Thiruvali Divyadesam

[Guest guest]

Sri:

Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama:

 

Dear Bhagavathas,

 

Adiyaen would like to say a few words on one of Kaliyan's favourite but little

known divyadesams. Thiruvali- located in Chola Naada near Sirkazhi (in the

original Tanjore district) is the abode of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal and HIS

consort.

 

Thirumangai Mannan, after receiving the divya dhampati's blessings burst into

unabounded joy and ecsatsy and expresses his joy as well as his guilt (for

having neglected the Lord for such a long time) in the famous " Vaadinaen Vadi

Varundhinaen Manaathal,....." song. Amongst other things, Azhwar, here recounts

the days when he spent a lot of his youth in worldly pleasures, including

robbing people and flirting with young girls. Very much like Wordsworth, he

cries out his heart about the time lost and feels unabounded joy at having

obtained the Divya Dhampati's "paripoorna katatksham". This revelation to

Azhwar, as history recounts came to him at Vedharajapuram, also in Seerkazhi

taluk and close to the Thirunangur-Thiruvali Divyadesams. Here in is conducted

the very famous and memory filling "Vaedupouri Utsavam" - a must see and must

witness in one's lifetime. During the utsavam, Kaliyan is dressed as a bandit

and carried on a palanquin. The gait and majesty with which Azhwar!

conducts himself during the march is a real and fitting tribute to the

organisers as well as to the local people who are so much attached to the Bandit

King. Equally amazing and astounding, is the depiction of his fall from his

"high pedestal" when on trying to remove the metti from the Lord's divine

consort and failing, Azhwar bends and tries to bite and wring out the metti from

HER feet, when the Lord accepts his salutation and reveals the ultimate Truth to

Kaliyan. "Vaadinaen Vaadi" follows immediately. Amongst other things the

kadambam which one obtains as Prasadam is a treat that has no equals!

 

After the divine revelation, Azhwar travels to many other places and also stops

at the Thiruvali Divyadesam and with folded hands performs Managalasasanams to

Lakshmi Narasihma Perumal and sings 30 songs in HIS praise, the most famous

among them being "Kalvan Kol Yaan Ariyaen....". The padinoru (11) Garudasevai

festival is another treat to the eyes and occurs every year in the

Thirunangur-Thiruvali Divyadesams

 

Unfortunately this Divyadesam has fallen into bad times and its rise and fall

coincided with the rise and fall of Kaliyan. Perumal remains all by HIMSELF and

quitely watches as the lamp burns away its oil and expectantly yet with

compassion and benevolance waits for the day when a Bhagavatha would realize his

duty towards HIM. Along these lines, Sri Muraleedhara Swamy has undertaken the

task of renovating and providing means for the temple's upkeep. Work is

currently underway and devotees can have darshan of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha

Perumal while they visit Chola Nadu Divyadesams.

 

Azhvar emperumAnAr Jeeyer thiruvadigalE sharanam

Adiyen rAmAnuja dAsan

Dwarakanath Srinivasan