Azhagiya Singa Perumal, Tiruvali, Nagapattinam


Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:Azhagiya Singa PerumalAmbal / Thayar:Poorna Valli Thayar
Deity:PerumalHistorical name:Tiruvali
Vriksham:Teertham:
Agamam:

Age (years):

1000-2000

Timing:10 to 12 & 4.30 to 7.30Parikaram:

Temple group:Divya Desam
Sung by:

Temple set:

Thiruvali-Tirunagari, Pancha Narasimha Kshetram

Navagraham:

Nakshatram:

City / town:TiruvaliDistrict:Nagapattinam
Maps from (click): Current location Mayiladuthurai (25 km)Nagapattinam (62 km)

Thiruvarur (63 km)Thiruvarur (63 km)

Location

Tiruvali and Tirunagari are two separate places, about 6km apart, but are considered together as one Divya Desam temple. Tiruvali is located just outside Nangur, about 10km southeast of Sirkazhi. Tirunagari is also 10km, but east of Sirkazhi.

Sthala puranam and temple information

This temple is an integral part of the story of Tirumangaiazhvar (see below).

After Lord Vishnu vanquished Hiranyakashipu in the Narasimha Avataram, his fury had to be cooled down. So He came to Tiruvali, but much as He tried, He could not do this by himself. So the Devas beseeched Lakshmi for Her help. She came here and sat on the Lord’s right thigh, and placated him. (Normally in various depictions of Thayar on Perumal’s lap, She sits on His left thigh. The only two notable exceptions are at Tiruvalavendhai in Mamallapuram, and here at Tiruvali.)

In Sanskrit, the world aalinganam means “to embrace”. Tiru also refers to Lakshmi. When Lakshmi sat on Narasimhar’s thigh, He embraced her, and so this place gets the name Tiru-aalinganam, which over time has corrupted to Tiruvali.

While Tirumangaiazhvar has sung pasurams at all the Nangur temples including this one, this temple also has pasurams sung by Kulasekara Azhvar.

This is one of the Pancha Narasimha Kshetrams, and features two of the five Narasimhars. The temple is originally a Chola temple, with later additions by the Vijayanagar dynasty and the Thanjavur Nayaks.

Story of Tirumangaiazhvar

The Tiruvali and Tirunagari temples are connected with the enactment by Vishnu, of various events leading up to Him directly giving upadesam to Tirumangaiazhvar. Tiruvali is the birthplace of Amritavalli Thayar, the daughter of Poorna Maharishi. Tirunagari is the birthplace of Perumal as Kalyana Ranganathar.

Neelan was born in nearby Tirukuraiyalur, and over time, became a chieftain / king of his village. One day, when he was at Annankoil, he spotted a celestial named Sumangali who, with her friends, came there to collect flowers. Due to him being smitten by her, she became earthly, and could not go back to her celestial world, and so stayed on earth as Kumudavalli. Neelan proposed marriage, but she laid down two conditions – one was to become a true Vaishnavite and have the Pancha Samskaram performed, and the second was to feed 1000 people every day for a year – both of which Neelan agreed to. Neelan was so involved in these, that over time his personal wealth depleted, and he had to resort to robbery, with his four associates.

On one occasion, they noticed a wedding party returning from Tirunagari, and waylaid it. Everyone ran away, leaving the bride and the groom alone in their palanquin. Neelan ordered the couple to hand over all their jewelry, which they did. However, the groom’s toe-ring alone would not come off, and Neelan resorted to trying to bite it off. The great strength shown by him caused the groom to call him Kaliyan (kali = strength). Unable to get it off, Neelan (now, Kaliyan) accused the groom of having put a spell on him, and to utter the right spell or mantram to be able to collect the jewels and leave. At this point, the groom (who was Vishnu, playing this elaborate play), revealed his true form. Neelan sought pardon, but the Lord did more, and gave him the mantram He wished to give – the ashtakshara mantram – as upadesam. He also told Neelan that it was time to change his name to Tirumangaiazhvar, and perform upadesam to the world.

So did Neelan become Tirumangaiazhvar, who later travelled the length and breadth of Bharatavarsham, all the way up north to Muktinath, and down south, singing the praise of Lord Vishnu. He was also able to marry Kumudavalli, and indeed, is the only azhvar to be regarded as being with a consort for all important occasions.

Every year, during the temples’ annual festival / brahmotsavam, the above incident is re-enacted faithfully, on the night prior to Panguni Uthiram, as the vedu pari utsavam. Azhvar’s murti is as handsome as he was when attempting to rob the newly-wed couple!

Other information for your visit

Contact

Rangan Bhattar / Balaji Bhattar @ 99904 39331/ 04364-256221

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