Saturday, April 18, 2009

Thiruvazhmarban in Thiruvanparisaram

NammAzhvaar was born after his mother undertook a 41 day penance here
Located 5kms North West of Nagercoil Junction and 2kms off the Tirunelveli highway is the Thiruvazhmarban Divya Desam in Thiruvanparisaram(Thirupathisaram). This is one of the two Divya Desams around Nagercoil. Lord Thiru Vazh Marban (ThiruKuralappan) is seen in a Easting Facing Sitting posture with four hands, a conch and chakra.

There are several interesting stories relating to this Divya Desam.

1. Lord Vishnu appears as Rama providing darshan to New Lankan King

Vibheeshana, after attending the Ramar Pattabhishekam in Ayodhya, came to Srirangam where he had to let go the idol of Lord Ranganatha on the Cauvery river banks. On his way back to Lanka from Srirangam, with his thoughts centred around Rama, he is said have visited this place and offered his prayers here.

When the Lord appeared before him and asked for a wish, Vibheeshana wanted to see Rama once again. It is believed that Lord Vishnu provided darshan to Vibheeshana as Rama. Hence, one finds Rama, Sita and Lakshmana to the right of the moolavar deity here.

2. Birth place of NammAzhvaar’s mother

Thiruvanparisaram is the birth place of Udaya Nangai. She was married to a man from Kurugur. Being childless, she undertook a 41 day penance here as instructed the Thirukurungudi Lord Nambi. As a result of this penance, NammAzhvaar was born to them. However, immediately after his birth, he sat under the Tamarind tree in (Azhvaar)Tirunagari and remained speechless for several years.

3. Rishis directed to Parisaram
Wanting the darshan of Lord Vishnu, Saptha Rishis undertook penance near Suchindram. They were re-directed to undertake further penance about 10kms North West of Suchindram. It is believed that Lord Vishnu provided darshan to these seven rishis at Thiruvanparisaram.

4. The Name- Thiruvazhmarban
After the killing of Asura Hiranyan, Lord Narasimha was in an angry mood. Lakshmi is said to have undertaken penance here to cool down the Lord. As per the request of Prahalad, Lord came here searching for Lakshmi. Happy to find her Lord again and in a cool form as a Shantha Swaroopi, Lakshmi is said to have requested the Lord to provide her a place in his heart which the Lord readily accepted.

As Lakshmi resides in the chest of the Lord at this temple, he came to be called Thiru Vazh Marban.

Presentation of Ramayana
Acceding to the request of Anjaneya, Sage Agasthya is said to have presented the entire story of Ramayana at this place for the benefit of the devotees. In memory of this event, one sees Anjaneya with folded hands addressing Sage Agasthya, who is in a seated posture opposite him. Also, seen in this sannidhi are Lankan King Vibheeshana and Kulasekara Azhvaar.

NammAzhvaar as a child
NammAzhvaar, who was born after the 41 day penance of his mother at this place, is seen as a small child at this temple, to the left of Thiruvazhmarban. This is a special feature at this Divya Desam.

NammAzhvaar in his single paasuram(3699) says:

Varuvar Selvar VanParisarathu Iruntha En
ThirVazhMarvarku En Thiram Sollaar, Seivathu En
Uru Aar Sakkaram Sangu Sumanthu Ingu Ummodu
Orupaadu Uzhalvaan, Or Adiyaanum Ulan Enrey

Kulasekara Azhvaar’s contribution
Kulasekara Azhvaar is said to have renovated the temple and built walls and provided Vahanam for the Lord for his procession on special festive occasions.

Quick Facts

Moolavar : ThiruKuralappan(ThiruVazh Marban) with Kamalavalli Thaayar residing in his chest
Paasuram: NammAzhvaar- 1 Paasuram
Temple time: 4am-1030am and 530pm-730pm
Contact : V. Vasudeva Pothy (no telephone or cell phone!!!!)

Festivals
Chitrai Festival
Puratasi- Saturdays is special at this temple
Avani Thiruvonam
Vaikunta Ekadesi

How to reach the temple
Local town buses from Nagercoil (Anna) bus stand to Thirupathisaram

Auto from Nagercoil bus stand / Railway Station will cost about Rs.50/- Rs75 one way

10 comments:

R Soundararaju said...

We 3 members of our family is visiting Tiruchendur on 02.09.09 from Coimbatore vide Nagarcoil express. I think we are able to complete our dharsan at Tiruchendur by 11.00 am on 02.09.09. Please let me know out of 9 Divya desams how many able to cover before evening 8.00 P.m., since we have already booked train ticket from Tirunelveli scheduled to departure at 9.45 p.m. Also let me know the mode of travel and guidance to cover the divya desams please

Prabhu.S said...

You will be able to cover all the 9 Divya Desams(Nava Tirupathi...)by 530pm.

There are a number of autos and cars in Sri Vaikuntam and Azhvaar Tirunagari that will take you to all the 9 temples:

Approx cost of auto will be : Rs. 250-300/-

Approx cost of car will be : Rs.500/-

There are a few temples that are open till 12noon/1pm and there are a few temples that are open between 10am and 5pm.

In case you tell them in advance, some temples can also keep the temple open for you, a little after the scheduled closure..

From Tiruchendur, you can come to Azhvaar Tirunagari(under 30kms) in about 45mts...i.e you can reach by 1145am

You can finish Azhvaar Tirunagari and then you can take an auto or car from there to go around the other temples...

You can finish all the 9 temples by 5pmish/530pmish..

And you can reach Tirunelveli by 7pmish...

You can contact : Vaikunta Nathan Bhattar(of Srivaikuntam temple) at 98656 28681

I have just spoken to him and he will organise an auto or car as may be required by you.

request you to also check my below link on nava tirupathi which has details on the temple timings and priest telephone numbers:

http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/07/108-divya-desam-nava-tirupathi.html

Do let know if you need any other information

We can also talk on phone for more specific details

Regards
Prabhu
94440 40748

Conceptual Persistence said...

While in Nagercoil please eat at the Ganesh Mess in South Mada street- near the Nagaraj Koil temple. Banana leaf meal - fully vegetarian and only Rs. 60.

Anonymous said...

Arya Bhavan opened near bus stand. You can have a south indian meals for 70 rs in Nagercoil.
Prasanna

Unknown said...

four of us planning to visit all 13 malai nadu divya desam starting from Nagerkoil. Please let me know why all have visited divya desam starting from Guruvayur area and go down south. Is there any problem if we start from souther tip of india and go up. Please give us a simple plan where to stay and we shall engage taxi from place to place or we have to book for few days and use the same taxi. which will be economical and feasible. Please let me know if anyone gone from southend upward if so give there tour programme if possible. We are planning to go in September 2016 first week.
T.V. Srinivasan

PRabhu S said...

Day 1 1st half:

430am-11am:

Thiruvanparisaram

Thiruvattaru - Get down at Marthandam on the Nagercoil-T'drum Highway. Take a bus from there to Thiruvattaru ( 10kms) or you may take an auto to and fro from Marthandam bus stand - will cost Rs. 200-250.

Thiruvananthapuram

************************

From Thiruvananthapuram, take a train to Chengannur (either 11.15am or 1245pm train) to reach Chengannur by 3pmish. From the railway station, you may use a taxi to cover the 6 DDs in the 2nd half of the day. 4pm-8pm Contact: Driver Mohan @ 99466 73868.

You can halt the night at Kochi.

Day 2 morning:

430am -8am : You may use a cab to visit the two DDs near Kochi.
However, if you choose to do this by bus, it may take a lot more time as the two are in different directions.

You can then move to Trishur to finish Guruvayoor before 12noon.
(you may take the 745am or 920am train to Trishur)- From Guruvayoor, you may travel by bus to Pattambi DD and then to Thiru Navai DD in the 2nd half of the day.

or

If you want to do only the DDs can take the train bound towards Mangalore(1025am or 1.15pm train) to get down at Pattambi Railway station (by 3pmish) to finish both these Divya Desams say in the 2nd half of the day between 430pm and 630pm. You can then take the night train back to your destination.

Prabhu

Muthu Ranganathan said...

Dear Shri Prabhu ji

Thanks for this blog, very useful

One question : any idea on the temple timings of Thiruvanparisaram and contact details of the priest there, am planning to go from Trivandrum to this divya desam, and want to ensure i can reach in time

thanks
Muthu Ranganathan

PRabhu S said...

Before 10am and before 7 pm would be best to visit.

prabhu

Anonymous said...

Hi Mr. Prabhu,good morning. I'm Kumar from Malaysia and I am planning to visit a few Divya Desam temples beginning from Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Trivandrum. I created my own itinerary and it was edited by my tour agency which is based in Trivandrum. According to the itinerary I will be visiting Padmanabhaswamy temple,then to Thiruvattaru and later to Thiruppathisaram. Since Thiruppathisaram closing time is 10.30 a.m,what time do you suggest me to begin my darshan at Trivandrum? And my second questions is do all this temples have optional entrance fees similar to the popular temples in Tamil Nadu? I will be also visiting Nava Thirupathi temples including Thirukurungkudi and Nanguneri,does all this temples have entrance fees? Your blog is very helpful sir. I will use it for my future references. Thank you

PRabhu S said...

430am/5am @ Thiru Ananthapuram

730am/8am @ Thiruvattaru

930am/10am @ Thiru Vanparisaram

None of them have entrance fees.

Prabhu