Koodal Azhagar Temple

Coordinates: 9°54′51.83″N 78°06′50.79″E / 9.9143972°N 78.1141083°E / 9.9143972; 78.1141083
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Koodal Aḻagar Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictMadurai
Deity
Features
  • Tower: Ashtanga Vimanam
  • Temple tank: Hema Pushkarani
Location
LocationMadurai
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Koodal Azhagar Temple is located in Tamil Nadu
Koodal Azhagar Temple
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates9°54′51.83″N 78°06′50.79″E / 9.9143972°N 78.1141083°E / 9.9143972; 78.1141083
Architecture
TypeDravidian architecture
Elevation145 m (476 ft)
Website
www.koodalalagartemple.tnhrce.in

Koodal Aḻagar Temple in

Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Viyooga Sundarrajan, and his consort Lakshmi as Mathuravalli.[1]

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a five-tiered raja

Madurai Nayaks
kings who commissioned pillared halls and major shrines of the temple during the 16th century.

Koodal Aḻagar is believed to have appeared to slay the demon Somuka who abducted the four

Tenkalai tradition of worship. Four daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the fourteen-day annual Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May - June) being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu
.

Legend

Stucco image of presiding deity

As per Hindu legend, a ruler named Vallabhadeva went incognito everyday to know about the lives of people under him. During one of his visits, a scholar told him that the ultimate goal in life is to "collect provisions in summer and save for winter", which also meant that one should work during his younger days and save for his old age. Vallabadeva was not convinced and he set this as a competition among scholars to make him realize the true value of life. Vishnucitta, who would later go on to become

Vaishnava sect, came to Madurai from Srivilliputhur. He was believed to have been directed by the heavenly words of Vishnu and he expounded the sacred verses. He explained the concepts of Hitham and Purushartham from Vedas and proclaimed that attained the feet of Narayana could lead to salvation. Vallabhadeva was pleased with the explanation and he awarded a bag of gold to Visnucitta. It is believed that the current gopuram of Srivilliputhur Temple, was built by Periyalvar with the gold won.[2]

History

The inscriptions in the temple refer the presiding deity as Koodal Alagiya Perumal. There are inscriptions in the temple indicating generous gifts and endowments in the form of land, houses and gold to maintain and administer the temple. An inscription from the 8th century indicates the donation of granite stones for the construction of Ardha

Dvajasthambam mandapam (flag staff) and mandap before the Hema Pushkarani were constructed by the Nayaks. The Mathuravalli Thayar Shrine (Thayar) was constructed and The temple was renovated by Muthu K.R.V. Alagappa Chettiar of Devakottai in 1923. Since then, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.[3][2]

Architecture

Image of Ashtanga Vimanam and gateway tower

Koodal Aḻagar temple covers an area of about 2 acres (0.81 hectares) and has a five-tiered

Vishvakarma, the divine architect. The shadow of the vimana does not fall on the ground. The Ashtanga Vimana is found in Mannar Koil, Ambasamudram, Uthiramerur, Thirukoshtiyur and Cheranmadevi temples. The inner walls of the sanctum has paintings of the Ashtadikpalakas.[2]

The shrine of the consort of Koodal Aḻagar, Mathuravalli, is located to the south of the main shrine. There are smaller shrines of Lakshmi Narasimha,

temple tank, is located outside the temple premises. It has a centre hall made of granite.[8]

Religious significance

Naalayira Divya Prabhandam by Manavala Mamunigal. Manavala decreed that the verses of Periyalvar starting with Tirupallantu should be the first and last verse while reciting Prabhandam in any sacred occasion in Vishnu temples. Ramanuja
, a proponent during the 10th century, believes that Tirupallandu originated at Madurai. Thus Koodal Aḻagar temple finds an indomitable position in Vaishnavite belief. During Mahapralaya, the great disaster, the devotees sought the abode of Vishnu in Madurai. It is believed that Vishnu stood as a bulwark against the impending disaster, giving him the name of the city as Naanmadakoodal or Koodal Nagar ('Koodal' in Tamil is bulwark).

The place is mentioned to be significant during four ages namely,

Navagrahas, the nine planetary deities, which are otherwise found only in Shiva temples. It indicates Vaishnavite cultures during the medieval period.[2]

Literary mention

Image of the temple tower

Historians are of the opinion that Koodal Aḻagar temple finds mention in

Divya Desams, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar and Koodal Sthala Purana.[2]

Koodal Purana details the origin of

Trivikrama, with one of his foot rising to the skies and the foot reached Brahmaloka, the abode of Brahma
. Brahma was pleased to perform ablution to the raised foot and the water is believed to have emerged as a rivulet called Krithimala. A large number of banana trees sprang up in the place and it came to be known as Kadhalivana, a forest of banana trees.

Satyavrata, a ruler of Madurai was a staunch devotee of Vishnu. It is believed that once Vishnu came out of the river Krithimala as a fish (

Pandyas started having fish as the symbol of the kingdom.[2][9]

Religious practices

Legend of Periyalvar

The temple follows the traditions of 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.[10][11]

The fourteen day annual Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May - June) is the most prominent festival of the temple. The festive images of the temple are brought in chariot round the streets of the temple in various mounts during all the fourteen days.[10]

Kumbhabhishekham

The rajagopura on the Kumbhabhishekham day (20 January 2024), with the vimana in the background

The kumbabishegam of the temple was held on 20 January 2024.[12]

References

  1. ^ M. S., Ramesh (1993). 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu. Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam.
  2. ^ a b c d e f M., Rajagopalan (1993). 15 Vaishnava Temples of Tamil Nadu. Chennai, India: Govindaswamy Printers. pp. 119–128.
  3. ^ Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959
  4. ISBN 978-81-87952-12-1
    .
  5. ISBN 978-81-88661-42-8
    .
  6. ^ V., Meena. Temples in South India. Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 15.
  7. ISBN 9788184950243
    .
  8. ^ "Koodal Azhagar Temple tank to be renovated". Madurai: The Hindu. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  9. ^ S., Sundararajan (6 September 2004). "Symbol of togetherness". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 November 2004. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Koodal Azhagar temple". Dinamalar. 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  11. ^ Rajarajan, R.K.K. (1997). "Iconographic Programme in Temple Cars: A Case Study of the Kūṭal Alakar Tēr". East and West, ROme. 48.3-4: 48.3–4: 329–48.
  12. ^ மதுரை கூடல் நகர் கூடலழகர் பெருமாள் கோயில் கும்பாபிஷேகம், ஜோதி டிவி, 20 சனவரி 2024

External links

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