Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Srirangam


Namperumal makes his annual trip to this temple on Vijayadasami evening

Located 200 yards east of the Srirangam Railway Station is the Kaattu Azhagiya Singa Perumal temple in Srirangam. This temple dates back to a period prior to the Srirangam Ranganatha temple when this Kshetram was referred to as Velli Thirumutham. Only much later, after the construction of the Ranganatha temple, this place came to be called Thiruvarangam.

Lord Narasimha is seen in a seated posture facing the West (towards Srirangam Ranganatha temple) with Lakshmi to his left.

The Story


This Kshetram was a forest thousands of years ago, surrounded by the two rivers- Cauvery in the South and Coloroon in the North, and inhabited only by the rishis and their families. Time and again, wild animals would attack the families of the rishis and consume them for a meal.

While the rishis had the power to burn the animals just by their looks, they would not forego the fruits of their penance by killing these wild animals. Instead they undertook a more severe form of penance invoking the blessings of Lord Narasimha.

Pleased with their prayers, Lord Narasimha appeared here providing darshan to these rishis. As per their request, he stayed here with Goddess Lakshmi protecting the lives of all those who offer their sincere prayers at this place.

The idol of Lakshmi Narasimha here is a Svayambu moorthy and the temple was built and renovated at later periods of time. No inscriptions are found relating to the period of construction of the outer walls.


The Name

As the Lord appeared here in the middle of a forest and stayed back to protect the devotees, he came to be called ‘Kaattu’ Azhagiya Singar.

Utsava deity at the Ranganatha Temple

Centuries ago, with this temple being in the midst of a forest and with minimal human existence, it was considered unsafe and hence the utsava deity was placed inside the Koorathaazhvan Sannidhi at the Srirangam Ranganatha temple.

That tradition has come to stay and today one finds the Utsava idol of Lord Narasimha not at the Kaattazhagivya Singa Perumal Koil but at the Srirangam Ranganatha temple.

Old time residents say that this place was very much like a forest till the early 1970s. It is only in the last 3 decades that there has been development around the Kaatazhagiya Singar temple.

Namperumal’s visit to Kaattazhagiya Singar temple

Once a year, on the evening of Vijayadasami day, Namperumal, the Utsava deity of Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam, comes on a street procession to this temple in a palanquin. Goddess is believed to have undertaken penance at this place and handed Nam Perumal a bow and an arrow at the end of the 10th day of the Navarathri festival.

After Thirumanjam, the event of Lord Namperumal on a Horse Vaahanam, striking an arrow on the Vanni tree to signify the destruction of evil forces and protection of the devotees, is enacted every year on the Vijayadasami evening at this temple.

Special Occasions at the temple

There are special poojas and Thirumanjanam organised every month on the Swathi Nakshatram and Prathosham days. Also, Saturday is an auspicious day to visit this temple.

Quick Facts

Moolavar : Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal West Facing Sitting Posture

Time : 6.15am- 8am, 9am-12noon and 5pm-8pm

Priest : Narasimha Bhattar @ 94434 90879 or 0431 2430879

How to reach the temple


It’s a 1 minute walk from the Srirangam Railway Station on the Eastern side.

Auto from Srirangam Ranganatha temple (South/North Entrance) would charge about
Rs.30-40/-

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful info.

Never knew this much details before though i have walked past this forest temple to go srirangam high school. never entered too those days
Venkatesh

Prabhu.S said...

Dear Venkatesh

Thanks for the comment.

Please do visit the temple the next time you are there

Prabhu

Anonymous said...

Dear Shree.Prabu,

Thank you for this nice post of our Kula Deivam.

Regards,
Padmanabhan

PRabhu S said...

Thank you for the kind words
Prabhu

Jam said...

I've been to this temple recently. The temple and its surroundings is so peaceful that one can spend hours together at this shrine seeking divine's blessings. Btw, I was trying to locate this place in Google maps, but couldn't! Have you tried locating before?

PRabhu S said...

No, I have not.
I have tried to do my own map for some of the difficult routes.

Prabhu

துளசி கோபால் said...

I have been to this temple on 27th Sep.2012. Very nice and peaceful place.

You can locate this one in the google map. Try this. Nelson Road
Srimad Andavan arts and science college Srirangam. Next to this you will find the temple on this same road.

or try this one :

katazhagiya singa perumal koil srirangam india

Both works.

BTW, Prabhu, do you have any idea why they have 9 Thulasi madams there out side?

Unable to get info from pattar as I was in a hurry:(

JAYA>SRINIVASAN said...

Om Namo Narayana

Unknown said...

Very well written. I first went to this temple in 2013 and I was astonished at the peace, silence around the temple premise. Lord Narasimha & Thayar idols are so beautiful that you feel that someone is really sitting there. Truly an amazing temple

Srinivasan

Anonymous said...

A devotee at Srirangam told me about this temple in early Jan 2018 and we both decided to go there after an excellent darshan of Sri Renganatha.

The moorthy looks majestic and powerful in that posture. This despite us seeing from a distance since the temple was closed when we reached. There were bars through which one can see inside.

Really beautiful sthalam!

Unknown said...

Hi I need contact details for This temple.can any one help.
Thanks,
Surendran

Unknown said...

in this temple my father and great great grandfather and great great grandfather are working still now in this temple

L.S.Venkatesan said...

Though lived in trichy, not visited the temple. After the pandemic is over by the Grace of Lakshmi narasimha Perumal, will have darshan in my next visit with his blessings.

Unknown said...

அடியேன் பாக்கியம் கொல்லிமலையில் இருந்து பேசுகிறேன் என்னுடைய நாமும் குருநாதன் ஒரு சிறு விண்ணப்பம் நம்மாழ்வார் அருளிய கண்ணிநுண் சிறுதாம்பு இந்த பதிகம் தமிழில் வேண்டுகிறேன் அடியேனுக்கு 12 ஆயிரம் முறை சொல்வதற்கு விருப்பம் இருக்கிறது நேற்றைய சொற்பொழிவில் அறிந்தேன் எனக்கு பதிவிடவும் என்னுடைய நண்பர் 9360991069.