Temple steeped in legends

The kumbabhishekam of the temple at Alvar Thirunagiri, one of the Nava Tirupatis, is being held on February 10. M. S. RAMESH traces the history of the divya desa.

ALVAR THIRUNAGARI, one of the Nava Tirupatis, also known as Thirunagari, Kurugur, Guruvoor, Adikshetra, Dhantakshetra and Sanghakshetra is one of the important pilgrim centres in South India. The Vaishnavite savant Ramanuja said that Alvar Thirunagari is ``Parama Padathu ellai'' i.e. the boundary for Paramapatha.

It is known as Thirunagari as this is one of the divyakshetras where the Supreme Being manifested Himself in archa rupa to provide easy accessibility to the devotees during Kali Yuga. This kshetra is known as Kurugoor as once upon a time this area was ruled by Thiruvazhudhi Valanattan, the forefathers of Nammalvar. One of the chieftains was Kurugan and hence the kshetra got its name as Kurugan puri of Kurugoor. The word ``Kurugoor'' also refers to a conch, as here one can find a number of conches. This place is well-known as Alvar Thirunagari due to its close association with Nammalvar.

Yet another legend has it that Lord Brahma prayed to Narayana to manifest Himself in different places on Earth. God then told Brahma that even before He had created him, He had stayed for a long time at the southern tip of Bharatha kanda in a beautiful place on the banks of Tambaraparani river. He directed Brahma to go there. As Narayana acted as a teacher to Brahma and advised him to go to this place, it came to be known as Guru Oor. Narayana is said to have stayed on the banks of Tambaraparani river even before creating Brahma. Hence, this was known as an ``Adikshetra'' and the deity here got the name, Adinatha Perumal. The place is known as Danthakshetra in memory of the devotee, Danthan. Belonging to a lower caste, he was a great devotee of the Lord at Kurugoor. It is said that once Indra and the Devas came to Kurugoor to worship Adi Perumal. They wanted to collect flowers to offer to the deity. Danthan also had come to the same nandavanam. Indra and the other Devas looked down upon him and God punished them by robbing them of their eye sight. The Devas panicked. But they realised that as they had humiliated a Vishnu bhakta, they had been punished. The devas fell at the feet of Danthan and with his blessings, they got back their eye sight. As Danthan attained moksha at this kshetra, it is known as Danthakshetra.

This divya desa is also known as Sanghakshetra in memory of a muni, Sangha. Once this muni irritated Narada by saying that all Gods were equal in his eye. Narada then cursed Sangha muni to be born as a conch in the lavana samudra in the South. The muni bemoaned his fate and sought forgiveness. Narada then advised him to worship the deity at Adikshetra. But as a result of the curse, Sangha muni became a valampuri conch. The conch floated along the river till it reached Adi puri. Everyday, the conch would offer worship at the temple and spend the rest of the time in the ocean. Pleased with his devotion, God blessed Sangha muni and said that henceforth the place will be known as Sanghatirtha. Even today near Kurugoor, there is a place known as Sangani Thurai.

There is yet another story connected with this divya desa which highlights the efficacy of Vishnu bhakti. It is said that an elephant and a hunter had a fierce fight unto death at Kurugoor. As soon as both of them died, the Yama doothas, Indra doothas and Vishnu doothas arrived at the spot. The Yama doothas claimed that they had come to collect the souls of the elephant and the hunter who had committed numerous sins in their previous birth. The Indra doothas, however, referred to the fierce fight which caused their death and said that both of them deserved Vira swarga. But the Vishnu doothas overruled both of them and said that the souls would be taken to Vishnu loka as Kurugoor, where they had breathed their last, was a favourite place of Lord Narayana and whoever had the fortune of drawing their last breath in this place would be assured of moksha.

It is said that once Indra was in an intoxicated state. At that time, his parents Sage Kasyapa and Athithi came there. Indra failed to pay his respect to his parents. Kasyapa then cursed Indra that he would lose his youth and wealth. Indra then fell at the feet of his father seeking pardon. Kasyapa expressed his inability to withdraw the curse. However, he advised him to go to Kurugoor and worship Adinatha Perumal. Indra acted accordingly and in due course was blessed by the presiding deity of Kurugoor.

Once, a hermit lived on the northern banks of Tambaraparani river. Nammalvar and his devotees were on the southern bank. The yogi had a dog which, everyday would cross the river from the north to the south side and eat the food left over after the Vaishnava bhaktas of Nammalvar had their meals. One day however after the dog had its meal, as was its usual habit, it tried to cross the river to go back to its master - the hermit on the northern side. But sudden flash floods drowned the dog. Meantime, the yogi was worried as to why the dog, his faithful companion, had not yet returned. When he came looking for it, he saw divine light from the body of the dog rise towards the sky. The yogi relaised that even an animal would reach heaven as it had eaten the left overs by the Vishnu bhaktas.

Most of these stories are presented in the pictorial form also on the walls of the temple at Alvar Thirunagari.

No one can refer to Alvar Thirunagari without immediately associating the place with Nammalvar. Ramanuja referred to this place as the birthplace of Satagopa who helped in spreading the truth ensconsed in the Vedas and Upanishads (Vedam pagarnthitta meipporulin utporul Odhum Satagopan Oor).

As is well known, the holy tamarind tree in whose hollow Nammalvar meditated for 16 long years is the manifestation of Lakshmana. It is said that once Rama was having a discussion with Yama and directed Lakshmana not to allow any one to disturb the meeting. But unfortunately for Lakshmana, Durvasa chose that moment to visit Rama. Durvasa, known for his short temper, had his way and without listening to Lakshmana, went in.

This irritated Rama and also frightened Lakshmana who knew that he had earned the displeasure of his brother. Lakshmana then reportedly left the place and reached the banks of the Sarayu river. Meanwhile Rama had abdicated his throne. He had also reached the banks of the Sarayu river. He is said to have cursed Lakshmana to be born as an immovable object. He however consoled him by saying that He Himself had sinned by sending Sita to the forest and so to atone for that sin, He would be born in the next birth as a Brahmachari and at that time He would ensure that He and Lakshmana would be together. He gave Lakshmana a ring and said that the place where the ring slips out of his finger would be the place where he would become a tamarind tree. That place was Alvar Thirunagari.

The tamarid tree (uranga pulimaram) which is seen today there is said to be the amsa of Lakshmana as also Adisesha. The leaves of this tree never close. It is said that it was Rama, who as Nammalvar stayed for 16 years meditating in the hollow of that tree.

This divya desa is the foremost among the Nava Tirupatis in Pandya Nadu. Acharya Hridayam says that each of these Nava Tirupatis stand testimony to one quality of the Supreme Being. In Alvar Thirunagari, it is the paratvam of Lord Narayana which is reflected. It is also interesting to note that these Nava Tirupatis are also famous as Navagraha kshetras. People suffering due to the mallific influence of any one of the the Navagrahas could hope for salvation by worshipping these specific Navagraha related to the respective Nava Tirupati. The Tirupatis and the Navagrahas they represent are as follows:

(i) Suryan (Sun) the deity of Varaguna managi,

(ii) Chandran (Moon) the deity of Thiruppulinguri,

(iii) Sevvai (Mars) the deity of Thirukkulanthai,

(iv) Budhan (Mercury) the deity of Alvar Thirunagari,

(v) Viyazhan (Jupiter) the deity of Thirukkolur,

(vi) Sukran (Venus) the deity of Srivaikuntam,

(viii) Rahu the deity of Tholaivilli mangalam - Aravindha lochana - Irattai Tirupati,

(ix) Kethu the deity of tholaivilli mangalam (Devappiran).

A visit to this kshetra will not be complete without seeing a few rare pieces of sculpture. This temple as in Suchindram has a set of hollow pillars which produce musical notes. Yet another fine example of delicate sculpting can be seen in a piece where Lakshmi is seated on the lap of Vishnu and both are carried by Garuda. Vishnu has eight arms holding shankha, chakra, pasam, ankusa, ketaka, kadga in three pairs of arms. Another palm is held in Varada hasta pose. One hand holds the Goddess by the waist. The Divine Mother seated on the left lap of Vishnu also has left hand in Varada mudra with the right hand holding on to the Lord.

Yet another great marvel of a sculpture is a stone nadasvaram with one inch diameter at the base. It tapers to 1/4" and all told about one foot in length. This nadaswaram has regular holes and produce musical notes like any other nadaswaram. It is known as mukhaveena.There are many other beautiful pieces of art which stand mute testimony to the prowess of the artists of those days when they could breathe life into stone.

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