Pancha Narasimha Kshetram
Ugira Narasimha, Veera Narasimha, Yoga Narasimha, Hiranya Narasimha and Lakshmi Narasimha
wo temples north of ThiruNangur, and within a km of each other, Thiruvaali and Thirunagari, make up one Divya Desam. This is a Pancha Narasimha Shetram. There are 5 Narasimha temples in and around Thiruvaali and Thirunagari.
Thiruvaali
Goddess Lakshmi wanted the Lord to recognize the efforts of Thirumangai Mannan. Granting her wishes, Lord Vishnu asks her to be born as the daughter of Sage Poorna with the promise that he would come there to provide darshan to Thirumangai Mannan.
Quick Facts
Deity : Lakshmi Narasimha East Facing Sitting Posture
Goddess : Poorna Valli Thaayar
Utsavar : Thiruvali Nagaraalan
ThiruMangai way lays the Lord!!
At Vedarajapuram, a village in between Thiruvali and Thirunagari, Thirumangai Mannan stops the Lord in an effort to relieve him of his belongings. It is here that the Lord reveals his true form and utters the Astaachara Mandiram in the ears of Mangai Mannan. This entire event is enacted here every year on the first day of Panguni Uthiram.
Being the place where Lord Vishnu appeared to share the Thiru Manthiram, Thiruvaali is said to be equivalent to Badri.
Accepting the prayers of the Devas (they wanted Goddess Lakshmi to help protect the world from any further destruction after the Lord had slain Hiranyakashipu), the Goddess came here and sat on the Lord’s right thigh. Hence, this place came to be called ‘Thiru’Vali.
Pancha Narasimha Kshetram
With five Narasimha temples in and around Thiruvali-Thirunagari, this Divya Desam is called a Pancha Narasimha Kshetram. At Kuraiyalur, the birth place of Thirumangai Azhvaar, one finds Ugira Narasimha. At Mangai mutt, where Mangai Mannan fed a 1000 Vaishnavites as per the wishes of Kumudavalli, there is Veera Narasimha.
At Thirunagari, there are two Narasimha idols- Yoga Narasimha and Hiranya Narasimha and here at Thiruvali, one sees Lakshmi Narasimha with the Goddess on his right lap.
Kulasekhara Azhvaar and his reference to Thiru Vali
Kulasekhara Azhvaar praises the Lord here referring to him as ‘The Ruler of Aali Nagar’
“ Aalin Ilai Baalaganaai, Anru Ulagam Undavaney
Vaaliyai Konru Arasu Ilaya Vaanarathukku Alithavaney
Kaalinmani Karai Alaikkum, Kanapurathu En Karumaniye
Aali Nagaruku Athipathiye, Ayodhimaney Thaaleylo”- 725
Thirunagari
This is the only Divya Desam where one can see ‘Kalyana Ranganathar’ in a sitting posture.
Quick Facts
Deity : Vedaraajan, West Facing Sitting Posture
Goddess : Amrutha valli
Utsavar : Kalyana Ranganathar
The story
Brahmma’s son Karthama Prajaapathi undertook penance at Thirunagari wanting Moksham. With Lord Vishnu refusing to consider Goddess’ request of providing Moksham to Prajaapathi, an upset Lakshmi left Paramapatham and hid herself here at Thirunagari. Missing her presence, Lord came down in search and finally found her in a pond here. Hence this place came to be called‘Thiru’(Sri) Nagari, to mark the event of Goddess Lakshmi having stayed here.
While the Lord informed Prajaapathi that there was still time left for Moksham, he offered to grant any other wishes to Brahmma’s son. Though dejected, Prajaapathi requested that the Lord and Goddess remain here in the same form so all the devotees could have darshan.
Thirumangai Azhvaar seen with his trademark spear (Vel)
Thirumangai, who had won over Thirugnana Sambandhar(seen earlier in the Seerkazhi Kaazhi Cheerama Vinnagaram story) is seen here like a hunter with a spear.
Thirumangai had a golden sculpture of his done at Thirukurungudi. It is believed that he transferred all his powers to this sculpture before he attained Moksham at Thirukurungudi. This idol was then moved to Thirunagari, near the birth place of Thirumangai Azhvaar and to date remains the idol of Thirumangai, on whom the daily pooja is undertaken here at ThiruNagari.
To win over his sweet heart Kumudavalli, Thirumangai fed a 1000 vaishnavites here as per the condition laid down by her). To this day, one can see the mandapam, called Mangai Mutt, where Thirumangai fed these Vaishnavites.
Thiruvali Thirunagari details
Temple Timing : 8am-1130am and 5.30pm-730pm
Priest : Padmanabha Bhattar
Contact : 04364 275699/94433 72567
Azhvaar : Kulasekhara Azhvaar 1 (725)
ThiruMangai Azhvaar 41 Paasurams
(1078,1188-1217,1329,1519,1733,1735,1850,2014,2027,2063,2673(71)and 2674(115) )
