Shri Azhagiya Perumal - The Handsome Groom Who Follows His Consort!



Last week, we read about Srirangam, the first temple in the list of 108 Divya Desham of Shri Maha Vishnu. In this article, we will read about the second temple -  Azhagiya Manavala Perumal temple, also referred to as Nachiyar Koil.

This temple is situated in Uraiyur in Tiruchirapally (Trichy), Tamil Nadu. This temple is one of the few temples from the Divya Desham where the Goddess has more prominence than the Lord. Maha Vishnu is worshipped as Azhagiya Manavala Perumal (The God in form of a handsome groom) and His consort is Devi Kamalavalli, a representation of Maha Lakshmi. This is the only Divya-Desham where the Devi has a north-facing shrine.  The Devi faces the direction of Lord Ranganatha in Srirangam. The temple also has shrines for Shri Ramanuja and Shri Nammalvar, two prominent Alvar saints. 

Legend has it that there was a king named Nanda from the Chola dynasty. He worshipped Maha Vishnu with the hopes of getting progeny. Pleased with his devotion, Maha Vishnu blessed him with a girl-child who was the incarnate of His consort Devi Lakshmi. The king found the child in a thousand-petal lotus tank in a forest. The girl came to be named as Kamalavalli. As she grew up, she fell in love with Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam. Such was her love and devotion that Lord Ranganatha Himself approached the king for her hand in marriage. The Lord appeared as Azhagiya Manavalan, a handsome groom. The temple is said to have been built at the place where the divine marriage of Azhagiya Manavalan and Kamalavalli took place. 

An annual festival called as Serthi Sevai is held at the temple when Lord Ranganatha's idol is brought from Srirangam to the temple to meet the Devi Kamalavalli. During all festive occasions, the idol of the Devi is taken out first and the idol of the Lord follows Her. On the auspicious occasion of Vaikunta Ekadashi, it is the Devi's idol that is brought out as 'Swarga Vaasal', instead of Lord Vishnu.  A special feature of this temple is that, offerings made to the Devi are made of pepper instead of chillies. 

This temple is also believed to be the birthplace of Thiruppan Alvar, one of the 12 Alvar saints who lived in holy communion with the Divine. 

'How to speak of the handsomeness of Lord Azhagiya Manavalar, who is holding the discuss and the conch, whose shoulders are those of hills with all masculine features! How handsome you are, My Lord!' - excerpt from a hymn of Shri Thirumangai Alvar. 

Comments

  1. P.SJanuary 19, 2023 at 3:55 AM

    Excellent write up on Sri Azagiya Perumal. Very interesting and informative. Thanks

    ReplyDelete

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