Veera Narayana Perumal Temple, Kattumannarkoil – Legends

Veera Narayana Perumal Temple, Kattumannarkoil – Legends

Veera Narayanan:

Goddess Mahalakshmi was born to Jhirumbana Raja Maharishi as per his prayers. Once she grew up in to a beautiful young girl, there was a Swayamvaram organised to find a match for her to attend which Lord Vishnu came here in his Garuda Vahanam in the guise of a king (Mannan). Having won over her hand, he took her away to the wrath of the other kings who attacked him. Displaying his Viswaroopa, he defeated all the kings. Having shown his valour (Veeram) here, the Lord came to be called Veera Narayanan.

Sage Madhanga penance on Lord Vishnu:

Sage Madhanga committed an error while uttering the Vedic chant during the Ashvamedha Yaga conducted by Brahmma at Kanchipuram. He was cursed by Lord Brahma. To liberate himself from Brahma’s curse, he was directed to Srimushnam, where the Lord appeared before him and redirected him to Manyu Kshetram, South East of Srimushnam to undertake penance near the Veda Pushkarini. After undertaking penance here for several years, Lord Narayana in his Chaturbuja form appeared before the Rishi and provided darshan to him and agreed to stay here as per the wishes of the rishi.

Recovery of Nalayira Divya Prabandham by Nathamunigal:

Kattumannar Koil, the Avathara Sthalam of the Vaishnavite Savant Natha Muni, who was responsible for bringing back the Nalayira Divya Prabandham that had been previously lost to the world. Veera Narayana Perumal, the presiding deity at Kattumannar Koil, is the Lord who asked Nathamunigal to collect and spread the sacred verses of the Azhwars. The Nalayira Divya Prabandham is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses composed by the 12 Azhwars. Prominent among them are the 1100+ verses known as the Thiruvaimozhi, composed by Nammazhvar which forms the third portion of the overall Divya Prabandham.

Many modern academics place the Azhwars date between 5^th and 10^th century CE, however traditionally the Azhwars are considered to have lived between 4200 BCE – 2700 BCE. For a period of several centuries after the last Azhwar, the priceless 4,000 verses were lost without any trace. Then came Nathamunigal during the 9^th – 10^th centuries (the first of the Acharya Parambara) who was born and lived in Veera Narayanapuram, the present day Kattumannar Koil.

Nathamunigal, who mastered himself in Vedas at a young age, was very attached to Veera Narayana Perumal and spent most of his time performing daily poojas for the Lord here. One day, while he was performing his daily poojas, he heard a set of devotees who had come here from Thiru Narayanapuram of Melkote (Karnataka) reciting the Paasuram of “Aaraavamudhe” of Nammazhvar which praises the Lord of Kumbakonam. The recital ended with the mentioning “Aayiraththul Ippaththu” (these 10 out of the 1000).

Captivated by these pasurams, Nathamunigal wanted to know the remaining 990 but they did not know anything about them. A restless Nathamunigal went to Kumbakonam, where Lord Aravamudhan asked him to go to Thiru Kurugur. Thiru Kurugur is the birthplace of Nammazhvar (Kurugur Sadagopan is the birth name of Nammazhvar). Nathamunigal proceeded to Thirukurugur or Azhwar Thiru Nagari (one of the Nava Thirupathis of Thirunelveli), the birth place of Nammazhvar, seeking the 1,000 verses. The people there also did not know anything, but they told him about “Kanni nun Siruthaambu”, the 11 pasurams of Madhurakavi Azhwar, a deep disciple of Nammazhvar.

Nathamunigal, then went to Thirukkolur nearby (another Nava Thirupathi of Thirunelveli), the birth place of Madhurakavi Azhwar but again he could not get any clue out from there. He came back to Thirukurugur and sat under the tamarind tree where Nammazhvar sat from birth to 10+ age without any food and water. Nathamunigal recited the 11 pasurams 12,000 times. Pleased with his penance, Nammazhvar granted him not only his 1,000 pasurams, but the entire collection of 4,000 pasurams of all the Azhwars. Veera Narayana Perumal then called Nathamunigal back to Kattumannar Koil where the Vaishnavite Savant chanted and shared the Nalayira Divya Prabandham with the world.

Thus, Nathamunigal of Kattu Mannar Koil, was instrumental in bringing back to the world the 4000 verses of the Azhwars. He also initiated the Vaishnava Sampradaya from here. After the period of 12 Azhwars from Poigai Azhwar to Thirumangai Azhwar, the Acharya Parambara starts with Nathamunigal as the Mudhal (first) Acharya. Some of Nathamunigal disciples include Uyyakondan, Thiru Kannamangaiaandan and Deivanayagaandan.

Alavanthan, the grandson of Nathamunigal:

Nathamunigal grandson, Alavanthan, was named as Yamunai Thuraivan as per his wishes. Born in Kattumannar Koil, Alavanthan would travel to Srirangam often and spread the message of Vaishnavism. He is also said to have nominated Ramanuja as the future acharya after his death. Alavanthan disciples include Periya Nambi, Thirukoshtiyur Nambi, Thiru Kachi Nambi and Srirangam Araiyar.

Along with his nephews, Keezhaiyagath Azhwar and Melaiyagath Azhwar (the Araiyars are descendants of these two), Nathamunigal gave the Nalayira Divya Prabandham a musical (Raagam and Thalam) & dance form and presented it in a form that the world can experience and enjoy. He went to Srirangam and performed the “Araiyar Sevai” of the Thiruvaai Mozhi verses, with his two nephews, and once again started the Adhyayana Utsavam at Srirangam which had been discontinued after the time of Thirumangai Azhwar.

Kattu Mannar:

As Lord Narayana came here as ‘Mannan’ to hold the hand of Mahalakshmi; and later asked Nathamunigal to share the Divya Prabandham and the Vaishnava Sampradaya to the world at large, he was referred to as ‘Kattum – Mannan – Aanaar’ (the Lord who came as a king and later presented the entire Prabandham through Nathamunigal). In course of time, Kattum Mannan Aanaar became Kattu Mannar.

Structure of Kattu Mannar Koil:

The temple is perfectly built as per Koorath Azhvaar's sacred verse:

"Lakshmi Naatha Samaarambaan Natha Yamuna Mathamum
Asmath Aacharya Pariyantham Vanthey Guru Parampara"

Lord Veera Narayanan in the middle, Natha Muni Sannidhi (facing South) to his left, Alavanthan Sannidhi (facing North) to his right (exactly opposite to Nathamuni Sannidhi) and with Maragathavalli Thaayar Sannidhi to his right between the Nathamuni and Alavanthan Sannidhi. In the Nathamuni Sannidhi, one finds his disciples at their Acharya’s feet ready to serve him.