A Virtual Tour of Divya Desham 6

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Edanthamei Kulungavo ? Vilangumal varaisuram

Kadantha kal parantha Kaverikarai kudanthaiyul

Kidanthavaru azhunthirinthu pesu vazhi kesanea

Thirumazhisaipiran – Thiruchanda Viruttam – 61

 

 

 

In the above mentioned words for thirumazhisaipiran the next posting

is about Thirukundanthai – Aravamudhazhvan

 

 

KOMALAVALLI NAYEKA SAMETHA ARAVAMUDHAN

 

Kundangaleadutheravitu Kutthada valla en kovea

Madankol Mathimugatharai mal seaiya valla en

maintha

Edanthita eraniyan Nenjai erupillavaka mun

Keendaai

Kudanthai kidantha en kovea Kurukathi

puchutavarai

Periazhwar – Tirumozhi –

2 - 7 - 7

 

 

 

Brahmandapurana, Tiruvinnagar Mahatmyam, Kumbakonam Mahatmayam among

others describe this kshetra. It was here that Swami Nathamuni heard

the recitation of the 10 Pasurams of tiruvoimozhi beginning with

Aravamudea and ending with words indicating a thousand pasurams,

After this Swami Nathamuni made penance and not only got rest of

Tiruvoimozhi but also the other 3000, set them all all music (Inyisai

Thantha Vallal) and started the tradition of recitation of prabandham.

This kshetra is like srirangam is between two rivers cauveri and

Arasalaru. This place is also called Bhaskara Kshetram as Surya,

which lost its power of brightness earlier regained it after

performing tapas on the Sudarsana Chakra of Lord Sarangapani

 

The lord in this temple is in Utthana Sayanam, on the request of

Thirumizhisai azhwar (Kidanthavaru Ezunthiru). Hence the lord is

called Aravamudhazhvar and Azhwar Thirumizhisai Piran. The beauty of

the Moolasthanam carved in the black stone in the form chariot and

the Lord with his consorts in the beautifully carved Chitrai ther

moved Thirumazhipiran to compose thiruezhukootrirukai describing

lords divine traits of creation and preservation etc

 

The temple has two entrances Uttarayanam (Jan-Jul) and Dakshanayanam

(Jul – Jan) . Each of the entrances have nine steps which signifies

the nine steps (sopanam) to attain paramapadam

 

Thayar is called Padithanda Patni as all her utsavams are conducted

inside the temple only. Sri Ramaswami temple and Chakarapani Temple

are the other two temples in the town

 

Lord Chakaprani is with ashtabujam and is the Chakramsam of

aravamudhan. During all the major festivals and activities in the

temple, Lord Chakrapani and Aravamudhan are seen together. At the Sri

Ramaswamy temple, Rama and Seetha are seen in pattabhisheka kolam with

baratha, Shatrughna, Lakshmana and Anjaneya with veena

 

As per the sthala purana, the amrutha kalasam, which was atop of

himalayas washed during the pralayam, settled here. At the request of

devas, paramasivan hit the vessel with an arrow, when the nectar

spilled out and filled the mahamakam and pottamarai kulam. Hence this

place is called kumbakonam.

 

Ayya Kumara Thata Desikan constructed a separate sannidhi for

kamalavalli Thayar. Pleased with this act and as desired by thayar, a

sannidhi for Ayya Kumara Thata Desikan by Nayakar king opposite her

sannidhi for her multifarious kainkaryams in the temple. One day the

preists were wonderstruck to find the lord in a wet dhoti and with

sacred thread worn as at the time performing final rites, as only the

previous day they had seen the stranger perform these rites to Sri

Lakshminarayana Swami, who devoted the entire life in the service of

Lord aravamudha. In Rememberance, every year on Ayppasi amavasya day

this is recreated. This Rajagopuram is 3rd tallest gapuram after

srirangam and srivilliputur, was built by swami after from the

donation received for antima kainkaryam of Ayya Kumara Thata desikan

 

Sri Tirukudanthai Desikan, a great and revered acharya who is

considered an aparavathara of Swami Desikan lived here and performed

many kainkaryams Among the important granthas authored by this great

man are Komala Dandakam and Aparyaptamruta Dhyana Sholkam on the

Thayar and Perumal

 

Important festivals are Chitirai uthsavam, Vasanthothsavam &

Nammazhwar Uthsavam etc. This divya desham is 1.5 kms from the

kumbakonam station on the chennai-Trichy main line and is also

accessible by road from Trichy, Thanjavur etc

 

 

 

Perumal : Moolavar : Aravamudhan – Adisesha

Sayanam

Uthsavar : Sarangapani,

Aravamudhan

Thayar : Kamalavalli Thayar

Pushkarini : Hema Pushkarini, Cauvery Nadhi,

Arasalaru

Vimanam : Vaideeha Vimanam

Pratyaksham : Hema Maharishi

 

 

Mangalasasanam : Bhoodatazhwar 2

Peyazhwar

2

Thirumazhipiran 7

Namazhwar 13

Periazhwar

4

Kothai Nacchiyar 1

Thirumangai Mannan 25

 

 

 

Adiyean Desikan Dasan

Srirangam S. Balaji

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