About Alwar 5th festival

[Guest guest]

SrI

SrimatyaI GodayaI Nama:

 

Thanks to SrI Maharabhooshanam Sadagopan Svami for the excellent account

of Nammazhwar Brahmotsavam in Azhwar Thirunagari which has no other

parallel in any other divya desam.

 

When we Think of the Nithya Vaibhavam and current utsavams of Azhwaar

Thirunagari the amazing Kainkaryam of Svami Thiruvaymozhi Pillai comes

to one 's mind.Sometime around mid 14th century Svaami came to Kurugoor

Kshetram.That time Kurugoor was a forest,with the sthalavriksham and a

small temple for perumal.There were very few kainkaryaparals looking after

the temple.Swami Thiruvaaymozhi Pillai wanted to make Azhwar's avatara

sthalam like srirangam in eminence. Swami started the task of

rebuilding the Nava Thiruppathi temples especially Azhwar

Thirunagari by clearing the forests in the area.He then built a big

temple for Perumaal,a proper sannidhi for Azhwar,paths around that area,

veedhis around the temple for many Srivaishnavas to settle at that place

(a census around 1820's mentions more than 6500 inhabitants at

Azhwar Thirunagari)donated lands for Nithyotsavams and Nithyakaimkaryams

and made it into an Azhwar Thiru-Nagari as we call and see today.

 

Today it a bustling town ,the temple with the imposing

gopuram can be seen right from the main road (Tirunelveli- thiruchendur

road),there is a railway station where you have local passengar trains

stopping.In 1999 May there was a major celebration in Azhwar Thirunagari

during Nammazhwar Utsavam when 21 kodai's and Vasthrams for all perumals

was gifted by TTD and Vahanam for Nammazhwar was gifted by

H.H.Sri Vanamamalai Jeeyar Swamigal .It was attended by thousands of

devotees with 3 days of Thadheeyaradhanam.Let us pray for the paripoorna

anugraham of all Nava Thirupathi Perumals and Azhwar on this garuda sevai

day and the continued growth and prosperity of of this divya desam

Azhwaar Thirunagari and the Nava Thirupathi divya desams.

 

Nammazhwar Thiruvadigale Saranam

adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Venkat S Iyengar