New AC lounge at Tiruchirapalli Junction

Another Passenger friendly initiative at Tiruchirapalli Junction


Having recently renovated the retiring rooms and dormitories and made it comparable to any classy hotel room, Tiruchirapalli Junction has come out with another convenience measure for passengers travelling Trichy.

The station has opened a first of its kind AC lounge for passengers, offering convenience that one has not experienced before in railway stations.

Priced at a very nominal Rs.10 for the first two hours and Rs.10/- for every subsequent hour, this facility on platform 1 is a welcome measure. The lounge has a discussion table and sports high quality chairs and sofa sets

The AC lounge would be ideal for passengers who come in on short half day/one day trips (they can stay here instead of taking up a hotel room). The lounge also has modern wash facilities. This is also quite convenient for passengers arriving or departing via late night trains (There are a number of trains arriving in/departing from Trichy Junction between 1130pm and 3am).

Train arrivals and departures are also displayed inside the lounge. With a number of plug points, the AC lounge will also be convenient for passengers to work on their laptops. Add to it the restaurant within the Junction, ATM, News Mart… You possibly have the most convenient ‘short trip’ staying location for train travellers to Tiruchirapalli.

The upper class waiting room(free) also sports a new and refreshing look.

A couple of suggestions:

1. Provide a facility for women to stay in dormitories

2. Make provision for internet browsing within or just outside the Junction complex

Then Thiruperai Nigaril Mugil Vannan

Nava Tirupathi Sukra Sthalam 
Bhoodevi takes the form and colour of Sridevi

3 kms North East of Thiru Kolur off the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur highway is the Nigaril Mugil Vannan Divya Desam in Then Thiruperai where the Lord is seen in a majestic East facing sitting posture with Garuda seen slightly away so as to allow the Lord to see the kids of this temple town playing.

The story

Goddess Lakshmi was upset that Lord Vishnu was spending more time with Bhoodevi and not with her. She shared this grievance with Sage Durvasa and also wanted the same colour and beauty as Bhoodevi. Durvasa, who then met with Bhoodevi, was angered at her disregarding his presence and cursed her to take the same form and colour as Sridevi.

While undertaking penance at this place on the banks of Tamaraibarani, she found two fish shaped ear rings and offered it to the Lord. The Lord who wore this came to be known as ‘Makara Nedun Kuzhaikathan’. Since Bhoodevi had taken the form and colour of Sridevi (as a result of the curse), this place came to be called Sri Perai/Thiru Perai.

Another Story

Having been defeated by the Asuras, Varuna (the Rain God) lost his chief weapon (he had earlier insulted his Guru and hence this fate) and undertook penance here. Lord Vishnu is said to have appeared before him on the full moon day in Panguni and helped him recover his lost weapon as well as his powers. To mark this episode, it is believed that Varuna, visits this temple, every year, on the full moon day in the month of Panguni (March-April) to worship Vishnu.

Nammazhvaar's Praise of Nigaril Mugil Vannan
NamAzhvaar refers to Then Thiruperai as a place surrounded by mountain like jewel mansions.
where the Lord Makara Nedung Kulai Kaathan is seen wearing Makara Ear Rings. He refers to the Lord as Nigaril Mugil Vannan. He praises the Lord as one who killed 100 Kauravas. Nam Azhvaar says that any one who visits the Lord here and has darshan will immediately be drawn to this Lord for He was the one who stole his own ( Nam Azhvaar's) heart.

நகரமும் நாடும் பிறவும் தேர்வேன்
நான் எனக்கு, இல்லை என் தொழ்மீர்கால்
சிங்கார மணி நெடு மாடம் நீடு
தென் திருபெரையில் வீற்றி இருந்த

மகர நெடுங்குழை காதன், மாயன்
நூற்றுவரை அன்று மங்க நூற்ற
நிகர் இல முகில் வண்ணன், நேமியான், 
என் நெஞ்சம் கவர்ந்து எனை ஊழியானே - Tiruvoimozhi 

Ananthu Bhattar performs pooja in as sincere a way as a devotee can expect.

Quick Facts
Moolavar : Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan East facing Sitting Posture
Goddess : Kuzhai Kaathu Valli, ThiruPerai Naachiyar (Separate Sannidhis)
Utsavar  : Nigaril Mugil Vannan
Azhvaar : Nam Azhvaar 11 Paasurams

Time      : 730am-12noon and 5pm-830pm
Contact :Anantha Padmanabha Bhattar @ 96889 51429 / 93605 53489 / 04639 273902 / Rahul Bhattar @ 79048 37116/ AK( Krishnaswamy) Bhattar @ 04639 272030 / Office : 04639 272233

For Nava Tirupathi trip, you may contact Sundar Cabs @ 9952755336

Thiru Kolur Vaitha Maa Nidhi

Bhujanga Sayanam
Birth Place of Madhura Kavi Azhvaar
A visit to this Divya Desam will help one recover lost wealth

Located 2 kilometers South East of Azhvaar Thirunagari is the birth place of Madhura Kavi Azhvaar and the Vaitha Maa Nidhi Divya Desam at Thiru Kolur. The Lord is seen in a reclining posture (Bhujanga Sayanam) facing East.

Recover Lost Wealth

Legend has it that Kubera, the protector of the nine forms of wealth, once went to have a Darshan of Lord Shiva. Having cast an evil eye on Goddess Parvati he was cursed as a result of which he lost an eye as well as the power of being the protector of the wealth. To be liberated from the curse, Kubera undertook penance here at Thiru Kolur.

Lord Vishnu appeared in a sleeping posture and took care of the nine forms of wealth from the banks of Taamaraibarani. Hence the Lord is called ‘Vaitha Maa Nidhi’.

Another story goes that Dharma Gupta, a brahmin, was in financial distress not being able to even feed his children. He invoked the blessings of his Guru Sage Bharadwaja.

The Sage explained to him the reasons for his current state- Dharma Gupta who had been wealthy in his previous birth had become arrogant and did not share his wealth with the poor.

The sage asked Dharma Gupta to proceed to Thiru Kolur to undertake penance in front of Vaitha Maa Nidhi Perumal. Following this, he  recovered his lost wealth here at Thiru Kolur.

A visit to this temple will help one recover lost wealth. The Lord here helps the devotees in distress who offer their sincere prayers to him at the temple.

Namazhaavar refers to the Lord as Vaitha Maa Nithi

வைத்த  மா நிதியாம் மதுசூதனையே அலற்றி 
கொத்தலர்  பொழில் சூழ் 
......

அவன் சேர்  திரு கோலூற்கே 
சித்தம் வைத்துரைபார் நிகழ் பொன் உலகாழ்வாரே

Quick Facts
Moolavar     : Nishebavithan East Facing Sleeping Posture
Goddess       : Kumutha Valli, Kolur Valli
Utsavar        :  Vaitha Maa Nidhi
Azhvaar       : NammAzhvaar 12 verses
Time            : 730am-12noon and 4pm-8pm
Contact        : Balaji Bhattar @ 90472 17914 /Srinivasa Bhattar @ 99429 31701 or 04639 273806

Azhvaar Tirunagari Aadhi Nathan temple

Natha Muni came here to listen to the sacred verses from Nam Azhvaar and composed the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham
All the Nava Tirupathi Lords congregate here in Vaikasi  for the 9 Garuda Sevai

Located about 30 kms East of Tirunelveli on the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur highway, Aathi Naathan Temple in Azhvaar Tirunagari is one of the Nava Tirupathi temples on either side of Taamaraibarani. This place is also referred to as Aathi Kshetram, Varaaha Kshetram, Theertha Kshetram, Thaantha Kshetram and Sesha Kshetram and is also called Thiru Kurugur. There are a number of inscriptions here that date back a 1000years.

There is a separate Sannidhi for NammAzhvaar said to be more significant than the main Sannidhi itself for it was here that he spent 16 years in silence. This is the only Divya Desam to have the name of the Azhvaar.

Composition of Naalayira Divya Prabhandham

Naatha Muni, who came here to compile the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham composition, met with Madura Kavi Azhvaar and picked up ‘Kanninun Sirutha Ambinaal’ composition from him.  Naatha Muni recited these verses 12000 times before NammAzhvaar appeared before him to share the contents of the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham, which Naatha Muni wrote and compiled.

The story

3 days before the end of the Raama Avataar, Lord Yama came to meet Raama. Given the timing, Raama asked Lakshmana not to allow anyone inside. Unfortunately for Lakshmana, it turned out that Sage Durvasa chose to meet with Raama. Knowing the sage’s anger and not wanting to be at the receiving end, Lakshmana remained silent and allowed him entry.

As he stood still like a tree and did not stop the Sage from coming in, as instructed by him, Raama pronounced that Lakshmana turn into a tree. Saddened by this, Lakshmana pleaded before Raama that he could never live away from him. Consoling him, Raama said that he himself had to atone for the sin of making Sita stay in the forest and that he would be born as NammAzhvaar and stay ‘still’ for 16 years. During this period, he would sit under the tamarind tree (Lakshmana).

He directed Lakshmana to the banks of Taamaraibarani, where he would get transformed into a tree. When born, Nammazhvaar did not open his eyes or cry. He resided under the tamarind tree within the Aathi Naathan temple for 16 years till he met Madurakavi (who later became his disciple) who posed some interesting questions about life. And that is when NammAzhvaar spoke for the first time.

So impressed was MaduraKavi (Azhvaar) with Nammazhvaar’s answers, that he said ‘I do not need God, Nammazhvaar is enough’.

Nam Azhvaar Paasuram

ஓடி ஓடி பல பிறப்பும் பிறந்து

மற்ற ஓர் தெய்வம்

பாடி ஆடிப் பணிந்து, பல்படிகளால்

வழி ஏறிக் கண்டீர்

கூடி வானவர் ஏத்த நின்ற

திரு குருகூர் அதனுள்

ஆடு புள் கொடி ஆதி மூர்த்திக்கு

அடிமை புகுவதுவே

Stone Nadaswaram

A special feature at the Aathi Nathan temple at Azhvaar Thirunagari is the stone nadaswaram that is several centuries old.

Festival

An important festival at this temple is Vaikasi Utsavam, when the deities from all the Nava Tirupathi temples congregate here on the occasion of Garuda Sevai to listen to the Paasurams with Nammazhvaar seated on the Hamsa Vaahanam.

Araiyar Sevai

This is one of the three Divya Desams in TN where Araiyar Sevai, the visual song and dance enactment of the ‘Paasurams is still being performed.

Quick Facts

Moolavar : Aadhi Nathan East Facing Standing Posture
Goddess   :Aadhi Nathavalli, Kurugur Valli
Timing : 7am-12noon and 5pm-8pm
Contact : Appu Sadagopachari @ 04639 273984/ office 04639 273607
Thiruvengata Bhattar @ 04639 272079 /Araiyar Srinivasan @ 98944 43900

How to reach Azhvaar ThiruNagari

By bus- It is an hour from the new bus stand at Tirunelveli. Buses ply every 5-10minutes on the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur route. By Train- One can reach the temple by getting down at Azhvaar Tirunagari station 

By Car- One can also take a cab from Tirunelveli and finish all the 9 temples in half day- one day

Contact: Ganesh Cabs @ 94436 71632/  Sundar CAbs @ 9952755336. For auto to Nava Tirupathi temples contact: Subramaniyan @ 94423 70844