Thirukkurungudi Divya Desam- from the Hindu - for your reading pleasure

[Guest guest]

Hailed by the Azhwars

 

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/08/27/stories/2004082702620600.htm

 

The ancient temple at Thirukurungudi, situated 47 km

from Tirunelveli past Nanguneri, has great historical

significance. PRADEEP CHAKRAVARTHY gives an account.

 

Tirukkurungudi temple ... literature speaks of green

groves and tall mansions.

 

" WHY MY companions do you blame me? It's not my fault

that I am in love with him! On seeing my Lord of

Thirukurungudi, I think only of His discus, His conch,

His lotus eyes and pair of coral hued lips. My heart

is mine no longer! " Thiruvaimozhi 5.5.1

 

Going on, Nammazhwar explains in the next 8 stanzas

the overriding obsession of Parankusa Naayaki towards

the Lord in Thirukurungudi. In what are among the most

beautiful paasurams, one hears Parankusa Naayaki

replying to her companions and her mother of how the

spellbinding beauty and majesty of the Lord has

overcome her. She speaks of His hue, His jewels, His

weapons, His garlands and begs her friends not to

blame her, for her obsession is one that is all

consuming and beyond her own control.

 

Azhwar speaks of palm tree groves and tall mansions.

The palm tree groves are intact watered by the

Nambiaru but the houses are dwarfed by the majesty of

the entrance gopuram.

 

Although incomplete, even without any tier, it raises

over a flight of stairs. The variety of sculptures of

Saivite and Vaishnavite themes only gives a sample of

what is to come within the 18 acres inside.

 

Crossing the threshold, Sri Tirunarayanar took a few

minutes to explain the working of the 30-ft doors.

Crossing in we admired more sculptures on the gopuram

including one of Saturn. Passing by this, we went to

an intermediary mandapam with eight grand Nayak

sculptures.

 

Climbing up the five-tier gopuram after this, our eyes

were subjected to a surfeit of carvings in wood. We

went past a smaller mandapam with more Nayak

sculptures of a ferocious Narasimha, a gypsy couple

kidnapping a prince and princess, the hallmark of

Nayak sculptures to the main shrines.

 

The Lord here is in three separate shrines, standing

in one, seated in another and reclining on the third.

The images are of stucco beautifully painted. Bhoomi

Devi was in a mellow green to depict the greenery of

the earth, Sri Devi in a golden yellow. True to his

name of Sundaraparipoornan or Vadivazhagiyanambi (one

of matchless beauty) the Lord was of breathtaking

beauty. Flanked by Brigu and Markandeya, the archakar

told how the Lord blessed Kari and Udayanangai with

their progeny Nammazhwar. He also told how the Lord

appeared to Ramanuja as a disciple and earned the Lord

the name Vaishnava Nambi.

 

Next, we went to the shrine of Mahendranathar, a

shrine for Lord Siva in the main temple complex and

the beautiful Krishna shrine. " You must visit the

Nambi shrine on the Mahendragiri hill and

Thiruparkadal Nambi. They are also part of this temple

and the former is set in a beautiful forest beside a

stream, " said Thirunarayanan. The temple has been

mentioned in the verses by Periyazhwar and

Thirumazhisaipiran. Thirumazhisaipiran in the

Thiruchandaviruttam speaks of Kurungudi being a place

where the palm fruits roll into the river where cranes

and Valai fish abound (verse 62).

 

Thirumangai Azhwar spent his last days here and

appropriately in his song on the temple, he speaks as

Parakala Naayaki, " The cool moonlight breeze, laden

with His jasmine's fragrance, rips my heart with

longing.

 

Let these bangled sleepers prattle.

 

But carry me away to my lord in Kurungudi. " — Periya

Thirumozhi 9.5.2

 

Ottakoothar, the Chola poet speaks of the temples

prosperity and says, " pearls are aplenty in the groves

that cranes peck at them and nearly choke in the

process! "

 

Inscriptions are few in number. A unique event in the

town is the celebration in song and dance of

Nampaduvan a member of the panar community, who

redeems a demon from his curse. Kaisika Natakam is on

the night of Ekadasi in Karthigai month. The months of

Thai and Panguni have other important festivals. The

Thirukurungudi temple is administered by the Jeeyar.

than anything else.

 

The visit was unforgettable and we could agree with

Nammazhwar who says, " My resplendent Lord of the

celestials, lives in Kurungudi and shines like molten

gold. How can I ever forget him? " Thiruvaimozhi 1.10.9

The temple is 47 km from Tirunelveli past Nanguneri.

Contact for more details: Thirunarayanan, Thirujeeyar

Math, Thirukurungudi, Tirunelveli District.

 

 

 

 

 

_______________________________

 

Win 1 of 4,000 free domain names from Enter now.

http://promotions./goldrush