu came back to
Pallikonda and gave Dharshan to Amba Raja. The king asked for a boon that the
God should settle here and give Dharshan to everyone visiting this place.
As the
God settled here during his act of uniting Brahma and Saraswathi, the king
prayed that He should grant boon for unmarried people and the separated couples
visiting here. Lord Ranganathar agreed to it and granted his wish. Even today,
it is said that unmarried men or women who worship Lord Ranganathar here, get
married soon. Also, the couples, who have quarrels or separation in married
life, get united upon worshipping Lord Ranganathar here.