Tirukurngudi Sri Azhagia Nambirayar (Vaishnava Nambi) Temple, Tirunelveli

Address

Tirukurngudi Sri Azhagia Nambirayar (Vaishnava Nambi) Temple, Tirukurngudi – 627 115. Phone: +91 4635 265 289.

Diety

Nindra Nambi, Amman: Kurunkudi valli Nachiyar

Introduction

Vaishnava Nambi and Thirukurungudivalli Nachiar Temple in Thirukkurungudi, a village in Tirunelveli district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. It is located 45 km from Tirunelveli. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Vaishnava Nambi and his consort Lakshmi as Thirukurungudivalli.[1] The temple is locally referred as Dakshina Vaikuntam, the holy abode of Vishnu. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and two of its three bodies of water. The rajagopuram, the temple’s gateway tower, is 110 ft (34 m) tall. Vaishnava Nambi is believed to have appeared to slay the demon Somuka who abducted the four Vedas. The temple follows Thenkalai tradition of worship. Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the ten-day annual Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Chittirai (April – May) and Brahmotsavam during the month of Chittirai, being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Puranic Significance

The Hisotry and important script of this temple is illustrated in Kaisika Puranam which is found in Varaga Puranam. In Varaga Puranam Lord Sriman Narayana disguised himself as a white pig roopam and took Sri Mahalakshmi who was taken by Hurayasham a brother of the Asura Hiranya Kasibu. Sri Mahalakshmi and Varaya Nainar templed in Kurunga Shshetra so called as “Kurungudi’ the very very Great Varaha Nainar who took small body in “Kurungudi’. Another story told that Sri. Maha Vishna took Vamana Avathor and went to the Yaga Salai of Mahabali Chakravarthi and beg three feet of his beg as beggar. All the vedic doctrines and universal Thatva collected in the Body of Vamana ie a small & short man. In the Kamba Ramayana Ithigasam the poet Kamban sung a song about Vamana Avathara which represented to a Banyan fruits. In a Banyan tree thousands and thousands of fruits which had got hundred of seeds in a fruit. So the Vamana Avathar represent the basic theory of a Banyan fruit. Another illustration told that the Vamana beg to Mahabalichakravarthi in the yagasala three feet of land as his leg. Long before in 11th century (900 years before) the Great Vaishnava Acharya Sri RAMANUJA toured Divya Desha in South India. He workships in Thirukkurungudi Sri Azhagia Nambi. When he came to Thirukkurungudi the Supreme Lord Azhagianambi asked Ramanuja that how he spread over Sri Vaishnavisam in the land. Ramanuja replied to the lord Azhagiya Nambi . Nambi will ask the Mantras like a disciple manner Azhaginambi had got three Mantra from Ramanuja who gave a Name & Ramanuja Nambi & Vaishnava Nambi. Vamana legged land three feet of his leg. Here Nambi has got three Mantras changing from Ramanuja . Therefore the Thirukkurungudi has named as Vaishnava Vamanam. Mandappam Inner View Long Long ago a Vishna Baktha named as Nambaduvan, who become a Panar Dynasty ( Harijana ) lived in Mahendragiri Hills area . He got a gift in Veena Ghana Nambaduvan took now in Egadasi Viradha Karthigai Month. He worshipped Lord Azhagiya Nambi at Thirukkurungudi. On the way a Brahma Rakshasan with want of Food. He took Nambaduvan and he wanted to eat him. Nambadavan told Brahma Rakshasan after workship of Azhagianambi he will return to him with so many promise. During the time of workship Lord Azhagianambi ordered Dwajasthambam to turn leftward. Nambaduvan took Dharanam of Nambi. Nambaduvan took a stansa in Thiruvoi mozhi pasuram ‘ Enkanaiyo annaimeerkal………” in Kaisiga Raga which favourites to Nambi. After worship of the Lord Azhagianambi Nambaduvan & went towards forest Area to fullfil the promise given to Rakshatha . At that time the Lord Azhagianambi disguised himself as a aged Brahmana to obstruct the way of Namaduvan & requested him not to go in the way where Rakhsasan waiting. Nambaduvan told brahmana the he had given him so many promise. A vaishanava Bhakthan would not told lie and vague promise. Therefore Nambaduvan wants to go on the same way to meet Rakshasan. The brahmana took the Nambaduvan’s argument has got mukthi and give a born that Nambaduvan will attained Mukthi in due course. Vaishana Nambaduvan went to Rakshasan and told him every thing after he returned to Rakshasan. Nambaduvan asked to Rakshasan to eat him Rakhasan refused to eat him because he ate fruits. Nambaduvan gave a small part of the fruit full of the songs sung by him.The fruit full of Nambaduvan This devil Rakshasan roopam vanished and Brahamin roopam attained. His name was Soma Sarma of Saraga Gotram.

Special Features

The Lord Azhagianambi disguised himself as Nammalwar in Alwar Thirumangai. Thirumangai Alwar born at Thiruvali Thrunagai in Nagappatinam District. He went to Diya Desa and workshiped Daily (Mangalasasanam.) Atlast he arrived Thirukkurugudi he attained Moksham by the gift of Nambi. When Ramanuja arrived to Tirukkurungudi Nambi took Manthra upadesam from Ramanujar, who gave surana nama as Vaishanava Nambi. After completed the Pandia Nadu yatra Ramanuja went to Thiruvananthapuram. Where he established the Vaishanava Sampradayam. Nambudri objected the achievties of Ramunuja. The supreme Lord Anatha pathmanaban took Ramanujam from Nambuduris.The Lord ordered to garuda to took the Ramanujar and get him to Thirukkurungudi. Once upon a time a king of Pandia Deysam came to this Thirukkurungudi.The Lord told him “There is a Lord Theivanayagam and Srivaramangai Nachiyar submerged under the tank.The king took away the Vikragams and installed at a temple in Nanguneri.