Veeranarayana Perumal Temple,
Kuruvalapparkoil – Legends
Nathamuni (823 CE–951 CE)
was a Vaishnava theologian who collected
and compiled the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. He is considered
to be the first of Sri Vaishnava Acharyas. Nathamuni is also
the author of Yogarahasya and Nyayatattva. His disciple was Kurugai
Kaavalappan. He was the only disciple to be initiated with Yoga Rahasya by
Natha Muni. Yoga Rahasya is a secret mantra that empowers one to experience the
Lord at Vaikunda. Alavanthar, the grandson of Natha Muni, came here to this
place as directed by his preceptor Manakkal Nambi seeking initiation of Yoga
Rahasya from Kurugai Kaavalappan.
When Alavanthar came to this
place, Kurugai Kaavalappan was in a yogic state sitting at the Brindavanam in
the North East corner of the temple. Not wanting to disturb him, Alavanthar
stood outside, but to his surprise Kurugai Kaavalappan asked if someone from
the Sottai clan (the clan to which Nathamuni Swamigal belonged) had come there.
Alavandar responded him positively. Kurugai Kaavalappan explained that the Lord
tried to glance through his shoulders and hence he realized that it had to be
someone from Natha Muni’s clan for the Lord to show such interest.
Alavandar requested Kurugai
Kaavalappan to initiate him in Yogarahasya. Kurugai Kaavalappan asked
Alavanthar to re-visit on full moon Poosam day in the Tamil calendar month of
Thai for initiation of the Yoga Rahasya as that was the day the former was to
attain the Lord’s feet. Since Alavandar had ample time before the appointed
day, he visited Srirangam and saw the Arayarsevai commenced by his
grandfather. During the programme, he saw the Ananthapura Nagara
Pasuram during the Era Pathu Thiruvaimozhi festival. Impressed with
the description of the beautiful Anantha Padmanaba Swamy, he immediately left
for that place.
When he was having darshan of
the Perumal there, he realized that it was the Poosam day of Thai
month. Since Thiruvananthapuram was very far away, he could not
reach Kurugai before Kaavalappan attained Samadhi. Hence he lost the
opportunity of learning Yogarahasya which was lost forever. Since Kurugai
Kaavalappan was the only disciple to be initiated into Yogarahasya, he was
always in meditation and hence this place came to be called Kurugai Kaavalappan
Koil. Over a period of time, the prefix was dropped, and the place
came to be called Kaavalappan Temple.
