Saturday, October 9, 2021

Pallikonda Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Idigarai – Legends

Pallikonda Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Idigarai – Legends

Ramanuja visit to this place during his exile:

As per legend, the Chola King developed hatred against Vaishnavism and caused many injustices to followers under the influence of certain groups. He planned to kill Sri Ramanuja and ordered Sri Ramanujacharya to be brought to his court. Coming to know this, Koorathazhwar immediately rushed back to the mutt in Srirangam and requested Sri Ramanujacharya and the others to move away to some safer place. Though not interested in moving, Sri Ramanujacharya had to oblige to his adamant disciples.

When the soldiers came to the mutt, Koorathazhwar was dressed up as Ramanujacharya. Mistaken they took him along with Sri Mahapurna (Periya Nambi) to the royal court in Gangaikonda Cholapuram. At the court the King thrust a written declaration which read: "Nothing higher than Shiva exists” and commanded them both to affix their signatures to it without protest. But both of them refused and argued the supremacy of Lord Vishnu, quoting from the Vedas, Upanishads and various other holy texts.

At a stage, the king got furious and ordered their eyes to be pulled out. On hearing the statement, Koorathazhwar replied that he doesn't need the eyes which have seen a sinner like the king and he pulled away his eyes himself. The eyes of Mahapurna were also gorged by the soldiers and they were sent away from the court. The ripe-aged Mahapurna died on the way to Srirangam. Ramanujacharya meanwhile travelled in the Kongu region covering Palamalai, Guru Adi Malai, Karamadai, Sathyamangalam and other places.

He left his disciples in these places to spread Vaishnavism. Finally, he moved to Melkote in Karnataka along with his disciples and established Vaishnavism there with the support of the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana. His disciples settled in Idigarai seeing the natural beauty and the hospitality of the people. They installed Ranganatha and established Vaishnava cult. Later, a temple was built by the Pandya Kings during 14th century CE.

Guru Adi Malai:

As per legend, Acharya Ramanuja passed through this place during his exile to Karnataka. Hence, the nearby hill came to be called as Guru Adi Malai (the hill with the footsteps of Ramanuja).

Irukarai:

The streams from Palamalai and nearby areas join together at this place to form a single river. An embankment was built on both the banks (Iru Karai) of the river for safety during flash floods. Thus, the place came to be called as Irukarai and later got corrupted to Idigarai.