Nachiyar Thirukovil at Uraiyur - avathara sthalam of ThirupPanazhwaar 2017

கங்கையில் புனிதமாய காவிரி நடுவுபாட்டு;

பொங்கு நீர் பரந்து பாயும் பூம்பொழில் அரங்கம்

River Cauvery is considered most sacred ~ in the words of Thondaradipodi Azhwar – ‘more sacred than the Sacred Ganges’…. ~ and in that beautiful island formed by Cauvery [Kaveri and Kollidam] reclines Lord Ranganathar.  Azhwars, many sages and saints have left a rich treasure for posterity, in the form of classics containing all information about God and how He is ready to respond to the devotees' sincere pleas. 

The sacred Cauvery flowing across enriched all areas on its banks ~ the Chozha empire flourished due to that.  Historically, Uraiyur [also spelt Woraiyoor] was  the capital of the Empire at some point time  – it  had big palatial buildings and bigger choultries feeding the poor all the time.   Woraiyur figures prominently in the Sangam works like Pattinapalai and Purananuru. According to the former, Karikala Cholan beautified its fortifications, gateways, tall mansions and temples.  Uraiyur over the period is known by various names such as ‘Thirukkozhi, Nikalaapuri, Uranthai, and Kozhiyur’. The word Urayur in Tamil literally means "the residence" ~ perhaps meant to be the abode of the Lord Himself.  Legend has it that ‘cock attacked the elephant of the king’ and realizing the valour, the place came to be known as ‘Kozhiyoor’ too.  

 view of the Gopura vasal

For Sri Vaishnavaites, this places assumes significance for this is a Divyadesam ~ more so as every year Lord Num Perumal from Thiruvarangam visits this place.  The presiding deity here is Azhagiya Manavaalan in  standing posture possessing ‘Conch [Thiruvazhi] and Chakra in His hands.  The Thayar is Kamalavalli Nachiyar ~ who is in the main sannathi itself alongwith Perumal.   The moolavar Kamalavalli Nachiyar is in sitting posture of the bride [Thirukalyana thirukolam]. Thiru Kalyana uthsavam is celebrated on Panguni  Pooram day when NumPerumal from Thiruvarangam comes here for marriage.   Lord Ranganatha here is ‘Azhagiya Mana Vaalan’ ~ there is no Uthsavar idol for Perumal.  There are separate sannathies for Swami Nammalwar; Sri Ramanujar and ThiruPanazhvaar.   Thirumangai mannan sings about this place as :

Moolalvar [Azhagiya Manavalar and Thayar - Kamalavalli Thayar]

கோழியும் கூடலும் கோயில் கொண்ட கோவலரே  ஒப்பர் குன்றமன்ன*

பாழியும் தோளுமோர் நான்குடையர் பண்டிவர் தம்மையும் கண்டறியோம்*

வாழியரோவிவர்  வண்ணமெண்ணில் மாகடல் போன்றுளர் கையில்வெய்ய*

ஆழியொன்று ஏந்தி ஒர் சங்கு பற்றி  அச்சோவொருவர் அழகியவா.**

திருமங்கை மன்னன் தமது திருமொழியில் மங்களாசாசனம். " உறையூரையும், தென் மதுரையையும் இருப்பிடமாகவுடைய கோபாலக்ருஷ்ணன் போல இருக்கும் இவர் பெரிய கடல் போன்றும்; மலை போன்ற வலிமை பொருந்திய அழகிய நான்கு திருத்தோள்களையும் உடையவராய் இருக்கிறார் ~ அத்தகைய பெருந்தகையோன் -  பல்லாண்டு பல்லாண்டு  வாழ்ந்திடுக.

This place has added significance of being the avathara sthalam of Thirup Paan Azhwar for whom there is a separate sannathi.  The prakaram is not big and on the left side of the corridor is the sannidhi of Thirupanar. 

Thirupanalwar used to come to the banks of Cauvery, deeply imbued in bakthi he would sing with deep anubhavam about the kalyana gunams of the Lord every morning. In the divine Naalayira Divya prabandham, his contribution is Amalanadhipiraan – ten in number. His prabhandham is different from the rest in a way that it does not contain any upadesams or anything else but only hymns in praise of Lord Ranganatha alone. Those well versed in sampradhaya state that they are aanandha-lahari (limitless outpourings of the bliss of aanandham) at the anubhavam of the Soundharyam of Arangar.

Here is  one of his immortal verses:

அமலனாதிபிரான் அடியார்க்கென்னை ஆட்படுத்த*

விமலன் விண்ணவர்கோன் விரையார் பொழில் வேங்கடவன்*

நிமலன் நின்மலன் நீதிவானவன் நீள்மதிள் அரங்கத்தம்மான்*

திருக்கமலபாதம் வந்து  என்கண்ணினுள்ளன ஓக்கின்றதே.

Azhwar totally immersed with bakthi, refers to the Lord as Vimalan, glorifying His blemishlessness and magnanimity.  The immaculate  Lord Ranganatha [Arangathamman]  cleanses the massive dirt of ignorance of the worshippers and imparts purity to them. Indeed He is the purest of the pure and the most auspicious among the auspicious.   The Lord “Nimalan” is the one who bestows boons on his devotees even unasked and unsolicited, enhancing His greatness still further. And when someone thinks of such magnanimous Lord – the Lotus feet – the very thought gets ingrained in the eyes of Azhwar who could see nothing else and melts with the benevolence of Lord Ranganatha. 

As starts the thaniyan ~ ஆபாதசூடம்  ~ from the feet to the crown, perhaps was his resolve when he started singing, but he cannot take his eyes off the Thiruvadi.   Such was his bakthi.  Sri Thirup Paanazhwar’s  thirunakshathiram falls on “ Rohini in Karthigai month.” The Azhwar,  an amsam - Sri Vatsa of Sriman Narayana sang mellifluous paeans in praise of Lord.  Such was his blemishless devotion to Lord Aranganathar that he claimed that he does not want to see anything else with his eyes that saw the most benevolent Lord Arangar. ~ அண்டர் கோன் அணியரங்கன் என்னமுதினைக் கண்ட கண்கள்  மற்றொன்றினைக் காணாவே.

 entrance of Alwar sannathi and Perumal sannathi view from outside

Had the fortune of darshan at this holy place recently.  On Friday (17.2.17) had Suprabatha darshan.  Now the “Pagal pathu” uthsavam is on at this divyadesam, the culimination of which would be reenactment of  entering Paramapada vassal on Wednesday 22^nd Feb 2017.  On 18.2.2017, it was Muthayira sarrumurai by Adhyapaks ~ and ‘Arayar Sevai’ – the Arayars from Thiruvarangam singing the pasurams to the accompaniment of ‘punn’ – music.   It was indeed a great fortune to be part of goshti and have darshan of Thayar hearing divyaprabandham with Thiruppanar, Swami Nammalwar and Sri Ramanujar seated in front, facing Thayar.

Here are some photos taken at the divyadesam.

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.

mandapam for Thayar

 Thiruppanar ~ Swami Nammalwar and Sri  Udayavar - Pagal pathu

Sri Kamalavalli Thayar

Emperumanaar and Uthsava pathrikai