TOUR TO NAVATIRUPATHI - THOOTHUKKUDI DIST

Navatirupathi at Tuticorin District

Saint poets, Azhvaars (there were 12 of them including Andaal) were ardent devotees of Lord Vishnu. These saint poets composed verses in Tamil and revitalized the religious spirit sparking off a renewal of devotional worship, referred to as the Bhakti movement. The Azhvaars visited temples and sung praises in the name of Vishnu. Such temples have come to be known as Divya Desams. The compilation of the verses (known as Paasurams) is the revered Naalayira Divya Prabandham(4000 verses). There are 108 Divya Desams in all, around 20 are in the Pandya region(Madurai-Tirunelveli belt). In each of these temples, Vishnu can be seen in one of the following forms- Reclining, Seated or Standing posture.

Nava Tirupathi (9 temples on either side of the river Tamaraibarani)

How to reach NAVATIRUPATHI

From Chennai, one can take Kanniyakumari Exp (430am arrival), Ananthapuri Exp(730am arrival), Nellai Exp(835am arrival), Chendur Express, or PEarl City Express

Where to Stay
The Railway Retiring room is a good and safe place to stay. Also, there are several budget and deluxe hotels near the railway station.

If you travel by Bus they will drop you at Tirunelveli New Bustand. From there all buses to Tiruchendure will ply via Alwarthirunagari. From there you can hire Auto or Taxi.

Nava Tirupathi Temples
These are 9 Vishnu temples on either side of Tamaraibarani river. These temples hold a special place in the 108 Divya Desams. While Irattai Tirupathi features as two temples in the Nava Tirupathi list, it is counted as one divya desam only. Nammazhvar, the only Azhvaar to have sung at the Nava Tirupathi temples, refers to certain temples in great detail, while some get only a passing mention. With extensive renovation work being funded by the TVS Group, these temples now have a mark of freshness about them. At each of these nine temples, one can find a display board with temple timings and route map. We should thank TVS Group for their recent modification and renovation works.

One can start the Nava Tirupathi trip from SriVaikuntam and end with Alwartirunagari. From SriVaikuntam, one can take an auto/taxi to go around the other 8 temples. This will cost around Rs. 250-300 and will take about 5 hours.One can also begin the Nava Tirupathi journey at Alwartirunagari and end with SriVaikuntam.

1. Sri Vaikuntam - Kallarpiran

SriVaikuntam is about 30 kms from Tirunelveli on the Tiruchendur road. Buses ply every 10 minutes on this route from Tirunelveli’s new bus stand. Also, there are daily local trains on the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur route, though less frequent. But distance from Railway station to temple area is app 2 km. One can see the towering structure of Vaikuntanathan temple as one enters the Tamaraibarani bridge, off Tiruchendur highway. The story goes that the Lord, disguised as the thief, presented himself before the King to save the thief. Hence, the Lord here is also known as ‘KallarPiran’. In Vishnu temples, Adisesh, the Serpent God unfurls his hood over Vishnu in a reclining posture. A unique feature of the Lord here is that Adisesh has his hood above the Lord in standing posture, one of its kind in the 108 Divya Desams.
Another feature of the temple is that the Sun’s rays falls directly on Lord Vaikuntanathan on two days(April-May and October-November period) every year. It is believed that this temple was used as a fort in the fight between the legendary freedom fighter Veerapandiya Kattabomman and the British in the 1800s. Surprisingly though, Nammazhvar only makes a passing mention of this temple in his Paasurams.

Temple timing: 7am-12noon and 5pm-8pm

2. ThiruvaragunaMangai (Natham)

This temple is about 2 kms East of SriVaikuntam and is known to many as the Vishnu temple at Natham. True to his name, Lord Vijayaasanar is seen to be sitting majestically like a victorious king on the throne. It is believed that a visit to this temple will help one attain moksha. This place is said to be a ‘Chandran’ Kshetram.

Temple timing: 8am-12noon and 4pm-6pm

3. Thirupulinkudi

1 km from Natham is the Lord KaasinaVenthar temple at Thirupulingkudi. The East facing Lord is seen in a reclining posture with a lotus stalk from his navel terminating in a flower on Brahma’s image on the wall of the sanctum. The story goes that Vishnu, along with Goddess Sridevi, came down to visit this place. Angered at being ignored for the trip, Goddess Bhoodevi hid herself in the netherworld. After Vishnu pacified her, it is believed that the two Goddesses came back together and gave darshan here with the Lord. An interesting feature of the temple is that Vishnu’s feet can be viewed through a small window in the passage.

Temple timing: 8am-12noon and 1pm-6pm

4. Irettai Tirupathi (Appan Koil)

These are two temples within a 100 yards of each other in the middle of a jungle and are counted as one for the purpose of the 108 Divya Desams. One has to cross a small canal to reach this temple. The road leading up to this temple is very narrow. The first of the two temples has Lord Devapiran in a standing posture facing East.

5. Thulaivilli Mangalam (Appan Koil)

Sage Suprabhar who performed a yagna at this place relieved a man and a woman from Kubera’s curse, which had turned them into a measuring scale (Tulai) and a bow (Villi). Hence this place is called Tulai Villi Mangalam. At the second temple one finds Lord Aravindalochanar in a seated posture facing East.

Legend has it that Lord Vishnu was impressed with Sage Suprabhar’s daily Lotus pooja and gave darshan to the sage on the Northern banks of Tamaraibarani. Hence, it is believed that one who does special ‘Lotus Flower’ pooja at this temple will be relieved of all sins.

Temple timing: 8.30am-1pm and 230pm-530pm

6. ThiruKuzhandhai - Perungulam

The Maayakoothan temple at Thirukuzhandhai is about 10 kms East of SriVaikuntam and near Eral. This place is now known as Perungulam. Legend has it that Vishnu went on his Garuda Vaahan to rescue Goddess Lakshmi from an Asura. Hence, one finds Garuda as the Utsav deity here. In the battle that ensued, Vishnu is said to have performed his victory dance standing on Asura’s body and hence the name MaayaKoothan.
Temple timing: 730am-1230pm and 430pm-730pm

7. ThenThiruperai - Makara Nedun Kuzhaikathan.

Back across the bridge and on to the South bank of Tamaraibarani, one finds the big Nigaril Mugilvannan temple at ThenThiruperai where the Lord is seen in a seated posture facing East.

Legend has it that Goddess Bhoodevi found two fish shaped ear rings while performing a penance, on the banks of Tamaraibarani, to relieve herself of Sage Durvasa’s curse and offered it to the Lord. The Lord who wore this came to be known as ‘Makara Nedun Kuzhaikathan’.

Another story is that Varuna (the Rain God) performed a penance here to be relieved of his curse. As a mark of this, it is believed that Varuna, visits this temple, every year, on the full moon day in the month of Panguni and worships Vishnu.

Temple timing: 730am-12noon and 5pm-830pm

8. ThiruKolur - Vithamaanidhi

3 kms South West of Thiruperai is the Vaitha Maa Nidhi temple at Thiru Kolur, where the Lord is in a reclining posture facing East.

This is the birth place of MaduraKaviAzhvaar, the ardent devotee of Nammazhvaar. Legend has it that Kubera attained salvation from Goddess Parvati’s curse at this place and it was here that his Nava Nidhis were restored.

It is said that a visit to this temple will help one recover lost wealth. The Lord here is said to help his devotees in distress.

Temple timing: 730am-12noon and 1pm-8pm

9. Alwarthirunagari- Nammazhvaar

Last but not least, Nava Tirupathi temples is the AadiNaathan temple at Alwartirunagari (Tirukkurugur). It is said that AadiNathan emerged on his own from the earth, though this does not figure among the only 8 temples where the Lord is believed to have emerged on his own.

Granting the prayers of a childless couple, Lord Nambi of Thirukkurungkudi is believed to have been born here as Nammazhvaar. When born, Nammazhvaar is said to have not opened his eyes or cried and he was taken to the tamarind tree within the temple.

Here, Nammazhvaar resided for 16 years till ThiruKolur’s Madurakavi (who was to later become his disciple) came and posed some interesting questions about life and that is when Nammazhvaar is said to have spoken for the first time.

So impressed was MaduraKavi (Azhvaar) with Nammazhvaar’s answers, that he said ‘ I do not need God, Nammazhvaar is enough’. Though Nammazhvaar died young, while in his 30s, his contribution to the Bhakti Movement is immense as can be seen from the fact that he sung praises of the Lord in one-third of the 108 Divya Desams. When Vaishnavites say Azhvaar, it means they are referring to Nammazhvaar, such is the reverence for him. There is a separate sannidhi for Nammazhvaar at this temple. He is the only one to have sung praise of Vishnu at the Nava Tirupathi temples. The centuries old tamarind tree at the temple neither bears fruit nor closes its leaves at dusk.

When to Visit Alwarthirunagari

It is better to visit this Navatirupathi places during vainavs festival season, few of them are Vaikuna Ekathasi, Vaikasi Visakam Period etc

An important festival at this temple is the Vaikasi Utsav, when the deities from all the Nava Tirupathi temples congregate here at Azhvaar Tirunagari to listen to the Paasurams with Nammazhvaar seated on the Hamsa Vaahan.

During Margazhi, one is a witness to ‘Thiru Mudi’ Sevai, the only one of its kind in Divya Desams. This is one of the three Divya Desams in TN where Araiyar Sevai, the visual song and dance enactment of the ‘Paasurams is still being performed. There is a stone nadaswaram at this temple, which is played out on special occasions. Most of the inscriptions here date back almost a 1000 years.

Temple timing: 7am-12noon and 5pm-8pm

For full details of festivals please view other pages too.

Nammalwar

Nammalwar

Life History:

Nammalwar was born in a clan "Vellalar tribe" on the 43rd day of kali yuga on Friday, under the star “Vishakha”, during the sukla pakshi, chathur dashi, in kataka lagna, in the month of vrushabha (May-June), in vasantha ruthu, in the year of Pramadhi, in Thiru kurugoor (near Thirunelveli) in the Pandaya dynasty of Tamil Nadu, to kariyar and Udayanangayar.

The child was extraordinary. For several days, it lived with eyes closed in perfect health, without food (neither breast fed milk nor any other). For days together, it never spoke. Distressed at this, the parents place the child at the shrine of Aadinathar, the deity of Kurugoor, surrendering into Him the entire burden of upbringing the child.

As the child was totally different from the general human nature, he was named Maran. He was also called “Sadagopan” as, unlike other children, he did not allow earthly ignorance to envelope him.

For sixteen long years, Maran sat motionless under the tamarind tree in Adinathar temple without food or drink, eyes closed, in padmasana ( one of the meditative posture), in utter silence. He was verily a SUN in human form with an aura encompassing the universe. He is believed to be the Avatara of Vishwak-Sena, chief of the hosts of Sriman Narayana in Vaikuntam.

Madhurakavi Alwar:

During that period, an elderly Brahmin scholar named Madhurakavi was on his pilgrimage to north Indian shrines. At Ayodhya, the pilgrim saw an extraordinary sweet glowing light as a star on the southern sky. Keen on knowing the source whence it emanated he traveled southward. Even when he reached Srirangam, (near Trichy in Tamil Nadu) the light was visible in far south. He continued his quest till he reached kurugoor, where the light merged with the person in Nammalwar, seated blissfully under the tamarind tree.

Getting Nammalwar to speak:

With great difficulty, Madhura kavi succeeded in drawing out Nammalwar from his deep samadhi. He learnt from Nammalwar the secrets of all the shastras by becoming his disciple. Thenceforward, he remained at his lotus feet, recording the divine poem swelling out of the heart of Nammalwar in great ecstasy of Krishna Bhakti, sometimes rapidly and other times slowly, depending on the intensity of intuition and inspiration. At the very thought of the birth and beauty of Sri Krishna, the Alwar used to go into deep trance for months together.

Nammalwar is the seer of Dravidian Vedas. He sang four immortal poems as the Tamil version of the of the four Vedas – Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharvanda.

Nammalwar stayed on earth in flesh and blood only for a brief thirty-five years. His return back to Vaikuntam through the Archaradhi gathi has also been sung by him in the penultimate portion of Thiruvaimozhi

Nine Garuda Seva at Alwarthirunagari

Nine garuda seva festival will be held during the month of (May / Vaikasi) every year. People used to call as "Iyntham Thiruvizha" (5th day festival)

All the Perumals from the Navathirupathi temple participate in their Garuda Vahanams. Nammalvar comes in Mayil Vahanam and Madhurakavi Alwar in a Palanquin. In all there are 9 Perumals and 2 Alwars. Seeing this wonderful urchavam, one can understand why people say 2 eyes are not enough sometimes.

This is a 10 day urchavam which happens during Nammalwars’ Thirunakshatram {Vaikasi Visaagam}. The Garuda Seva happens on the 5th day of the 10 day urchavam. At the start of the 5th day the Perumals of the NavaThirupathi stalams {except Alwarthirunagari} arrive at the Alwarthirunagari temple premises. As they arrive, each perumal is welcomed by Nammalwar.

For photographs and more information please visit

http://ramanujadasan.wordpress.com/2008/05/22/alwarthirunagari-vaikasi-visakam/

Nava Tirupathi Map

Divya Desam - Alwartirunagari

Alwartirunagari
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alwartirunagari is a Town Panchayat located on the Tirunelveli - Tiruchendur Highway, Tamil Nadu, southern India. Its about 31 kms from Tirunelveli and 29 kms from Tiruchendur, on the banks of the river Tamirabarani. It's the birth place of one of the 12 Alwars of Vaishnavites, namely, Nammalwar. Also, it's one of the Navatirupati Kshetras of South Tamil Nadu. Known to be a Guru Kshethram, the presiding deity is Sri Adhinathar. The temple has an old tamarind tree, under which, Nammalwar, as an infant, was believed to have been heard while crying. Nammalwar was born as the son of Kari Maharaja of Appankoil, a small hamlet on the other side of the river Tamirabarani. Navatirupati Garudaseva is a famous event of Vaikasi Brahmotsavam, when, Lord Vishnu from all the nine Navatirupati Kshetrams offers nine Garuda Sevas.

For further details please visit

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/df098.html

Where I Worked

DRTC _ ISI BC

Project Assistant - After completion of ADIS joined as PA at ISI BC.
Worked for a period of 100 days

Hind High Vacuum Co Pvt Ltd, Bangalore

Information Officer cum Librarian - Joined during Jan 1992 and worked till
June 1992.

SPIC Ltd., Pharmaceuticals Division Chennai - 22-06-1992 - Documentation Assistant

SPIC Ltd., Pharmaceuticals Division, Cuddalore - 01.04.2008 - Officer - Materials Management

My Institutes

I started Ah, Ahh, ....... A B C from Sri Subramania Vidyalaya, Alwartirunagari
Studied 6 - 12 (H.Sc) at Hindu Hr Secondary School, Alwartirunagari
B.Sc., (Chemistry) from Margoschis college, Nazareth (1984-87)

The turning point in my life in the year 1987

B.L.I.Sc (1988-89) - Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai
A.D.I.S. (1989-91) - DRTC, Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore
M.A. (Pol. Science) - Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, 2003
M.H.R.M. (Human Resources) - Annamalai University, Chidambaram - 2006
P.G.D.M.M. (Materials Management) - Annamalai University, Chidambaram - 2008