Karunakara Perumal Temple, Thirukkaragam
Thiru Kaaragam
Photo: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
One of the shrines of the Ulagalantha complex.
Sthala Purāṇam
The deity at Thirukaaragam is Sri Karunakara Perumal ('the abode of compassion'), with consort Padmamani Nachiyar, housed today as one of the four Divya Desams within the Ulagalantha Perumal (Thiru Ooragam) complex in Kanchipuram. The independent lore here is thin. The name Kaaragam is traced to the sage Garga (Gargya), who is said to have performed penance and gained knowledge at this spot, the place being called Garagaham, which became Kaaragam. The name Karunakara is explained through cloud imagery: the Lord is likened to the rain clouds that pour rain upon the world without expecting anything in return, signifying that He bestows His grace freely, asking only pure devotion (bhakti) of His devotees. The shrine is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham by Thirumangai Alvar, who sang one pasuram in its praise as part of his Thirunedunthandagam honouring the Kanchi shrines now gathered within the Ulagalantha complex. (Sources differ on the deity's posture and orientation, some describing Karunakara Perumal standing facing south and others seated on Adisesha facing north.)
Mangalāśāsanam — the Āḻvār pāsurams
The Lord Karunakara Perumal with Padmamani Nachiyar of Thiru Kaaragam is glorified in 1 pāsurams by:
Thirukkaragam (Thiru Kaaragam), the Sri Karunakara Perumal shrine at Kanchipuram, is the 52nd of the 108 Divya Desams and today is one of the four Divya Desams enshrined within the Ulagalantha Perumal (Thiru Ooragam) complex, alongside Thiruneeragam and Thirukkaarvaanam. The Lord is Karunakara Perumal ('the abode of compassion') with Thayar Padmamani Nachiyar (Ramamani). Its mangalasasanam was sung by a single Alvar, Thirumangai Alvar, and consists of effectively one pasuram — the temple is not glorified with a full decad of its own. The verse is Thirunedunthandakam 8 (within Thirumangai Alvar's works, the Irandam Ayiram of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham), the famous 'neeragaththAy' pasuram in which, in the voice of a pining heroine, the Lord is invoked by the names of His many Kanchi abodes strung together: Thiruneeragam, Thiruvenkatam ('atop the tall mountain'), Nilathingal Thundam, Thiru Ooragam ('filling Kanchi'), Thiruvehka, Thirukkaragam, Thirukkaarvaanam, and Thirupper (Koviladi). Thirukkaragam appears in the line 'ulagam Eththum kAragaththAy' — 'O One whose standing presence at Thirukkaragam the whole world praises' — linking the Lord here to His Trivikrama (Ulagalantha) feat of measuring the three worlds, by which He made Himself available for all to surrender. The temple name Kaaragam derives from the sage Garga (Gargya), who is said to have gained knowledge here (Garagaham > Kaaragam). NOTE: contrary to the task's hint that this is a 'major' temple of the Srirangam/Srivilliputhur class, Thirukkaragam is in fact a minor shrine with thin independent lore and only a single shared pasuram; this assessment was reached from authoritative sources rather than the task hint.
Verses & references (1)
- In this verse the heroine (the soul, in nAyikA bhAvam) calls out to the Lord by the names of His many Kanchipuram and Chola-country abodes, longing for His feet. She addresses Him: 'O Lord present in Thiruneeragam; O One atop the tall mountain (Thiruvenkatam); O One of Nilathingal Thundam (the crescent-moon shrine); O One filling Kanchi as Thiru Ooragam; O One reclining at Thiruvehka with its fine bathing ghats; O One dwelling in the hearts of those who meditate on You; O One whose standing presence at Thirukkaragam the whole world praises (ulagam Eththum kAragaththAy); O One of Thirukkarvanam; O cunning Lord (kaLvA); O One fixed at Thirupper (Koviladi) on the southern bank of the lovely Kaveri; O One who, never leaving, abides within my heart — O my Lord, it is Your sacred feet alone that I have sought and cherished.' The phrase 'ulagam Eththum kAragaththAy' is the Thirukkaragam mangalasasanam: the Lord stands at Thirukkaragam as Karunakara Perumal so that the whole world may praise and surrender to Him, recalling His Trivikrama feat of striding the three worlds. — Thirumangai Alvar, Thirunedunthandakam Pasuram 8 (Periya Thirumozhi / Irandam Ayiram; Thirunedunthandakam verse 8) · source ↗
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