Kumbakonam Visit

Kumbakonam Divya desams

Coming back after a long time, and I pray to Lord Aravamuthan to make me write more.

The next day morning we left Trichy around 5.30 am by car to travel to Kumbakonam. We did not have any plans but only to come back to Trichy by 4 pm so that we can visit Srirangam once again before we travelled back.

Thiruccherai
Since we had left early morning, we planned to reach ThiruCherai, the divya desam which was farthest from Kumbakonam town so that we can cover other divya desams as we travel back to the town.

Thirucherai is another example of the big temples in the chola nadu. The corridor was long and we had to climb several steps to reach the sannidhi.

Saranayaki sametha Sri Saranatha perumal sannidhi was beautiful. The Lord and His consort in Nindra thirukolam were beautiful, a sight to behold. The bhattar explained to us about Thirumangai azhvar's visit. When the azhvar visited the divya desam, Perumal "salagramam soozha kaatchi aLithaaraam" - the Lord was surrounded by salagramam. The azhvar could not step on the salagramam and hence travelled to the temple on his knees. As i heard this, i could imagine the azhvar travelling on his knees and suddenly felt a pain and tears flowed from my eyes. Intha Divya anubhavam made me to resolve to all the divya desams.

Azhvargal seitha bhagyam perumalai pattri pada pEru Kidaithathu. Naam pala janmam seidha karma, nammal intha kovilgalai sevikka mudinthathu.

Sri Saranayagi thayar samedha Sri Saranadha perumal thiruvadigala saranam.


ThiruNaraiyur ennum Nachiyar Kovil
We then travelled to Thirunaraiyur. Another beautiful Divya desam. A long corridor leading to the sannidhi. This is one of the divya desams wherein the Perumal in 5 different forms including Naraiyur Nambi. The perumal in this divya desam is regarded as the acharyan for thirumangai azhvar.

The bhattar told us that the Perumal in this shetram was the acharyan of Thirumangai azhvar performing the "panch samskaram" to the azhvar. enna kudupinai for the azhvar. i was reminded of enna thavam seithanai yashoda. If yashodha was baagyasaali, then what about the azhvar.

It was a sight to behold the Perumal is in 5 different forms along with the Thayar. The only other temple were i have seen the perumal like this is in Parthasarathy temple in Triplicane, Chennai where the Parathasarathy is seen with his family.
Another speciality is the Kal Garudan. Garudazhvar has a separate sannidhi. The kal garudan is said to fulfil one's wishes.

The idol is made of stone and the perumal procession is in this idol. I was told that when the Lord is taken on the Kal Garudan for procession, there are 4 bearers, which increases to 8, 16, 32, 64 and finally 128 when the perumal leaves the Gopura Vaasapadi. Similarly, after the procession and when the perumal enters the temple, the number of bearers starts to decrease from 128 to 64, 32.. and finally 4 when he reaches the sannidhi. If we talk about the bearers being tired having to carry the lord and hence require more people when they leave the temple, how do we explain the reverse. A lot of times science does not have an answer when it comes to faith.

Sri Vanchulavalli thayar samedha Sri Srinivasa perumal thirvadigale saranam.