Temple Location :
About the Temple:
This is one of the divyadesam found in Madurai. Lots of buses are available from the Railway Station. But there is not much of lodging facility. Bhakthas can stay in any Lodges/Rooms near railway station. The temple is situated on the foot hill of Azhagar malai (mountain).
Sthlapuranam :
Tirupathi - Tirumala which is called the "Vada Venkatam", is popularly named as "Utthira
Tirupathi". Likewise, this sthalam, Azhagar koil is called as "Dhakshina Tirupathi".
Like how Sri Srinivasa Perumal in Tirumala is giving His seva in Nindra Kolam on
the top of the mountain, Azhagar also gives his seva in same Nindra
Thirukkolam on the foot hill (Malaiyadi vaaram) of Azhagar Malai. The surroundings of this
sthalam is so beautiful that the cool breeze surrounds the entire temple area and the temple itself is surrounded by Mountains.
The temple is protected by the Karuppar who is said to be Kaaval Deivam (protecting God).
The people who come along the Kallar generation led their life by grabbing money and
wealth and by killing them.
But, another kind of people of this generation are also found who led their life by giving
their wealth to the Emperumaan thereby praising him. Even if they steal others money, they
will dedicate it for the perumal. Thirumangai Alwar, who is one of the 12 Alwars, belong to
this Kallar generation.
"Kallar" in tamil means thief. The Perumal is called with this name because He steals all of His bhaktas heart by His beauty and the blessings. He protects all His bhaktas from the the evil.
Muruga Perumal is one way related to Sriman Narayanan, since her mother,
Shakti is the sister of the Emperumaan. He married Deivayani, who married her in Thirupparankundram and married Valli, who belongs
to the people found near mountains.
This sthalam is common for bhaktas who worship Sriman Narayanan and Lord Murugan.
To explain the world that there should be no diffrence
among the Gods, both the Saiva God, Muruga and the Sri Vaishnva god - Sriman Narayanan as "Kallar"
(or) Azhagar are giving their seva to this world in this Maalirunsolai.
The Gopuram of this temple is very big and the first Vaasal (entrance) is the Thondaimaan
Gopura Vaayil and 3 pragarams are found inside it. We can find the Sundara Pandiyan Mandapam,
Sooriyan Mandapam and Munaiyathareyar Mandapam are found while going towards the Moolavar
sannadhi.
The Moolavar gives His seva in Nindra Kolam and found along with Bhoomi Pirattiyaar. It is said
that Yamadharman, the God of death daily comes to this sthalam in the night to worship
the Perumal. The Perumal is also named as "Paramaswamy" which makes us to remember Lord
Shivan.
The Utsavar is namd as "Sri Sundara rajar". Both the Moolavar and utsavar are found along with
the Panja Aayutham (5 weapons) namely the Sangu, Chakkaram, Vaal (or) Sword, Kothandam (bow)
and Gadha, in their hands. Utsavar is made up of Aparanjitha gold, which is said to be the
purest gold. The thirumanjanam (spiritual bath) is done only with Noopura Gangai water, if he is done with other water, the Utsavar becomes black in colour.
Along with him, Sri Sundara Baahoo Sri Srinivasar, Nithiya Utsavar are found who are made
up of pure silver. The outer pragaram of Moolavar, Thumbikkai Alwar (Vinayagar) and Senai Mudaliayar are found.
Vairavar, who is treated as the "Shetra Balagar" of this sthalam is giving his seva in this
sthalam and is said to be the powerful god with numerous shakti.
The thaayar is also named as "Thanikkovil Thaayar" since she has her own separate sannadhi.
Tha Manjal (Turmeric) is given as the prasadham in this sannadhi to the bhaktas. Separate
sannadhis for Sri Sudharsana Chakrathalwar, Sri Andal are found. Sri Yoga Narasimhar who is found in
sitting posture is found who is said to be so powerful.
Utsavam:
The Azhagar utsavam which is done in Chitra Pournami is the Familiar utsavam of this
sthalam. It is celebrated for almost 9 days and the first four days of the Utsavam is
celebrated in Azhagar malai. He leaves for Madurai on the fourth day and return back to the
Malai on the 9th day. In the same dy, the wedding of Madurai Meenakshi and Sundareswarar
is done in Madurai, which is considered to be another grand utsavam in Koodal Azhagar Koil.
The Azhagar festival is a grand Utsavam which is celebrated as he witnesses the wedding of
Madurai Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar. He is seated on the Horse (Kudirai) Vahanam and proceeds
towards the Vaigai river. And after this, he proceeds to the koil in the Kallazhagar kolam.
Azhagar getting into the Vaigai river is reffered to as "Azhagar Aattril Iranguthar"
festival. It means he is getting into the river Vaigai. Lakhs of bhaktas comes to Madurai
to see this festival. During His entrance towards Madurai, the arrival of Him is referred
to as the Edhir Sevai (the welcoming of Kallazhagar to Madurai is done). Before He
starts for the Utsavam, a garland of Tulsi from Srivilliputtoor Sri Andal is weared to Him.
This is done every year showing and expressing the love of Sri Andal towards Kallazhagar.
Other festival which is done in the Maargazhi month's utsavam. Both Pagal Patthu and Raa
Patthu utsavam are done and on the 8th day, Azhagar is seated in Golden Horse and he gives
His seva. The Marriage utsavam of Sri Kallazhagar and Sri Andal happenes in this Panguni Uthiram day only.
Sthala Viruksham (tree): Sandhana Maram (Sandal wood tree).
Specials:
The speciality of this sthalam is in this sthalam the bhaktas are given the Vibhoodi (Thiruneeru) which is generally not given in Sri Vaishnava temples but given only in Saivates temples.
Moolavar and Thaayar:
The Moolvar found in this Sthalam is Sri Azhagar. Other names of this perumal are Kallazhagar, Maalangkaarar and Maalirunsolai Nambi. The perumal gave his prathyaksham for Malaiyathvaja Pandiyan and Dharmadevan. Moolavar in Nindra thirukkolam facing his thirumugham in East direction.
Thaayar:
The Thaayar is Sundaravalli. Also called as "SriDevi". She has her own separate sannadhi in
this temple.
Mangalasasanam:
- Periyalwar - 24 Paasurams
- Andal - 11 Paasurams
- Thirumangaialwar - 33 Paasurams
- Bhoodathalwar - 3 Paasurams
- Peiyalwar - 1 Paasuram
- Nammalwar - 36 Paasurams
Total - 108 Paasurams.
Manavala Maamunigal and Udaiyavar Sri Ramanujar has also done the Mangalasasanam on this perumal.
Pushkarani:
Noopura Gangai and Silambaaru are the two pushkarani of this temple.
The Origin of the Noopura Gangai in unknown but it flows towards the Gomukhi Vaayil and then
follows towards the Madhavi Mandapam and finally drops into a big thotti (tank). The water
finally reaches the base of Azhagar malai and it is referred to as the Thenaru (river of
honey), since the water is so sweet in nature. This pushkarani is said to be of the medical
values, which cures many diseases.
Vimanam:
Somasundara Vimaanam. Somasundar is the form which is taken by Lord Shiva to marry Meenakshi. As the remembrance
of it, the Vimaanam is said to be the "Somasundara Vimaanam".
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