A Nine Tiered Temple Tower - The Tallest One in Tamilnadu
A Nine tiered temple chariot is the Tallest Temple Tower of Tamilnadu and the temple tower that is enshrined as the Tamilnadu State Government Logo.
Periyalwar and the Golden Parrot
Once one of the Pandya Kings Vallabadevan wanted to know the Lord who has the power to show the way to Paramapatham - the Heavenly Abode. The King hung a Golden Parrot with the announcement that the parrot would automatically fall down, when once someone informs him of the Right Lord who can bless to attain Paramapatham. Several persons came and went back without succeeding. It is believed that the Koodal Lord appeared in the dreams of Vallabadevan’s priest Selvanambi and suggested the name of Periyalwar of Srivilliputhur. Accordingly, Periyalwar was brought to the court of the Pandya King in Madurai. With several examples from vedic scriptures as well as historical references, Periyalwar showcased to the Pandya King that Lord Maha Vishnu is the Lord who could take one to the heavenly abode. And to every one’s surprise the Golden Parrot fell down. Once a Pandiya King named Vallaba Devan wanted to the know who is the Supreme Lord can able to show the way of Moksham means Paramapatham, the heavenly abode. The King hung a Golden Parrot and announced that if someone tells him of the Right Lord the Parrot will automatically fell down. Several people tried their level best in so manu ways but all went in vain.
Thirukkoodal - The Place Where Periyalwar hymned Thirupallandu.
Finally the Koodal Azhagar Perumal appeared in the dream of the King’s preist named Selva Nambi and suggested that Periyazhwar, the one of Great 12 Alwars from Sreevilliputhur would be the right person to tell the King about the Paramapatham and accordingly he was brought to the court of King. Periyazhwar explained the King with several examples from Vedic scriptures as well the historical references that the Paranthaman is the Only Lord who could take a surrendered devotee to HIS heavenly abode "Paramapatham". At last to every one’s surprise and to prove the words of Periyazhwar the Golden parrot fell down. The delighted King praised Periyazhwar and took him on an elephant procession throughout Madurai. It is believed that Koodal Azhagar himself came down on His Garuda Vahanam to see this procession. Delighted at the sight of Paranthaman, Periyazhwar praised Him with his Pallandu. Periyalvar is said to have used elephant’s bell sound as the beats for his pasurams. Periyazhvaar composed a total of 473 Paasurams, including the first 12 songs of the Divya Prabhandham called the ThiruPallaandu. Hence Koodal Azhagar is credited with the origination of Periyazhwar’s Thirupallandu, which is being sung as the first 12 Hymns of Divya Prabandham. Thirukoodal being the place where Periyazhwar sung the famous Thirupallandu. Hence Koodal Azhagar is credited with the origination of Periyazhwar’s Thirupallandu, which is being sung as the first 12 Hymns of Divya Prabandham. Thirukoodal being the place where Periyazhwar sung the famous Thirupallandu, the Divyadesam is being worshipped as equal as Paramapatham.
Birth of Sri Andal Nachiyar and Markazhi Thiruppavai
One day Periyazhwar found a small female child lying in the garden. He took her and named her as “Andal” and brought up as his own daughter. Aandal’s Thiruppavai, 30 verses in praise of Aranganathanis one of the most beautifully composed hymns among the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham. It is believed that praising all these 30 verses will bring peace and prosperity as well as the grace of the Almighty. It was in the month of Tamil Month Maargazhi ( Mid December to Mid January) that Andal composed Thiruppavai at the age of five. In the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham no other Azhvaar,apart from NammAzhvaar, has brought out the intimacy between the Divine and the devotee as Aandal has done. Thiruppavai celebrates, in 30 songs, a certain simple ritualistic observance on the part of the devotees. While it appears in the early stanzas that Aandal’s intention is to pursue the Lord to marry her, as one reads through the later verses, one finds that she is actually praying to be allowed the service of the lord. The first ten songs celebrate the fruits of the devotional observance where as the second ten songs seem to wake up Lord Krishna to pray for their grace and the last ten songs inspire devotees to take the path of service to Lord. During Margazhi, the Vishnu temples open very early, around 4am, and the entire 30 songs of Thiruppavai are chanted in a special version. It has been an age-old belief that spinster girls who bathe in a pond and visit temples to recite the Thiruppavai with sincere devotion will attain spiritual husbands. It is said that one song of the 30 Thiruppavai verses is dedicated for each of the thirty days of Maargazhi. Saivism acknowledging each other - An interesting fact is that of Thiruppavai and Thiruvembavai is that the first verse in Thiruppaavai begins with the Maa (Maargazhi Thingal), the syllable with which Maanikkavaachakar's name begins and the first verse in Thiruvembavai too begins with the syllable Aa (Aadhiyum ..), with which Aandal's name begins, an indication of the mutual respect the two great saint poets had for each other - a tale of Vaishnavism and Saivism acknowledging each other. The Unique Tradition - Into her teens, Aandal developed the habit of wearing the garland that PeriAzhvaar had put together for the Lord. With garland around her neck, she began admiring admire her own beauty in the mirror. From a very young age, she began to sing praise of Lord Krishna and began to see the Lord as her husband. This act shocked PeriAzhvaar and he looked up to the Lord for solution. To PeriAzhvaar’s relief, the Lord indicated that he was happy to adorn the garland.
An Unique Traiditon of Interchanging the Garland Worn by Sree Lord to Lord Vadapathrasayee.
Till today, this unique tradition is followed in this temple, not seen in any other Divya Desam. Lord Vadapatrasaayee adorns every morning the garland worn the previous evening by Aandal (the Goddess). As years passed by, Periazhvaar was concerned about the future of Aandal. Answering his prayers, Lord Ranganatha asked PeriAzhvaar to bring Aandal to Srirangam. Periazhvaar left for Srirangam in a Palanquin provided by Pandya King Vallabha Devan. On reaching the Cauvery, Aandal suddenly disappeared. PeriAzhvaar continued his trip across the Cauvery. On reaching the temple, he found Aandal alongside Lord Ranganatha. PeriAzhvaar wanted to see this sight in his own place at Srivilliputhur and Lord Ranganatha is said to have made the trip on his Garuda Vahanam and appeared in a wedding posture as Rangamannar. Unlike other Divyadesam, Periya Thiruvadi Garudalwar cane be worshipped alongside of the Main Deities, where as in the Divyadesam he can be worshipped only opposite to the Moolvar. It is believed that Garudalwar took Ranganathar from Srirangam to this place faster than the Almighty expected. Hence he was given the special status of being with the Main Deities alongside. During the Chitra festival in Madurai, Kallazhagar of Thirumaliruncholai stops at Thallaakulam Perumal Temple to collect the garland sent by Andal of Srivilliputhur. Only after wearing the garland, Azhagar get down into the Vaigai River. During the Thiruvadi Pooram festival, marking the birthday of Aandal, Lord Azhagar of Thirumaliruncholai sends his attire to Srivilliputhur as a return gesture’ to her.
Araiyar Sevai - An Unique, Traditional and an Artistic Musical Chanting
Araiyar Sevai is big attraction in Srivilliputhur, the visual song and dance performance of the Paasurams ( 4000 Divya Prabandham) which has been performed at Divya Desams for over 1000 years. Srivilliputhur is one of the 3 Divya Desams in Tamil Nadu where Araiyar Sevai is still being followed. The other two are Srirangam and Azhvaar Thirunagari Divyadesams.The famed Araiyar Sevai is said to have originated from Thirukkurungkudi, the Divya Desam about 50 kms from Tirunelveli. Araiyars are descendents of Nathamuni, a Saint who collected the lost Pasurams and compiled as “Nalayira Divya Prabandham” and believed to have introduced the Araiyar Sevai. It is believed that Lord Ranganatha himself gave the Araiyars the right to perform the unique musical chanting at the temples and presented them with the cone-like red cap, two cymbals and the sacred garland, which they wear around their neck when they perform the seva. The Araiyars first recite the Paasuram, then explain its inner meaning and finally perform the Abhinayam, a unique artistic dance performance with their hands and legs explaining the Paasurams with special musical effects. This special Vyakyaanam ( Explanation ) requires a deep knowledge and understanding of the Paasurams and its inner meaning. It is not an easy art, as can be seen from the fact that it takes one nearly 20 years to learn and perfect the Abhinayam. Story of Aandal through Araiyar Sevai during Margazhi - One of the ‘Araiyar Sevai’ occasions that is of particular significance is during Vaikunta Ekadesi - The Paghal Pathu (10 days) and the Era Pathu (10 days) - when one is treated to a real spectacle with the Araiyars enacting the ‘Story of Andal’ growing into a young beautiful girl through their Abhinayam. |
