Thirumaliruncholai Divyadesam - Sree Kallazhagar Perumal Temple - Azhagar Koil - The legend
The Almighty measured the entire universe with HIS Foot during His Vamana Avatar. When He raised His Foot to measure the Sky, It touched Sathya Logam where Lord Brahma Dvar reisdes. By the seeing the Holy Foot of the Almighty, Lord Brahma Devar performed Padhabishegam ( Worshipping the Foot by Chanting Mantras ) to HIS Foot with the Holy water of Ganges, the washed water flew through The Golden Silmabu of Perumal and formed a River here in this place which is being called as Silambaru and Nooupura Gangai, flowing 3 km above the temple. Even now Utsavar Thirumanjanam is being directly performed in Nupoora Gangai on every Aypasi month Sukla Paksha Dwadasi Day.
The Shadow of the Temple Vimanam never falls down on the ground
The temple was built Dharma Rajan. When he saw a beautiful Chandhran - Moon, he abducted that and asked Viswakarma to construct a eye catching Vimanam for this temple. Viswakaram did the same and the Vimanam is worshipped as Soma Sundara Vimanam. Soman means Chandhran Sundaram means Beautiful. The uniqueness of Vimanam is that the Shadow never falls down on the ground ( Like Tanjore Prahadeeswarar Temple Gopuram ). Yama Dharman once did a penance here towards the Almighty in his Virushaba Posture here and got prathyaksham by the Almighty as Sundara Rajan. Yama Dharma then requested that the hills should be named as Virushabadhri.
Later Thirumalai Naayakar, the ruler of the Pandya Kingdom clubbed this festival of Azhagarkoil with the Festival of Meenakshi Amman Temple so that to make the celebrations in a Grand Manner and the Made it as the Festival of Madurai called as "Azhagar Aatril Irangum Thiruvizha" means that Azhagar comes down to River Vaigai. "The strong belief is that Kallazhagar comes to Madurai to witness the wedding of His Sister Madurai Meenakshi Amman which shows the unity between the Saivites and Vaishnavites.
Karuppanna Swamy and the 18 Steps
Once the King from Kerala wanted to Carry this Perumal to his place and sent 18 Namboodhiris who were very familiar in mantras and tantras along with a Devatha to safeguard them. They were are all invisible and when they tried to carry the Moolavar, all those 18 persons were caught by the people here and were buried in alive under the 18 steps of the Main Eastern Entrance. The Devatha who came to protect the 18 namboothiris got admired by the beauty of Almighty and requested the people here that henceforth HE will become protector of all these 18 Steps as well as the Perumal and for which He asked the Artha Jama Pooja Naivedhyam for him. HE there after called as Pathinettampadi Karuppannaswamy.This Eastern Entrance remains closed through out the year except for 9 Days in the Tamil Month of Aadi and Devotees can get inside the temple only through the North East entrance. Every Night Artha Jama Pooja is being performed to 18 Padi Karuppana Swamy with the Garlands and Flowers adorned thorughout the day by Moolavar Kallazhagar with the Naivedhyam
One of the Pandiya King named Malaiayathvaja Pandiyan had done many renovations for this temple and followed by many Pandiya Kings, Chozha Kings and the Kings of Vijaya Nagaram. Krishnadeva Rayar, whose intention was to build Beautiful and Huge Towers for Vaishnavaite Temples, also constructed a Big Temple Tower here at Azhagar Koil. As with sevaral other temple towers, his defeat left this tower too unfinished hence the temple tower is called as Rayar Gopuram or Mottai Gopuram ( Unfinished Tower ).
Kallazhagar Collects the Garland from Sri Andal and sends His Attire to Srivilliputhur
Every year in the Tamil month of Chitirai, Azhagar is being taken on His Garuda Vaahanam on a 18 KM Street Procession to go to the River Vaigai in Madurai City to provide Moksham to Mandaka Mahirishi. On the way to the Vaigai River, KallAzhagar makes an important stop at a place called Thallaakulam Perumal Temple to collect the garland sent by Andaal of Srivilliputhur. Only after wearing this, Azhagar gets into the Vaigai River. During Tamil Month of Adi, Thiruvadi Pooram Festival, marking the Birthday of Andal, Kallazhagar sends His Attire to Srivilliputhur as a ‘Return Gesture’ to Sree Andal of Srivilliputhur.
The Only Divyadesam where both Moolavar and Utsavar can be worshipped with Panchayudham
Periyazhwar who had came here was so impressed with Kallazhagar and decided to remain here and never turned back to his place Srivilliputhur. The Utsava Murthy is very dazzling and made of Gold. Palliyarai is made of Ivory where the Almighty is Blessign with His Prayoga Chakra. The Only Divyadesam where both Moolavar and Utsavar can be worshipped with Panchayudham, 5 Weapons. To cool Yoga Narasimhar everyday Abhiseham with Oil, Curd, Milk and Holy Water of Noorupa Gangai - Temple Tank is being perfomred. A small hole is there above Lord Yoga Narasimhar to vent the heat of His anger. |
