14
Feb

Kalakkadu and Thiru Kurungkudi Temple , Thirunelveli  

Posted by Shamala Krishnan

  1. Kalakkadu:


    Lord Siva’s Temple. Devara Vaippu Sthalam.
    The place is about 12 Kms from Nanguneri


    Main Deity: Swayambu Lingam known as Sathya Vageeswarar and his consort Avudai Nayaki, or Gomathy Ammai.


    Purana says Sri Rama and Lakshmana worshipped Lord Siva under Punga tree and they were blessed by Siva. Once there was a war between Devas and Asuras. Devas sought the help of Lord Siva, who asked them to penance at Kalandhy temple. They did as they were asked to do, by Lord Siva, and won a victory in the war against Asuras.

    The temple is one of the Devara vaippu Sthalam.


  2. Thiru Kurungkudi: Vamana Kshetram.


    This is one of 108 Divaya Desam Temple. The place Kurungkudi is 47 kms from Thirunelveli Town. The main Gopuram is of five storeys and five prakarams.







    Main deity is known as Sri Azhagiya Nambi, with Sridevi and Bhoodevi.
    Kurugkudivalli Thayar is seen in different sanctum.



    Here we see in the prakaram Nidra Nambi and Kidantha Nambi in separate sanctums. In-between the two sanctums there is a sanctum for Lord Siva and Bairavar also.



    Purana Says, during the time of Varaha Avatar Lord stayed with Sridevi and Bhoodevi in this place for sometime, and he shrunk his huge size to small, so the place came to be known as Kurungkudi.



    There is a place known as Mahendragiri to west of Kurungkudi, where lived a backward cast person named Nambaaduvan. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Nindra Nambi and used to visit temple and worship from outside.


    Those days backward class people were not allowed inside the temple. One day when he was on his way to temple, he was stopped by an asura, to have him as meal. Nambi requested the Asura to allow him to worship Lord Nindra Nambi, and then he will be back again to be a meal for him. Asura did not believe his words so, Nambaaduvan promised on the name of Lord. Asura left him.


    On his way to temple Nambaaduvan thought probably this was his last visit to temple. As usual he worshipped Lord from out side the main entrance. He was sad about not having the darshan of Lord for this lifetime.



    The Dwajasthambam moved a little away, for him to have the glimpse of Nindra Nambi. Nambaaduvan had a good darshan and he left the place, to meet Asura as he promised.



    Lord as an old brahmin met him on his way back and asked him to divert his route, but Nambaaduvan refused to do so. He was strict in keeping to his words, and old Brahmin was not able to convince him so he revealed himself to Nambaaduvan.



    When he went to Asura's, place who said he is not feeling hungry, but I want the blessing which you acquired from Lord. Nambaaduvan refused to give him the blessings which he acquired. Asura said, he should give him at least quarter portion for him to get out of this Asura form.



    Asura was back to his normal form by Nambaaduvan’s help. This was on an Ekadasi day which is named as Kaisika Ekadasi. Even now they play the story of Kaisika puranam as a drama.



    Importance: This is the mukthi place of Thirumangai Azwar. Lord was born as, Nammazwar in this place to the couple, Kari and his wife Udaya Nangayar. Acharya Ramanujar called out Vaduga Nambi as he used to call his deciple.


    Nindra Nambi came as Vaduga Nambi and helped him with his hand box. Ramanujar went inside to worship Lord inside the sanctum, at this time Vaduga Nambi crossed him and went inside the temple first.


    When Ramanujar went inside he did not see Vaduga Nambi following him and he understood that Nindra nimbi was acting as Vaduga Nambi all these while. So, the perumal here was known as Vaduga Nambi from then.


This entry was posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 at Sunday, February 14, 2010 . You can follow any responses to this entry through the comments feed .

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