Posted in108 divya desham
It is situated around 10 kms from Sirkazhi . There are buses from Mayavaram/ Sirkazhi that goes past Thirunangur . Direct special buses are available only on special occassions . If you drive your car it is 20 kms from Mayavaram and 10 kms from Sirkazhi .The temple is located in the holy town of Sirkazhi in Nagapattinam district . Thirumangai Azhvar was initiated by Saiva Kuravar Sambandar to praise the Almighty through Pasurams . The God in the temple is praised as Mann alantha Tadalan meaning the one who measured the land . The name Tadalan is in honour of Tiruvikrama ( Vamana ) form and the moolavar ( prime deity ) fixed in the central shrine is in this form . The presiding deity , Thiruvikrama , appeared for sage Ashtakoma .
Kazheesirama Vinnagarsm or Thadalan Kovil or Thirivikrama Narayana Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Sirkazhi in Nagapattinam district, Tamilnadu, India. It is one of the “Divya Desams”, the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints , or Alwars . The temple follows Thenkalai mode of worship . The God in the temple is praised as Man alantha Thadalan meaning the one who measured the land . The name Thadalan is in honour of Thiruvikrama form and the Moolavar (prime deity) fixed in the central shrine is in this form . The presiding deity , Thiruvikrama , appeared for sage Ashtakona Rishi .
This is one of the five Divya Desams referred by Thirumangai Azhvaar as ” Vinnagaram ” . The others being Parameswara Vinnagaram ( Kanchipuram ), Arimeya Vinnagara ( Thiru Nangoor ), Vaikunta Vinnagaram ( Thiru Nangoor ) and Nandipura Vinnagaram ( Nathan Koil , Kumbakonam ) . Another feature of Thirumangai’s praise of this Divya Desam is his reference to the Goddess in his Paasurams . Mangai Mannan crowned as “Mangai Azhvaar” and handed over the Vel by Thiru Gnana Sambandhar . The temple is administered by Chola Simhapuram Koil Kanthaadai Chantamaarutham Swami Dhoddayacharyar .
Lord Brahmma the creator grew proud of his boon of longevity spanning many Yugas . Lord Vishnu decided to teach him a lesson . Sage Romesa performed penance here for the darshan of Lord Vamana – Trivikrama form scaling the whole world with one foot up . Granting his wish , Lord told the sage that he would live longer than Brahmma whose longevity would be reduced by a year if and when one hair fell from his body .
Brahma understood that Lord has indirectly taught him a lesson and shed his pride. Thus Lord graced this place with his Trivikrama form. This is said to be the place where Lord Vishnu in his Vaamana Avatara measured his first step. At this Divya Desam, only the left foot of the Lord can be seen every day. The right foot is displayed only once a year on the Vaikunta Ekadesi day.
The Sangu which yields Paramapadham and Chakram which gives all wealth lays here as Shangu Pushkarani and Chakra Theertham.
The term Rama is equivalent to number one for he had one wife, one arrow, one word, one rule and one dharma. As the perumal of this place too is the only ruler of the whole world this place is called Sri Rama Vinnagaram .
Thal in Tamil means Earth or World, Aalan means the ruler. As Lord scaled the world with his Foot , Sri Andal called him Thadalan. The verses of Sri Andal are pieces of delight with sweet melody of Tamil coupled with their spiritual content .
Sirkali has the special reputation of being the birth place of Saivite Saint Tirugnanasambandar.
Once the temple was left without proper care , hence an old woman kept the procession deity Thadalan inside the Thavittu (husk) pot . She performed poojas and was worshipping him . After visiting Thiru Chitra Koodam ( Chidambaram ) , Thirumangai Mannan was on his way to Sirkazhi . All the way his subjects sang praise of him uttering different names of Mangai Mannan . The praise of Thirumangai Mannan by his subjects angered the disciples of Thiru Gnana Sambandhar. They blocked Thirumangai Mannan and asked his followers not to shout praises of Thiru Mangai Mannan in this birthplace of Thiru Gnana Sambandhar.
They wanted Thirumangai Mannan to engage with Thiru Gnana Sambandhar in a debate and win over him before continuing with their praise of Thirumangai Mannan . In the dream of Alwar , Lord appeared and told him that to get Thadalan from the old woman , pray to him and after that go for the debate . In the first meeting between Thiru Mangai and Thiru Gnana Sambandhar , the Vaishnavite poet answered fluently each of Thiru Gnana Sambandhar’s questions and let out 10 verses of praise in the name of Lord Vishnu.
Pleased and impressed with Mangai Mannan’s knowledge and the sweetness in his praise and description of the different forms of Lord Vishnu , a spell bound Thiru Gnana Sambandhar acknowledged the greatness of Thirumangai and crowned him as ” Mangai Azhvaar “. Sambandar was very happy and rewarded Alwar with his Vel which is given by Goddess Parvathi and also an anklet . Both of them hugged each other and bore good bye in a sad mood and paved way to the unity of Saivam and Vaishnavam.In the entrance of the gopuram
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