DivyaDesam– Lord Vishnu | One of the DivyaDesamVishnuSthalam |
Region | Pandiya Naadu |
Pandiya Naadu | 16thVishnuSthalam |
HISTORY:
Located
8kms South West of Tirupattur on the Siva Ganga Highway is the Sowmya Narayana
Divya Desam in Thiru Koshtiyur, a temple that finds a reference in the
Brahmanda Purana. Lord Sheerabdhi Nathan, who had come here from Thiru Parkadal
on the request of the Devas, is seen in a Bhujanga Sayana Posture at this
temple. This is the place where Ramanuja was initiated the Thiru Mandiram by
his Acharya Thiru Koshtiyur Nambi on his 18th trip from Srirangam.
Asura
Hiranyakashipu prayed to Brahmma for a boon that he would not be killed by
Devas, human race, animals or by weapons. Having secured the boon, he went on a
rampage harassing everyone and forcing them to utter ‘Namo Hiranyaya Namaha’.
Worried at his increasing power and anxious at what his next action would be,
Devas sought Shiva’s help, who directed them to Brahma, who further directed
them to Vishnu as the only one who could pin down Hiranyakashipu.
The
Devas went to Thiru Paarkadal only to be told by Lord Narayana that Hiranya’s
powers had spread around the world and they had to go and find a place in the
world where His name was still being chanted. They managed to find Kadamba
Rishi’s ashram as the one place where Lord Narayana’s name was still being
uttered. The Rishi was undertaking severe penance in his quest to have darshan
of the Lord as Sheerabdhi Nathan.
The
Devas and Tri Murthies went to Kadamba Rishi’s ashram to discuss the plan to
kill Hiranya. While everyone remained there, Lord Narayana went back to Thiru
Paarkadal where, he asked Sanghu Karna to be born as Hiranyakashipu’s son Prahalada
who would utter Namo Narayana all the time, much to his father’s shock.
After
Hiranya Samhara, Kadamba Rishi requested Brahma to give him a model of Lord
Narayana killing Hiranya. It was Brahma who directed Vishwakarma to construct a
3 tier structure at this place- one with Om, another with Namo and the third
with Narayana with the Southern side of the tower depicting ‘Lord ‘Narasimha
catching Hiranyan’. He asked Maayan to construct the Northern side of the tower
depicting ‘Narasimha killing Hiranyan’.
Indra,
who had stayed back here till the Hiranya Samhara, presented to Kadamba Rishi
the silver plated idols of Sowmya Narayana along with Sri, Bhoo and Neela Devi.
When Pururavan, the son of Budhan (Mercury) flew above Thiru Koshtiyur on his
way for a bath in the Ganges, he was brought down to this place through the
powers of the Ashtanga Vimana. Having had a darshan of the Thiru Koshtiyur Lord
and lured by his presence, Pururavan built the town where people could stay and
have darshan of Sheerbadhi Nathan.
This
is a Divya Desam with a 'Three tier Ashtanga Vimana', similar to Thiru Koodal
in Madurai. At the ground level, there’s a Sannidhi here for Lord Shiva. Above
that is a 3 Tier Vimana. On level 1 is Lord Uraga Mellanaiyaan – Sheerabdhi
Nathan in a Sleeping Posture. Above him in Tier 2 is Lord Upendra Narayana in a
Standing Posture. And on Tier 3 is Paramapada Nathan in a Sitting Posture.
There
is a Ramaswamy temple in Cheran Maha Devi, near Ambasamudram, which has a
similar three tier Ashtanga Vimana.
On
Tier 3, through a small gap one can reach the place from where Ramanuja
pronounced the Thiru Mandhiram to the world at large.
Ramanuja
came to Thiru Koshtiyur to meet Nambi and learn the Thiru Mandhiram. On
reaching here, he says ‘I have come to meet you..’ but was turned back on 17
occasions.
On
the 18th occasion, Ramanuja started with ‘Adiyen Daasan (your disciple)
Ramanuja has come.’ And to his surprise, this time Nambi welcomed him saying
‘Your arrogance is gone. Now we can talk’.
Ramanuja
requested his Acharya Nambi to teach him the Thiru (Narayana) Mandhiram. He was
initiated the Thiru Mandhiram, subject to one condition that Ramanuja would not
share it with anyone else and that if he failed, he would go to hell. Having
learnt the Thiru Mandhiram, Ramanuja came up here to the 3rd tier, called out
for the people and recited the Thiru Mandhiram to the world at large.
Shocked
at this ‘break of promise’, Nambi questioned Ramanuja on his failure to keep up
the promise and the consequence of this ‘public’ utterance In a stunning reply,
Ramanuja said ‘By sharing the Thiru Mandhiram, I alone (one person only) will
go to hell but by having shared it with the world at large, several people will
get Moksham.’ And hence, he was ready to go to hell.
Impressed with Ramanuja’s reply, Nambi called him ‘Ne Emperumaal Aanar’ (you
have become my Lord). Hence Ramanuja here is called ‘Emberumaanar’. Ramanuja
and Nambi have separate Sannidhis at this temple. Outside the Nambi Sannidhi is
a board that contains the list of 18 Thiru Mandhiram. On the third tier, on the
Southern side, there is a beautifully sculpted statue of Ramanuja in a sitting
posture to mark the ‘ThiruMandhiram’ pronunciation to the world.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Uraga Mellanayaan Perumal |
|
Ambal |
Sri Thiru Maamagal |
|
Theertham |
Deva Pushkarani Theertham |
As
the Devas came here in Groups (Ghosti) requesting Lord Narayana to kill Asura
Hiranyakashipu, this place is called Koshtiyur. The belief is that a visit to
this place will remove one’s sins as can be seen from the name – Thiruku (Sin)
– Otiyur (removed). Belief is that visiting Thiru Koshtiyur provides one the
fruits of visiting Naimisaranyam Divya Desam, a bath in the Ganges and a visit
to Kurukshetra. It is said that a Vaishnavite who does not visit Thiru
Koshtiyur will become a monkey in the next birth.
Every
year millions of people assemble at Thirukoshtiyur for the temple float
(thepposavam) event during the Tamil month of Maasi (Magha - mid March). It is
believed that one who takes the sacred lamp from the theppam and wraps it on a
yellow cloth and worships the lamp at their home is blessed with the boon they
seek, especially those wanting a child or a marriage. Once the wishes gets
fulfilled, the devotee returns to the temple with the lamp and leave additional
lamps as per their wish.
HOW
TO REACH:
Thiru
Koshtiyur is 8Kms South West of Tirupattur, 25kms North of Sivaganga and about
30kms West of Karaikudi. Buses ply every 5-10 minutes between Tiruppatur and
SivaGangai.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Uraga Mellanayaan
Perumal Thirukkovil,
ThiruKoshtiyur,
Tamil Nadu - 630 210.
LOCATION:
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