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Nine temples on pilgrim circuits
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The Nava Tirupathis, near Tirunelveli, which are being given a splendid facelift by the Indian Cultural and Heritage Trust of the TVS Group, are sure to attract tourists and devotees from across the country.
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THE INDIAN Tourism Development Corporation's latest pilgrim circuit plans to take in the Navagraha temples of the Thanjavur district.
To be launched by the end of the month, it will include Suriyanarkoil (Sun), Thingaloor (Moon), Vaitheeswarankoil (Mars), Thiruvenkadu (Mercury), Alangudi (Jupiter), Kanjanur (Sukran), Thirunallar (Saturn), Thirunageswaram (Ragu) and Keezhaperumpallam (Kethu).
When I heard of these plans, I had mistaken them for another grouping of nine temples I had first heard of a few months ago. Friends who had gone on a holiday to Tirunelveli came back to tell me how, purely by chance, they had heard of nine temples not far from where they were `camping' and had gone to see them.
And doing the circuit they found what were called the Nava Tirupathis being given a splendid facelift by the Indian Cultural and Heritage Trust of the TVS Group. Interested in the restoration aspect that the travellers had mentioned to me, I found that eight temples had been restored since 1996 and work was going on, on the ninth.
All nine Vaishnavite temples are in Tuticorin district, about 40 km from Tirunelveli and 25 km from Tiruchendur. They form a cluster around Sri Vaikundam and Alwar Tiru Nagari, which straddle the north and south banks respectively of the River Tambraparni.
With the restoration of the temples, the Trust has also made arrangements for regular pujas.
Before the restoration work, several of these temples were in a sad state of disrepair and many of the pujas were no longer being performed. The Indian Culture and Heritage Trust's endeavours have changed all that.
The Nava Tirupathis are, moving from South to North, after heading southeast from Tirunelveli:
Sri Vaikundam, believed to have been so named by Lord Brahma, who came to do penance here and found the place similar to Vaikunda.
Then Tiru Perai, the Tiru Perai in southern (then) Pandya Nadu where Bhoomi Devi had bathed.
This is the last of nine temples to be restored.
Tiru Puliangudi, where Lord Brahma helped Lord Indra obtain redemption.
Alwar Tiru Nagari, whose ancient name Thiru Nagari, received the prefix `Alwar' after the great Vaishnatite saint Nammalwar attained salvation here. It is in Vaikasi (May-June) that the icons of Lord Perumal from the other eight shrines are brought here to join the host Lord, receive darshan from Nammalwar and participate in the Garuda Sevai Festival that has been held annually from 1807.
Tiru Kulandai (Perungulam), where Kamalavathi performed penance to wed the Lord and fulfilled her desire.
Tiru Kolur, where Lord Kubera regained the Nava Nidhi, the nine types of wealth, he had lost after being cursed. Regaining lost wealth through a visit here remains an article of faith.
Tiru Thulai Villi Mangalam (Erattai Tirupathi), where pair of scales and a bow were transformed into a young woman named Thulai and a man called Villi and where Perumal is worshipped in two forms in two neighbouring temples.
Tiru Varagunamangai (Natham), where the sage Romasa did penance.
With the restoration, the Nava Tirupathis in the southernmost reaches of Tamil Nadu could well attract more attention than only from the local faithfuls.
And if that happens, could the ITDC or its State counterpart be far behind?
S. MUTHIAH
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