the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Vishnu

Shiva ordered sage Vyakrapada to perform penance at Srirangam requesting the god Vishnu to give him place in his abode Vaikunta. Vyakrapada was joined by sage Patanjali in his journey. Because of his poor eyesight, the sages instead went southward, lost their way and reached Krupa Samudram, modern day Tirusirupuliyur. They prayed to Vishnu to come to Srirangam to grant them moksha(divine attainment). It is believed that Vishnu originally gave darshan (appeared) to the sages as Ranganatha, the form worshipped in the Srirangam temple. Because of their old age, the sages could not see the big image of Vishnu clearly and hence he appeared in a smaller form known as Bala Sayanam (smaller recline), the sleeping posture of a small kid. Being in smaller form, and the saint who worshipped was in the form of a tiger, this place is called Siru (meaning small) Puli (meaning tiger) yur (meaning dwelling place). Vyakrapada has also got a seat under the feet of the Perumal in the Moolavar Sannathi. It’s been said the Perumal of this place gave protection to the snake Adhiseshan from his enemy Garuda. Once Garudan and the Serpent Adhishesha on whom Lord Vishnu reclines got into a egoistic fight that who was more powerful and devoted to the lord. They came down to this Tirusirupuliyur Divyadesam and asking the lord for the solution. Lord appeared as Kirupasamudran and by seeing Garudan more arrogant, He went in favour of Adhiseshan. Disappointed Garudan became more anger and because of which Garuda never flies over this place even now. By seeing angry Garudan, Adhiseshan got frightened and expecting an angry reaction from Garudan begged lord to save him. Pleased lord asked him to roll himself and lie under him. Since then Adhishesha became his bed. Once the disciples of the sage Gouthama Rishi, was careless and a Lizard jumped out from the water they placed in front of his guru. By noticing this sage got angry and cursed the disciples to become Lizards. They got then relieved when Indiran came here as Gajendran to worship Varadaraja here. It is strongly believed that the people who prays Moolavar Varadaraja and touches the Lizards on their way out will get cured from all their chronic diseases and disorders. A special feature of this temple is that this is one of the only two Divya Desams where the Lord in Sayana Kolam (sleeping posture) is facing the Southern direction, the other being Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam. When Thiru Mangai Azhwar visited this place, initially he felt let down by the tiny size of the Lord. Thirumangai, who had seen different displays and different forms of Lord Vishnu, was then impressed upon by Kripasamudra Perumal that this was indeed something very special and that he should savour for the moment. Then he could come to Thiru Kannamangai (Divya Desam about 25 km south – west of Sirupuliyur) for a darshan of his full form in a standing posture. A happy Thirumangai showered 10 verses of praise on Kripasamudra Perumal in his Periya Thirumozhi referring to the Lord as Sala Sayana Perumal and making a specific reference to Adisesha. As this was the place where Kripasamudra Perumal accorded a special status to Adisesha by placing him above Garuda, this temple is of special significance for relief from Naaga Dosha and Kaala Sarpa Dosha. This is the only Divya Desam where there is a separate temple for Adisesha.

Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple (also called as Arulmaakadal Perumal Temple) is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu located in Tirusirupuliyur Village near Kollumangudi in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th – 9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Sthala Sayana Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Thirumagal Nachiyar. The Temple is having 75 feet Raja Gopuram with two prakarams. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all the shrines. There is a four-tiered Rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower, in the temple. The presiding deity is Sthala Sayana Perumal and is a small image depicted in Sayana posture along with Thirumagal Nachiyar. The idol of Vyakrapada is found along with that of Kanvar in the sanctum sanctorum. All episodes connected with this place are found in the fourth chapter of the Brahmanda Purana. The name of the presiding deity in Sanskrit is Kripasamudra Perumal. He is also known as "Saranagatha Rakshaka Perumal", by which name the saints have addressed the god Aamaruviyappan in Therazhundur. Utsavar is Kripasamudra Perumal with Dhaya Nayagi. Pushkarani of this temple is Manasa Pushkarani. A separate shrine for Adhiseshan is present near to the Pushkarani - known as Ananthalwar Temple. Vimanam of this Temple is called as Nandha Vardhana Vimaanam. Of the 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu, only Sri Rangam and the Tirusirupuliyur being the 11th in the line temple are facing south.