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The great Light of Thiruthannka
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The Deepaprakasar temple in Thooppul, one of the 108 Divya Desa shrines, is in a dilapidated state. T. A. SRINIVASAN writes.
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SRI VEDANTA Desikar strengthened the edifice of the Visishtadwaita Siddhanta, built by Ramanuja on the foundation laid by saints like Tanka, Dramida, Guhadeva and Bodhayana in the form of commentaries on the Brahma Sutra of Sage Veda Vyasa. His birthplace, Thooppul or Thiruthannkaa, which forms part of Kanchipuram, is a place of pilgrimage for his followers, spread all over the country and also living abroad. But even before he was born the place was held in great veneration by Vaishnavites as it was one of the 108 holy spots sanctified by the Azhwars' hymns and also as it was linked with the Yagna conducted by Brahma to have a darshan of Lord Narayana.
The three-tier gopuram of the Thoopul temple ... awaiting renovation.
One of the 14 holy places in Kanchipuram, which have been mentioned in the Brahmanda Puranam, Thooppul was chosen by Brahma to conduct the ritual as it was a place surrounded by shady trees and cool gardens, which incidentally explains the Tamil name, ``Thiruthannkaa." Since he required his spouse to be by his side to conduct the yagna, Brahma approached Saraswathi, who was staying on the banks of the river bearing her name, and asked her to come to Thiruthannkaa and help him conduct the ritual. When she refused Brahma sought the advice of the sages who asked him to go ahead with the help of his other wives, Gayathri and Savithri.
Brahma did accordingly and an angry Saraswathi came in the form of a river in all fury to wash away the place where the ritual was held. Brahma prayed to Lord Narayana, who lay across the path of the river as "Vega Sethu" and the Yadoktakari Temple in Kanchipuram is connected with this legend.
Saraswathi sent Goddess Kali, who came with eight arms to disrupt the Yagna and Brahma again prayed to the Lord, who also came with eight arms as "Ashtabhujakaran", carrying arms in all of them and Kali retreated.
Saraswathi made the Sun and the Moon disappear and the entire world was enveloped in darkness. Brahma prayed to the Lord again who appeared as a bright light on the Swathi day in the Chithirai month and removed the hurdles on the path of the Sun and the Moon. Then came a demon, Maya Nalan, who came in the form of a big fireball with a view to swallowing the fire in the Yaga Kunda. Lord Narayana took the fire in His hand and gave more light to the Yagasalai. Hence the Lord here is hailed as Deepaprakasar or Divyaprakasar in Sanskrit and as Vilakkoli Perumal in Tamil.
The Moolavar and the Utsavar idols of Lord Narayana, hailed as Deepaprakasar, with His Consorts, Sridevi and Bhoodevi.
The place has been glorified by Thirumangai Azhwar in two verses in his Periya Thirumozhi and Thirunedunthandakam. In the first verse the saint says that he saw the eternal jewel (Lord Narayana) in the form of lightning atop the Venkadam hills and the same jewel has later taken its abode in Thiruthannkaa. In the second verse he equates Lord Deepaprakasar with those in other holy places like Thirukkurungudi, Thirukkudanthai (Kumbakonam) and Srirangam. He describes the act of the ladylove who offers her obeisance to the parrot, which sings the glory of the Lord in these holy places. Pillaiperumal Iyengar, in his Nootriyettu Thiruppathi Andadi, reiterates this idea when he says that the individual soul yearns for union with the great light at Thiruthannkaa.
A place of great religious significance, the temple presents a pathetic sight now with its dilapidated tower and Vimanams over the sanctum sanctorum, worn-out Dwajasthambam. Shrubs and thorny bushes have grown all over the place. Saraswathi Theertham, as the holy water source is known, is now a stinking pool of water. The legend goes that the Goddess of Learning, realising her mistake to disrupt the Yagna, took the form of a tank to reduce the intensity of fire generated by Maya Nalan. Situated just west of another holy place, Ashtabhujakaram, the temple with two Prakarams and a three-tier Rajagopuram faces west and the Lord stands under the Srikara Vimanam with Sridevi and Bhoodevi on either side.
The shrine of the Goddess, Sri Maragathavalli Thayar, is situated southwest of the main shrine and there are also shrines for Lakshmi-Hayagreevar, Andal, the Azhwars and Garudan.
The temple wears a deserted look most of the time except on Vaikunta Ekadasi day, when it is visited by worshippers from far and near. Many "Sudhai" images on the main tower as well as the Vimanam have come apart and even the head of the Lord's image at the entrance of the main shrine is missing.
Sri Lakshmi Hayagreevar ... deity who was worshipped by Vedanta Desikar.
There is a separate shrine for Vedanta Desikar just outside the temple where his son Nainarachar installed the Acharya's idol.
The Acharya's personal worshipping deity, Lakshmi Hayagreevar, is also found in this shrine and its walls contain many paintings depicting scenes from the life of the great preceptor. The birthplace of the Acharya, which is also situated nearby, looks spick and span as it has been renovated recently.
The Deepaprakasar Temple as well as the shrine of Swami Desikan needs urgent repairs and under instructions from Sri Jayendra Saraswathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, work has been undertaken by the South Indian Art and Heritage Conservation Trust, 89/190, Venkataswamy Road, R.S. Puram, Coimbatore-641002.
Donations for this holy cause, which may be sent to the above address, are exempt from tax under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
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