Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple, Uraiyur
Thirukkozhi
Photo: Ssriram mt · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
The birthplace of Kamalavalli Thayar; the consort shrine is given primacy here.
Sthala Purāṇam
Thirukkozhi at Uraiyur, the ancient Chola capital, enshrines Lord Azhagiya Manavalan, the beautiful bridegroom form of Vasudeva, standing in worship. The name Thirukkozhi (sacred fowl) arises from a celebrated contest documented in the temple's tradition, in which a kozhi (rooster) battled and overcame an elephant at this very spot, the fowl emerging victorious; the place thus became Kozhiyur and then Thirukkozhi. The principal sthala puranam concerns the Thayar, Kamalavalli (Komalavalli) Nachiyar. The childless Chola king Nanda Cholan, while hunting, discovered an infant girl resting within a thousand-petalled lotus in a forest tank; named Kamalavalli for her lotus origin, she was raised as a princess. Growing devout, she beheld Lord Ranganatha at Srirangam and yearned for Him, undertaking penance upon the Kaveri's banks. The Lord manifested here as the resplendent groom, Azhagiya Manavalan, granting her union; hence the shrine bears His name. Remarkably, Kamalavalli's sanctum faces north, the only Divya Desam where the presiding Goddess faces that direction. The sacred bond is honoured each Panguni in the Serthi (union) festival, when Ranganatha journeys from Srirangam to wed His bride. The vimana is the Kalyana Vimana, with the Surya Pushkarini as its tirtham. Thirumangai Alvar and Kulasekhara Alvar have sung this Divya Desam in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham.
Mangalāśāsanam — the Āḻvār pāsurams
The Lord Azhagiya Manavalan (Vasudeva) with Kamalavalli (Komalavalli) of Thirukkozhi is glorified by:
Thirukkozhi (Uraiyur), the abode of Azhagiya Manavalan and Thayar Kamalavalli Nachiyar on the bank of the Kaveri opposite Srirangam, received Mangalasasanam from two Alvars. Thirumangai Alvar glorifies the Lord (one pasuram, counted as Divya Prabandham pasuram 1762, in his Periya Thirumozhi). Kulasekhara Alvar, in his Perumal Thirumozhi second decade beginning 'thEttarum thiRal' (verses 658-667, the relevant Uraiyur/Azhagiya Manavalan reference being pasuram 667), pours out his devotion declaring himself maddened with love for Azhagiya Manavala Perumal. Together they confer Divya Desam status on the shrine.
Verses & references (2)
- Kulasekhara Alvar exalts the Lord as the rare, mighty nectar (thEn), the beautiful one of southern Arangam (Sri Ranganatha, identified with Azhagiya Manavalan of the Uraiyur bank), on whose chest the never-fading forest garland and Sri (Lakshmi) reside. He sings that the very purpose of having eyes is to behold the Lord and His devotees, and proclaims himself intoxicated and mad with love for Azhagiya Manavala Perumal. (Transliteration sourced; exact Tamil-script wording not verified verbatim.) — Kulasekhara Alvar, Perumal Thirumozhi (2nd decade, 'thEttarum thiRal') Perumal Thirumozhi 2.1 (pasuram 658; decade 658-667, Uraiyur ref. 667) · source ↗
- Thirumangai Alvar offers Mangalasasanam to Azhagiya Manavalan of Thirukkozhi (Uraiyur) in his Periya Thirumozhi; the verse is enumerated as pasuram 1762 in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. Exact text not sourced verbatim here. — Thirumangai Alvar, Periya Thirumozhi Divya Prabandham pasuram 1762 · source ↗
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