Nachiyar Koil

Coordinates: 10°54′57″N 79°26′44″E / 10.9157°N 79.4456°E / 10.9157; 79.4456
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Nachiyar Kovil
Thanjavur
Deity
Location
Location
Kochengat Cholan
Elevation45.91 m (151 ft)

Nachiyar Kovil or Thirunarayur Nambi Temple is a

Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and his wife Lakshmi
. It is the sub urban region of business city of Kumbakonam.

Constructed in the

Tenkalai
mode of worship.

The temple is one of the

Sarangapani temple, Kumbakonam, Oppiliappan temple, Sundararaja Perumal Temple, Salem and Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala
.

The temple is believed to have been built by

Vijayanagara kings. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines, while it has a five-tiered rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu
.

Vishnu is believed to have appeared to the sage Medhavi and married his daughter at this temple, witnessed by

Margali (December–January), is the most prominent. The Kal Garuda image in the temple used during the festive occasions is believed to increase in weight seeking 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 people in succession when the procession comes out of various gates from the sanctum to the main entrance of the temple. Nachiyarkovil is famous for Nachiarkoil lamp brass lamp. The lamps are made by resident artisans called Pathers (Kammalar
) who are living in large numbers at Kammalar street, Natchiyarkovil.

Legend

The temple tank adjacent to the temple

As per Hindu legend, the sage Medhavi was doing penance at this place. While taking a bath in the river, he found an image of

Kochengat Cholan was once defeated and he was advocated to seek the blessings of Vishnu, which he obliged.[2]

Architecture

The temple is believed to have been built by King

Alvars, leaving that of Andal.[3]

The southern side of the temple has a garden where the Magila tree, the

utsava deities (festive images) of the 108 Divya Desams.[3]

The temple has an elevated structure approached through a flight of 21 steps. The presiding deity of the temple is

Bhudevi are housed in the same shrine.[1] The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.[3]

thumb

Kal Garuda

Kal Garudar (Stone Garuda) procession

Kal Garuda, an image of Vishnu's

Srirangam Ranganthaswamy Temple
.

Festivals and religious practices

The shrines of the temple as viewed from the temple tank

The temple priests perform the

tavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the sacred texts Vedas are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple.[3]

The prime festival or Brahmmotsavam is a 10-day festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January). Garuda Sevai is celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (March–April). During both these festivals, the festive images of Kal Garuda are taken out around the streets of the temple. Vasanthothsavam or spring festival is celebrated during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May–June). The Thirukalyana Utsavam or the wedding festival is celebrated in the 100-pillared hall during the Tamil month of Aavani (September–October).[3][4] As per hagiographical records, it is believed that Vaikhasana form of worship was originally practiced and the temple started following Panchrartra form of worship after the advent of saint Ramanuja.[5]

Religious significance

Sculpture of Narasimha and Ranganatha on the walls around the first precinct

The temple is revered in

Tirupathi and believes that he found the same beauty in both of them. It is also believed that when Thirumangai was asked to present a madal (ballad) by Ranganatha of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, Thirumangai replied that he built the walls in Srirangam, while he built the verses for Thirunaraiyur.[1] It is believed that the Alvar had his initiation to Vaishnavism in this temple.[6]

The temple is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. The temple is the place where Vishnu is believed to have initiated Pancha Samskara (religious initiation) to Thirmangai. The temple is also quoted as a Siddhi Kshetra, a sacred place where sages attain earthly liberation. The place is considered sacred on account of being the hermitage of Sage Medhavi.[1][4] In Vaishanava theology, Varadaraja Perumal Temple at Kanchipuram is referred as Athigiri and Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirupathi as Seshagiri and the temple at Thirunaraiyur is referred as Suganthagiri.[4]

Nachiyar Koil is one of the few Divya Desams where the goddess has prominence over Vishnu. Some of the other temples where such female dominance is observed are

Woraiyur and Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple in Thiruvellarai. While Srivilliputhur is called Nachiyar Thiru Maaligai, Thirunaraiyur is called Nachiyar Koil.[2]

According to local lore, Vishnu was of the view that during Kali Yuga, men would have to listen to women. Hence he decided that he would first set an example and listen to the goddess here. During all festive occasions, the first rights are reserved for Nachiyar, who moves ahead, while Srinivasa follows her. Even the food is first served to Nachiyar and then to Srinivasa. Being a temple where goddess has prominence, Vishnu is located slightly by the side and goddess has the prominent position inside the sanctum.[1][4]

The place is the birthplace of Vaishnava saint

River Kaveri.[8]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e "Unique drama unfolds during procession". The Hindu. 8 April 2005. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  2. ^ a b c R. 2001, pp. 511-12
  3. ^ a b c d e "Sri Tirunarayur Nambi temple". Dinamalar. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d S., Prabhu (27 December 2012). "Unique drama unfolds during procession". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  5. ^ S.R., Balasubramanyam (1975). Early Chola temples Parantaka I to Rajaraja I (AD. 907-985) (PDF). Thomson Press (India) Limited. p. 181.
  6. ISBN 9788120601512
    .
  7. ^ V., Meena (1974). Temples in South India (1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 29.
  8. ISBN 9781684666041
    .

References

External links

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