Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple

Coordinates: 10°49′N 78°40′E / 10.82°N 78.67°E / 10.82; 78.67
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Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple
Tiruchirapalli
Deity
  • Azhagiya Manavala Perumal (Vishnu)
  • Kamalavalli Nachiyar (Lakshmi)
Location
Location
Cholas

Azhagiya Manavalan Perumal Temple (also called Thirukozhi or Nachiyar Koil) in

Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Azhagiya Manavalan and his consort Lakshmi
as Kamalavalli.

The temple is believed to have been built by the

Madurai Nayaks
. As per Hindu legend, Azhagiya Manavalan appeared to Kamalavalli, the daughter of Chola king Nanda Cholan, in this place to marry her.

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and bodies of water. The temple has a five-tiered rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower. Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the chariot festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Chittirai (March–April), is the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Legend

Legend of Nachiyar's marriage to Azhagiya Manavalar

As per Hindu legend, the god

Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple. The Chola king readily got her married to Ranganatha, who appeared here as the groom. Since Vishnu appeared as Azhagiya Manavalan, meaning a beautiful groom, the temple built here is called Azhagiya Manavalan Temple.[1][2] The event is celebrated as Serthi Sevai festival every year.[3][4]

As per another legend, a fowl (called kozhi in Tamil) and an elephant fought at this place, with the fowl victorious. Since the fowl won, the place came to be known as Kozhiyur. It has another name Nichulapuri. The temple is also believed to be the place where King Ravivarmaraja worshiped the presiding deity.[5]

History

The temple is believed to be in existence much before the 7th century.[6] The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the

Sri Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal Temple and Mariamman Temple at Anbil. Annadhanam scheme, which provides free food to devotees, is implemented in the temple by the Board. Under the scheme, free food is offered to hundred devotees every day in the temple and the expenditure is fully funded by the contributions from devotees.[7]

Architecture

Pillared halls in the temple

The temple has a five-tiered

vimana, is called Kamala Vimanam.[8] The central shrine has the image of Vishnu as Azhagiya Perumal in sitting posture. The shrine of the goddess Kamalavalli Nachiyar faces North and it is the only divyadesam where the presiding goddess has a north-facing shrine.[3][1] There are separate shrines for the saints Ramanuja and Nammalvar. There are paintings on the inner walls of the shrine of the Alvar saint Nammalvar. The temples were painted during the early 1800s and has images of Matsya and Narasimha avatars of Vishnu, Vaishnava Acharyas, Alvars, Vaishnavite mythology, the law of justice and dharma as enunciated by Ambarisha.[6]

Festivals and religious practices

Paramapada Vasal and entrance of Tirupanazhwar shrine

The temple priests perform the

tavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple.[8]

Serthi Sevai, the annual home coming festival is celebrated in the temple annually during the Ayilyam star in the Tamil month of Panguni. The festival is a part of the Panguni Uthiram festival of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, when the festival idol of Srirangam temple, Namperumal, is brought to the Nachiyar temple and the images of Nachiyar and Namperumal are adorned in the Serthi hall of the temple. Special rituals are performed during the occasion.[9] The other major festivals celebrated in the temple are Dolostava, Vasanthothsava (spring festival) and Navaratri.[1]

The temple is believed to be the birthplace of

darshan of Ranganatha at the sanctum on the occasion of his birthday. The festive idol of Thiruppaan is taken from the temple to Srirangam. Thiruppaan is accorded with grand honours called "Keezha Padi Honours". A Parivattam (silk turban) is tied on the Alvar's head, adorned with a garland, a shawl is wrapped around his shoulders and sacred sandal paste is handed to him, all of which are believed to bring a smile on the face of the Alvar. An hour later, the image of the Alvar is taken to Nammalvar shrine and then to the goddess shrine, with the chanting of Nalayira Divya Prabandham with the verses of the Alvar's work Amalanaathipiraan. In the Azhagiya Manavala Perumal temple, a 10-day festival is celebrated in parallel that includes Araiyar sevai, Veda Paaraayanam (reciting of Vedas), special thirumanjanam (ablution) and procession inside the temple.[10]

Religious significance

Entrance of the sanctum

The temple is revered in

Andal Temple at Srivilliputhur, Nachiyar Koil and Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple in Thiruvellarai. During all festive occasions, the first rights are reserved for Nachiyar, who moves ahead, while the god follows her. The food served to Nachiyar is prepared with pepper instead of chillies.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Dasan, Sampathkumar Ramanuja (March 2013). "Krishna Voice" (PDF). 14 (3). Bangalore: Sankirthana Seva Trust: 11–12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001). An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam (1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 486–7r.
  3. ^ a b S., Prabhu (24 April 2011). "Re-enacting the celestial wedding". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  4. ^ "About the temple". Temple administration, Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  5. ISBN 9788120601512
    .
  6. ^ a b c "Trichy Temples". Government of Tamil Nadu. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  7. ISSN 2231-5063. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Sri Azhagia Manavalar temple". Dinamalar. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  9. ^ "Devotees throng Nachiyar temple to witness 'Serthi Sevai'". The Hindu. Tiruchi. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  10. ^ S., Prabhu (6 January 2012). "Ranganatha suffered his pain". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  11. ^ V., Ganapathy (4 November 2004). "Siva temple of yore". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  12. ^ S., Prabhu (27 December 2012). "Unique drama unfolds during procession". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  13. ^ "Unique drama unfolds during procession". The Hindu. 8 April 2005. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.

External links

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