Thirukkoodal Divyadesam familiarly worshipped as “Koodazhagar Temple” is located in heart of the Madurai Town and very close to Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, In this three tiered temple, the Almighty is blessing in all His Three Postures. In the base tier HE is blessing as "Koodal Azhagar" in His Grand Sitting Posture with Abhaya Hastham and Agwana Mudra, and in the next tier above 20 steps blessing as "Sri Ranganathan" in His Anadha Sayana Posture and in the next tier as Surya Narayanan in His Standing Posture.

Thirukkoodal Divyadesam Where Periyalwar recited Thirupallandu

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 With several examples from vedic scriptures as well as historical references, Periyalwar showcased to the Pandya King that Lord Maha Vishnu is the Lord who could take one to the heavenly abode.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.

Finally Koodal Azhagar Perumal came in the dream of the King’s Prime Preist named Selva Nambi and suggested him that Periyazhwar, the one among the Great 12 Alwars residing in Sreevilliputhur would be the right person to tell the king about the the way to Paramapatham. Accordingly Periyalwar was brought into the court of King, where he explained evryone with several examples from Vedic scriptures as well the historical references that the Paranthaman is the Only Lord who could take His surrendered devotee to "Paramapatham". At last to every one’s surprise and to prove the words of Periyazhwar the Golden Parrot fell down. Delighted King praised Periyalwar and took him on an Elephant Procession throughout Madurai. It is believed that Koodal Azhagar Himself came down on His Garuda Vahanam to see the procession. Delighted by seeing Paranthaman, Periyazhwar praised Him with his Pallandu. He is said to have used the Elephant’s Bell as the beats for his pasurams. Periyalwar then composed a total of 473 Pasurams, which includes the first 12 songs of the Divya Prabhandham called as "ThiruPallaandu". Hence Koodal Azhagar of Thirukkoodal Divyadesam is credited with the origination of Periyazhwar’s Thirupallandu, which is being sung as the first 12 Hymns of Divya Prabandham. As Thirukoodal being the place where Periyazhwar sung his famous Thirupallandu, it is being worshipped as equal as Paramapatham.

One of the Pandiya King named Sathya Viradhan underwent a penance towards Koodal Azhagar and he was given Prathyaksham as a Fish in scared tumbler. Thereafter the Fish became the Symbol of Pandiya Kingdom’s flag. This Divyadesam dates back to Four Yugas. In Krutha Yuga Manasaputran of Lord Brahma wanted to worship the Almighty in His Archavathara Roopa and requested Viswakarma, the Architect of Devas to build a temple with Ashtanga Vimanam. In Thredhayuga Birugu Muni worshipped this Almighty where as HE was worshipped by King Ambareesan in Dwapara Yuga and by Puravarasu and his son Indrayumnan in Kali Yuga. Unlike in other Divyadesams, even though Siriya Thiruvadi Hanuman is seen bigger than Periya Thiruvadi Garudalwar, blessing very humbly with his knees bent.

Vaigai River in Madurai – Once when the Almighty took His Trivikrama Posture, His feet went up to Sathya Logam, where Lord Brahma Devar resides. By seeing the beautiful feet of Paranthaman, Brahma Devar washed them by puring the holy water from his kettle - Kamandalam. By then few drops of that sacred water fell down in Madurai and spread as Vaigai River and Kiruthamala River. Here in Thirukkoodal Azhagar Divyadesam the drawings of all 108 divya desams can be seen on the walls of the prakaram. Thirukkoodal Divyadesam is the one and Only Divyadesam with Navagraha Sannidhi. In the temple tower at the entrance the eye catching sculptures explaining the story of Great Epics Ramayana and Maha Bharatha are the must watch one and can be seen from the first tier itself