Thiruvekka Divyadesam - Sree Yathokthkari Temple - Sonnavannam Seitha Perumal Temple in His Maaru Sayana Posture
One of
the legends says that Perumal left this place once, returned back and purposely
slept in an opposite direction as a proof that He left the place and came
back. Another belief is that when the Almighty was supposed to safeguard the
Ashwamedha Yagam conducted by Lord Brahmadevar ( Refer the Legend of Kanchi
Varadahar Temple ), He rushed to block River Vedhagiri which was sent by Goddess
Sarswathi, HE is believed to be Reclined in the Opposite Direction to stop River Vedhagiri.
Sonnavannam Seitha Perumal Blessing in His Maaru Sayanam - An Unusual Reclining Posture
Thirumazhisai Azhwar, an incarnation
of Sudharsana Chakra was born In Dwabara Yuga Siddharthi Year on a Maham Star in
the place called Thirumazhisai. He was born to Bargava Mahirishi and his
consort Kanagangi as a premature child. Being a child without any movements his
parents got fed up and thrown the child into the bush. The abandoned child was
actually the incarnation of Sudharsana Chakra, which was not known by his parents.
The deformed child after some time had the Darshan of Sreeman Narayanan, by seeing
the Almighty he became normal. A childless couple named
Thiruvalan and Bangayaselvi,who were passing through the way heard the child crying
and took the child along with them as the gift of the Lord for their prayers. Even then
the child was not taking any food and even water for quiet some years but was living
healthy without any problem. The whole people from Kanchipuram used to come to
see this wonder baby. Once a old man offered milk to the child. Surprisingly the child
after drinking some portion of the milk gave back the remaining to the old man, who
was childless and praying the Almighty to get blessed with the brighter child. He took the
milk along with his wife as a Prasadham. Their belief got fulfilled. Suddenly they
became young and after some days they got blessed with the male child, who grew up
in the name of Kanikannan ( The One who was later bacame a great disciple
of Thirumazhisai Azwar and named also as Thirumazisaipiran ).
When the child grew up he was not clear as to which religion to follow and just followed Saivism with no
particular reason. Once he met Peyazhwar and had a debate with him on the religions.
Finally he got surrendered to him and became his disciple and followed Vaishnavism.
Later he was called as "Bakthisarar" and "Thirumazhisai Azhwar". One day Thirumazhisai Alwar was pleased by a old lady who used to clean the temple premises everyday and asked her whether she needs anything. The old lady requested the him that she wanted to become a beautiful young lady. Azhwar with his divine power transformed her into a beautiful lady. At that time one day King Pallavarayar, who ruled the kingdom of Kanchipuram came to the temple and swa the lady. He got attracted by the charm of the beautiful lady, requested to marry him and they at last got married.
The years pass on, the king grew up older but to a big surprise he noticed that the lady remains younger. He was amazed and asked her about the secret of being younger. The Lady explained to the King about the power of Alwar. he King decided and wanted to be young for ever. At that time Kanikannan, the sincere disciple of Alwar used to come to the palace everyday to get food for him as well for his Guru. The king asked Kaninkannan to bring Thirumazhisai Azhwar to his palace. But Kanikannan told him that if he wants to meet the Guru Bakthisarar, he only should come down to his place and Azhwar would never come to meet any one at their place. The king also knew that Kanikaannan was a good poet and wanted to praise with a song on him. But Kanikannan refused and told the king that his poetic talent was not for anyone other than the Almighty. Annoyed king asked Kanikannan to leave from his kingdom of Kanchipuram immediately. Kanikannan went and explained the whole story to his Guru Thirumazhisai Azhwar.
Guru too felt very bad and told Kanikannan that he also had no desire to reside in Kanchipuram. He was also started to leave along with him. Then he had an appeal to his Almighty to follow him and kanikannan out of Kanchipuram. The Deity in the temple of Thiruvekka Divyadesam Bhujangasayanar obliged His devotees and followed them. They all went and stayed for the whole night outside of Kanchi ( The place is called as “Oriravirukkai” means Oru Iravu Irukkai Oru – One, Iravu – Night and Irukkai – the resided place ). As soon as three of them left Kanchipuram, the entire became dull and dark.
Next Day Morning, the king realized his mistake, rushed to the place where Kanikannan and Guru Bakthisarar stayed back. He begged them to forgive him and requested to return his Kingdom. Thirumazhisai Alwar felt that the king was really regretted and decided to return back to Kanchipuram. He then appealed the Almighty to come along with him and Kanikannan as they have decided to return back to Kanchi. HE again oblidged to His devotees as usual and returned back to Thiruvekka. But when He retuned back He reclined in an opposite direction resting on His Right Hand ( Maaru Sayanam ) an unusual and opposite blessing posture . whcih can not be worshipped in any of the temples, as a proof that He left the place once and returned back. This was happened in the Tamil month of Thai on Maham Star, which is the birth day of Thirumazhisai Azhwar. In memory of this event, Every year the Almighty along with Thirumazhisai Azhwar is taken into procession to the banks of River Vegavathi in Tamil month of Thai on Maham star.
As He made very clear to everyone that He followed the words of the adherent devotees without saying anything whatever may be the requests, He is being worshipped as "Sonna Vannam Seitha Perumal", means Perumal who obeyed as requested as well as Yathokthakari. Yathoktha means as requested and Kari means a person who acted accordingly. Manavalamamunigal conducted his upanyasam for a year continously. There is a seperate shrine for Pillai Lokacharya here |
