Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Thiruvanpurushothamam (Purushotama Perumal Temple), Thirunangur – Legends

Thiruvanpurushothamam (Purushotama Perumal Temple), Thirunangur – Legends
Vishnu appearing in eleven forms on Shiva request:
The legends of all the eleven temples of Thirunangur are closely associated with each other. As per legend, the Hindu god Shiva started dancing in fury at this place after the death of his consort Uma due to the yagna (sacrifice) of Daksha. Each time his lock of hair touched the ground; there were eleven other forms of Shiva who appeared. The celestial deities were worried that if the dance continues, it would result in decimation of entire creations. They prayed to Vishnu for help, who appeared at this place.
On seeing Vishnu, Shiva's anger was reduced and he requested Vishnu to appear in eleven forms like he did. On his request, Vishnu appeared in eleven different forms at Thirunangur. Arimeya Vinnagaram literally translates to the place where Hari (another name of Vishnu) resides.
The eleven places where Vishnu appeared are believed to be where the eleven temples in Thirunangur are located. They are;
Thirukavalampadi
Gopalakrishnan along with Rukmini and Satyabama.
Thiruvannpurushothamam
Purushothaman along with Purushothama Naayaki.
Thiru Sempon Sei Kovil
Perarulalan along with Allimaamalar Naachiyar.
Thiru Devanar Thogai
Deiva Naayagan along with Kadal Magal Naachiyar.
Thiru Mani Koodam
Varadharaja Perumal along with Thirumagal Naachiyar and Bhoomi Piratti.
Thiru Paarthanpalli
Thamarai Kelvan along with Thamarai Naayaki, in standing posture in all the above Kshetrams.
Thirumanimaada Kovil
Narayana Gyana Nandha Vilaku along with Pundarigavalli.
Thiruvaali Thirunagari
Amrudhavalli Vedharajan, Narashimar along with Amrudha Kada valli.
Thiru Vaigunda Vinnagaram
Vaigunda Nadhan along with Periya Piratti.
Arimeya Vinnagaram
Kudamaadu Koothan along with Amrudha Kada valli, in sitting posture in above 4 Kshetrams.
Thirutheythri Ambalam
Shenkann Maal along with Sengamalavalli, in sleeping posture of the type Bhujanga Sayanam.
Purushothama Nayaki fed Vykrapada Son:
Similar to the story of Mother Parvathi feeding Saivite child saint Tirugnana Sambandar with wisdom milk, Lord Perumal brought here the very milk ocean itself to feed a hungry child. Sage Vykrapada came to this temple with his child Ubamanyu, placed him at the entrance of the temple and went to pick flowers for Lord. The child began to cry for food which fell in the ears of Lord reclining in the milk ocean. He immediately created a milk ocean in this place. Mother Purushothama Nayaki fed the child with the milk.
Thiruppaarkadal Theertham:
As Lord Narayana gave generously the Thiruppaarkadal to Ubamanyu Maharishi, the theertham is known as Thiruppaarkadal Theertham.
Sanjeevi Vigraha Vimaanam:
Sanjeevi Mooligai (An herb) saved Lord Rama itself. So in order to indicate this, the Vimaanam of this place is named as Sanjeevi Vigraha Vimaanam.