Divya Desam – Lord Vishnu | One of the Divya Desam Vishnu Sthalam |
Region | Chola Naadu |
Chola Naadu | 33th Vishnu Sthalam |
HISTORY:
Located
100 yards North of Purushottamar Divya
Desam, the Lord here at Vaikunta Vinnagaram is said to be the one who came from
Vaikuntam to cool Shiva’s Rudra Thaandavam. Hence, he appears here in the same
way as in Paramapatham. It is said that Ubarisavasu and Uthanga rishi attained
Moksham after praying to this Lord.
Saint
Tirumangai Azhwar, a great blessed soul, a William Wordsworth of Tamilnadu
blending nature and spirituality, had drowned himself in the scenic beauty of
this Divyadesa place Lord Vishnu had chosen and in His enticing handsomeness
and the great Avtars He took to establish dharma and protect His devotees. His
Mangalasasanam hymn may be regarded as a nutshell summary of the divine
experience of Sage Veda Vysa of His glory in his Srimad Bhagavatham considered
a lamp of wisdom-Gnana Deepam.
The
temple and the place form part of the 108 celebrated Divya Desas of Lord
Vishnu. This is a place where we could have the direct darshan of Lord in our
life time on Earth itself before reaching Him after life. This is His
Paramapada itself.
King
Swetakethu belonged to Ikshvagu dynasty which Lord Sri Rama chose for His
incarnation. He loved every one and was a living example of honesty and
integrity. He and his wife had a passion to visit Vaikunda to have the darshan
of Lord Vishnu. As a king, he completed all his political duties and set ready
for penance with his queen Damayanthi. They prepared fire around them, stood
looking at the Sun and began a severe penance. Days passed. They shed their
mortal coil and reached Vaikundam but could not find their Vaikunda Vasan. They
stood sad. Maharshi came there.
Swetaketu
and Damayanthi fell at his feet and enquired him why they could not get the
darshan of Lord. Narada replied that though they performed severe penance but
failed to perform even small Homas and charities. That failure was the cause of
this failure. The remedy was that they had to worship Lord Iravadeswarar on the
banks of Cauvery on Earth and appeal to Him, who would help them to have
Vaikunda darshan. Both prayed to Lord Iravadeswarar and begged his help for
Perumal darshan. Lord Iravadeswarar appeared before them and said that He too
was waiting for Perumal darshan and suggested that they could join him in
penance. Meantime, Sage Udanga Maharshi also joined the in the penance. Thus
four performed penance together. When Lord Vishnu appeared before them with
Mothers Sridevi and Bhoodevi, Lord Iravadeswarar prayed that the place where
the darshan was granted should be honoured as Vaikunda Vinnagaram and that He
be worshipped as Vaikunda Nathar. Thus, Perumal came here as Lord Vaikunda
Vasan to this place with Mother praised as Vaikundhavalli.
Lord
Perumal facing east blesses the devotee in a sitting posture. The Vimana above
the sanctum sanctorum is called Ananda Satya Varthaga Vimanam. Sage Udhanga
Maharshi and Upari Siravasu had the darshan of Perumal in this temple.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Vaikunthanathan |
|
Ambal |
Sri Vaikunthavalli |
|
Theertham |
Viraja theertham |
Devotees
pray to Perumal for unity in family. Realizing their wishes, devotees perform
Tirumanjanam to Lord and offer Tulsi garlands and Vastras.
During
the new moon day of the Tamil month Thai, the festival deity of
Thirumangai Azhwar is brought to the temple from Thiruvali-Thirunagari. The Thirumangai Azhwar
Mangalasasana Utsavam is celebrated in the Tamil month
of Thai (January–February). The highlight of the festival
is Garudasevai, an event in which the festival images of the eleven Thirunangur Tirupathis are brought on
mount designed like Garuda, called Garuda Vahana, to Thirunangur. The festive
image of Thirumangai Azhwar is also brought on a Hamsa
Vahanam (palanquin) and his paasurams (verses) dedicated to each
of these eleven temples are recited during the occasion. The festival images of
Thirumangai Alvar and his consort Kumudavalli Naachiyar are taken in a palanquin
to each of the eleven temples. The verses dedicated to each of the eleven
temples are chanted in the respective shrines. This is one of the most
important festivals in the region which draws thousands of visitors.
HOW
TO REACH:
Tirunangoor
is 7 km south of Sirkali. Sirkali-Nagapattinam busses pass through Annankoil.
Tirunangoor Vaikunda Vinnagaram is just a km from Annanankoil.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Vaigunda Nathar
Thirukkoil,
Thirunangur,
Nagapattinam,
Tamil Nadu - 609106.
LOCATION:
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