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Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00127 Aug 2004

 
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Hailed by the Azhwars 

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/08/27/stories/2004082702620600.htm

The ancient temple at Thirukurungudi, situated 47 km
from Tirunelveli past Nanguneri, has great historical
significance. PRADEEP CHAKRAVARTHY gives an account. 

Tirukkurungudi temple ... literature speaks of green
groves and tall mansions. 

"WHY MY companions do you blame me? It's not my fault
that I am in love with him! On seeing my Lord of
Thirukurungudi, I think only of His discus, His conch,
His lotus eyes and pair of coral hued lips. My heart
is mine no longer!" Thiruvaimozhi 5.5.1 

Going on, Nammazhwar explains in the next 8 stanzas
the overriding obsession of Parankusa Naayaki towards
the Lord in Thirukurungudi. In what are among the most
beautiful paasurams, one hears Parankusa Naayaki
replying to her companions and her mother of how the
spellbinding beauty and majesty of the Lord has
overcome her. She speaks of His hue, His jewels, His
weapons, His garlands and begs her friends not to
blame her, for her obsession is one that is all
consuming and beyond her own control. 

Azhwar speaks of palm tree groves and tall mansions.
The palm tree groves are intact watered by the
Nambiaru but the houses are dwarfed by the majesty of
the entrance gopuram. 

Although incomplete, even without any tier, it raises
over a flight of stairs. The variety of sculptures of
Saivite and Vaishnavite themes only gives a sample of
what is to come within the 18 acres inside. 

Crossing the threshold, Sri Tirunarayanar took a few
minutes to explain the working of the 30-ft doors.
Crossing in we admired more sculptures on the gopuram
including one of Saturn. Passing by this, we went to
an intermediary mandapam with eight grand Nayak
sculptures. 

Climbing up the five-tier gopuram after this, our eyes
were subjected to a surfeit of carvings in wood. We
went past a smaller mandapam with more Nayak
sculptures of a ferocious Narasimha, a gypsy couple
kidnapping a prince and princess, the hallmark of
Nayak sculptures to the main shrines. 

The Lord here is in three separate shrines, standing
in one, seated in another and reclining on the third.
The images are of stucco beautifully painted. Bhoomi
Devi was in a mellow green to depict the greenery of
the earth, Sri Devi in a golden yellow. True to his
name of Sundaraparipoornan or Vadivazhagiyanambi (one
of matchless beauty) the Lord was of breathtaking
beauty. Flanked by Brigu and Markandeya, the archakar
told how the Lord blessed Kari and Udayanangai with
their progeny Nammazhwar. He also told how the Lord
appeared to Ramanuja as a disciple and earned the Lord
the name Vaishnava Nambi. 

Next, we went to the shrine of Mahendranathar, a
shrine for Lord Siva in the main temple complex and
the beautiful Krishna shrine. "You must visit the
Nambi shrine on the Mahendragiri hill and
Thiruparkadal Nambi. They are also part of this temple
and the former is set in a beautiful forest beside a
stream," said Thirunarayanan. The temple has been
mentioned in the verses by Periyazhwar and
Thirumazhisaipiran. Thirumazhisaipiran in the
Thiruchandaviruttam speaks of Kurungudi being a place
where the palm fruits roll into the river where cranes
and Valai fish abound (verse 62). 

Thirumangai Azhwar spent his last days here and
appropriately in his song on the temple, he speaks as
Parakala Naayaki, "The cool moonlight breeze, laden
with His jasmine's fragrance, rips my heart with
longing. 

Let these bangled sleepers prattle. 

But carry me away to my lord in Kurungudi." ? Periya
Thirumozhi 9.5.2 

Ottakoothar, the Chola poet speaks of the temples
prosperity and says, "pearls are aplenty in the groves
that cranes peck at them and nearly choke in the
process!" 

Inscriptions are few in number. A unique event in the
town is the celebration in song and dance of
Nampaduvan a member of the panar community, who
redeems a demon from his curse. Kaisika Natakam is on
the night of Ekadasi in Karthigai month. The months of
Thai and Panguni have other important festivals. The
Thirukurungudi temple is administered by the Jeeyar.
than anything else. 

The visit was unforgettable and we could agree with
Nammazhwar who says, "My resplendent Lord of the
celestials, lives in Kurungudi and shines like molten
gold. How can I ever forget him?" Thiruvaimozhi 1.10.9
The temple is 47 km from Tirunelveli past Nanguneri.
Contact for more details: Thirunarayanan, Thirujeeyar
Math, Thirukurungudi, Tirunelveli District. 





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