Sowmya Narayana Perumal Temple, Thirukoshtiyur
Thirukoshtiyur
Photo: Ssriram mt · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Revered as the place where Ramanuja revealed the sacred Ashtakshara mantra 'Om Namo Narayanaya' to all people regardless of caste.
Sthala Purāṇam
Thirukoshtiyur, in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu, enshrines Sowmya Narayana Perumal, whose moolavar is also called Uragamellanayan, in a reclining posture on the serpent bed with Sridevi and Bhudevi; the Thayar is Thirumaamagal Nachiyar (Lakshmi), with a shrine south of the sanctum, and the temple has a pushkarani tank. The sthala puranam tells that when the asura Hiranyakashipu, blessed by Brahma, oppressed the devas, the gods and sages assembled here as a 'koshti' (group/council) to entreat Vishnu; from this gathering the place took the name Thirukoshtiyur. Vishnu then manifested as Narasimha and, at the devas' repeated request, revealed three Narasimha forms here - standing, seated and reclining - and slew Hiranyakashipu. The temple is most famous in Sri Vaishnava history for Ramanuja: his acharya Thirukoshtiyur Nambi imparted to him the sacred Ashtakshara (Tirumantra, 'Om Namo Narayanaya') only after eighteen journeys from Srirangam, on the condition of secrecy. Moved by compassion, Ramanuja climbed the temple gopuram and proclaimed the mantra to all people regardless of caste; though warned he would go to hell, he answered that he gladly would so that all might be saved. Nambi, far from cursing him, conferred on him the title Emperumanar, and a life-size image of Ramanuja stands in the Ashtanga Mandapam. Five Alvars sang here - Periyalvar, Thirumangai Alvar, Thirumazhisai Alvar, Bhoothathalvar and Peyalvar. The temple is renowned for its rare Ashtanga Vimana, one of only three such vimanas, and a five-tiered rajagopuram.
Mangalāśāsanam — the Āḻvār pāsurams
The Lord Sowmya Narayana Perumal (Uragamellanayan) with Thirumamagal Nachiyar of Thirukoshtiyur is glorified by:
Thirukoshtiyur (Thirukkottiyur, Sivaganga district), home of Sowmya Narayana Perumal (Uragamellanayan), is one of the rare Divya Desams glorified by five Alvars: Periyalvar, Thirumangai Alvar, Thirumalisai Alvar, Bhoothathalvar and Peyalvar. It is especially associated with Periyalvar, who dedicated the 'nava kaariyam' decade of his Periyalvar Thirumozhi (4.4) to the greatness of the Sri Vaishnavas and the Lord of Thirukkottiyur, celebrating it as the abode where he envisioned Krishna's avatara glories. The kshetram is also famed in acharya tradition as the place where Tirukoshtiyur Nambi imparted the meaning of the Ashtakshara (Thirumantram) to Ramanuja.
Verses & references (2)
- Periyalvar sings the glory of Sowmya Narayana Perumal of Thirukkottiyur and of the devotees (Sri Vaishnavas) gathered there, praising the Lord who took avatara as Krishna; he extols the sanctity of the 'assembly town' (koshti-ur) where the divine and his devotees congregate. — Periyalvar, Periyalvar Thirumozhi (4.4, 'nava kaariyam' decade on Thirukkottiyur) Periyalvar Thirumozhi 4.4 (decade) · source ↗
- Thirumangai Alvar, together with the early Alvars Thirumalisai Alvar, Bhoothathalvar and Peyalvar, also performed mangalasasanam to Thirukkottiyur's Sowmya Narayana Perumal, making this a five-Alvar Divya Desam. — Thirumangai Alvar, Iyarpa (Bhoothathalvar / Peyalvar Anthadhi) and Periya Thirumozhi (Thirumangai Alvar) · source ↗
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