Divya Desam – Lord Vishnu | One of the DivyaDesamVishnuSthalam |
Region | Chola Naadu |
Chola Naadu | 26th Vishnu Sthalam |
HISTORY:
The
Lord of the temple is praised by Saint Tirumangai Azhwar in his Mangalasasanam
hymns. Appearing in various colours, Azhwar asks Lord what his real colour is –
white as milk, dark as a cloud, glittering as gold or that of precious gem,
will you tell me my Lord in Indalur.
Being
one among the celebrated Divya Desas, the temple with its five tier Rajagopuram
is built on a land area measuring 350 feet in length and 230 feet in breadth.
Planet Moon got relieved of his curse here after a bath in the sacred spring.
Chandra-Moon worships the face of the Lord, Sun the feet and Lord Brahmma the
naval. Mother Cauvery worships Perumal on His head side while Mother Ganga His
feet. Yama and Ambarishan also worship the Lord at His feet. Mother Cauvery has
greater importance in this place than Mother Ganga.
The
history of the temple speaks the greatness of Ekadasi Vrata-fasting, that is
the devotee committed to this prayer should spend the whole day only with
thoughts of Lord without consuming even a drop of water. King Ambarishan was
following this practice meticulously. The devotee should take food only the
next day-Dwadasi the 12th day of New Moon or Full moon at an auspicious time.
And that was the 100th Ekadasi-Dwadasi for king Ambarisha. People of his
country and those in the palace were happy that their king will be completing a
century and there were necessary arrangements for the celebrations.
But,
people in the celestial world were unhappy because, Ambarishan may be elevated
to their status if his 100th fasting went successfully. They did not want to
lose their position for a human. They approached Sage Durvasa to undo his
fasting and help retaining their positions. The sage, noted for his temperament
assured the Devas to help them and came down to earth. By then, the king had
finished the Ekadasi fasting. The fasting would become complete only if he took
his food before the prescribed time the next day-Dwadasi. If the time ends, the
fruits of the fasting also would be lost. The king did not know that the sage
had come with an evil plan.
The
king was about to take his food when Sage Durvasa entered his palace. The king
was doubly glad to have a guest in Sage Durvasa and requested him to accept his
hospitality-dining with him. The sage cunningly told him that he accepted his
invitation and would be back to be with him for the lunch after a bath in the
river. His plan was to fail the king. The time was fast nearing.
The king was afraid of the curse of the sage if he ate without him. He
consulted the pandits in his court. The chief pandit said that if he simply
consumes of few drops of water, he would complete the fasting in order. King
did this and was waiting for the sage to have the full food.
Knowing
this through his powers, Durvasa created a ghost to kill the king. When the
ghost began chasing him, Ambarisha sought asylum at Lord’s feet. Perumal looked
at the ghost angrily. The ghost began to retreat and disappeared. Realizing the
devotion of the king and the power of his fasting, sage Durvasa sought the
pardon of the Lord. The sage was pardoned.
When
asked by the Lord of his wish after completing 100 Ekadasi fastings, king
Ambarisha begged the Lord that He should stay at this place and bless the
devotees. Pleased with the king’s request, Lord Vishnu-Perumal is blessing His
devotees from this temple as Parimala Ranganathar.
Another
story goes that Chandran (Moon God) fell in love with his preceptor
Brihaspati’s wife Tara and eloped with her, in the absence of his Guru. When
Brihaspati found his wife missing, he sought the help of Brahmma who asked Tara
to return to her husband.
Later,
when Tara’s pregnancy came to light, a furious Brihaspati cursed Chandra to
deformity saying that the biggest sin of life is to caste one’s eyes on
another’s spouse and that Chandran would have to undergo the full severity of
the curse for having cast his eyes wrongfully on another's wife.
Another
story goes that Dakshan was so taken in by Chandran’s handsome features that he
decided to make him the suitor for his 27daughters. However, Chandran was
interested only in one of the daughters, Rohini and mockingly ignored the
others.
Dakshan
found that the handsome looks had made Chandran too arrogant and cursed him to
immediately lose his youth and his strong luring features.
Repenting for wrongly casting his eye on another man’s wife, Chandran requested
Brihaspati to provide him an opportunity for performing parikara that could
help him cleanse his grave sins.
3Phased Parikara:
As
part of the 3 fold parikara, Chandra undertook penance here at Thiru Indhalur
after bathing at the sacred Theertham, invoking the blessings of Lord Vishnu.
Answering his prayers, Lord appeared before him and agreed to liberate him from
part of the sins.(The story goes that Chandran went to Thalai Changa Naan
Mathiyam, another Divya Desam about 15 East of Thiru Indhalur, where he was
fully liberated from his curse and dosham).
Pleased
with being partly liberated from his curse, Chandran (another name of Chandran
is Indhu) requested that this place be called Indhalur in his memory.
As
the temple is noted for its Ekadasi importance, it is suggested that those
desirous of undertaking the fasting, may start the practice from this temple.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Parimala Ranganathar, Sri Sugantha Vana Nathar |
|
Ambal |
Sri Parimala Ranganayaki, Sri Chandras Shaba Vimochana
Valli |
|
Theertham |
Indu Pushkarini Theertham |
BELIEF:
As the temple is noted
for its Ekadasi importance, it is suggested that those desirous of undertaking
the fasting, may start the practice from this temple.
Devotees perform
archanas to lord with Tulsi leaves.
The
major festival celebrated in the temple is the Chitrai festival, celebrated
during the Tamil month of Chittirai. The other festivals in the
temple include the 10-day Aaandal Aadi festival celebrated during July–August,
Thayar Navaratri Utsavam during the Tamil month
of Purattasi (September - October), 10-day Aipasi Thula Mahostavam
during Aipasi (October - November), 10-day Vaikunta
Ekadasi during Margazhi (December - January), Makara
Sankranthi during January and Panguni Brahmotsavam during the month
of Panguni (March - April).
HOW
TO REACH:
From
Mayavaram, one can take buses going towards Needur, Manalmedu, Kadalangudi (10
minutes from main bus stand).
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Parimala
Ranganathar Temple,
Tiru Indalur,
Nagapattinam,
Tamil Nadu.
LOCATION:
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