Divya Desam series: - TIRUKKOZHI (URAIYUR)

February 12, 2008

TIRUKKOZHI (URAIYUR) This Divya Shetram is situated in Uraiyur, around 3 Kms from Trichy, and is easily accessible by road. Uraiyur was the ancient Chola Capital, and is the birthplace of Tiruppaan Azwar. The presiding Deity is Azhagiya Manavaalan in the standing posture carrying Sanku and Chakra in His hands. Komalavalli Thayar is also in the same sanctum in the seated posture carrying a lotus on Her hands. The Theertham is Kalyaana Theertham and the Vimanam Kalyaana Vimanam. According to the legend a valiant rooster is believed to have warded off an elephant with it’s beak and gained the name Tirukkozhi – Mookkeeswaram. The Sthala puranam says that King Nandha Chola who was ruling the Chola Dynasty with Uraiyur as his capital was an ardent devotee of Lord Ranganatha at Srirangam. He prayed to Lord Ranganatha to be blessed with a child. Once while hunting the King found a child on a lotus in a pond. He brought the child home and named her Komalavalli – the one that has come out of lotus. As she grew up she admired the beauty of Lord Ranganatha whenever she visited the Srirangam temple, and was expressing her desire to marry the

Lord. One day the Lord appeared in the dream of the king and told him that the child is none but Mahalakshmi and asked the king to send Komalavalli to Srirangam to be married to Him. The king was delighted to find that his daughter is Mahalakshmi and Lord Ranganatha is going to be his son-in-law. Accordingly the king arranged for the marriage and Komalavalli, dressed as the bride, vanished as she entered the sanctum of Lord Rangantha. The king built a temple at Uraiyur commemorating the marriage of Komalavalli and Ranganatha. Kalyana Uthsavam is being celebrated on Panguni Pooram (March-April) when the Utsava

Vigraham of Lord Ranganatha is brought to Tirukkozhi from the Srirangam temple. There is no Utsava Vigraham in this temple. Azhwar Mangalaasaasanam: Tirumangai Azhwar – Pasuram 1762 Kulasekhara Azhwar – Pasurm 667 (Pasuram numbers as found in Naalaayira Divya Prabhandam) The temple has exquisitely carved sculptures and ornamented pillars and large mandapams. There is a separate sannadhi for Tiruppaan Azhwar on the northern side of the temple tank Om Namo Narayanaya Padmashri

Sampathkumar

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