The land about 50km north and south of Kaveri, Kollidam is profuse with tributaries of Kaveri – the area being the delta of the Kaveri River. There is a treasure trove of history, mythology and religion all manifest in the form of temples dotting the landscape.
Thanjai Maamani Koil
Location
Just north of Thanjavur town is an oddity called Thanjaimaamani Koil. This is one Divya Desam but located as three different temples scattered over a square kilometre. All three trace their origins to three brothers who figure prominently in the history of how the name Thanjavur derived in ancient times.
Sthalapuranam
Back in Treta yuga (according to Brahmanda Purana) three Asuras prayed for immortality to Lord Siva. While denying their request Lord Shiva blessed them with other powers. They used their powers wrongly to terrorize the three worlds. They ended up in present-day Thanjavur where Sage Parashara was doing his penance. He appealed to Lord Vishnu who appeared with Sudarshana to cut off Thanchakan’s head.
The place became Thanchakanoor or Thanjavur. Kachmukan took the form of an elephant and he was killed by Lord Nrusimha. The third brother Tantakan ran away and eventually was killed by Sri Varaha and the place became Srimushnam.
The Lord is known as ‘Senkamalavalli Thayar Sametha Sri Neelamegha Perumal‘ in one, ‘Thanjainayaki Sametha Sri Veera Nrusimhan’ in the second and ‘Ambujavalli Sametha Sri Manikundra Perumal’ in the third.
Special Features
All three temples are located on the southern bank of Vennaru. These three temples are sung together as a single Divya Desam. They are scattered over one square kilometre. The Lord is regarded as the protector of Thanjavur.
Mangalasasanam
In Irandaam Thiruandhadhi, Bhuthathalwar (2251) mentions Divya Desam as a place where the Lord resides along with a bhaktha’s heart. In Peria Thirumozhi (953), Thirumangai Alwar exhorts the bhakthas to worship the Lord at this Divya Desam saying the Lord here is his leader who decimated Asuras with bow and arrow. He identifies the Lord as everything to him.
In Thiruvaimozhi (3139), Nammalwar in his Nayaki status declares that he will do Madal Oorthal on Lord referring to him as blemishless and Manikundra Perumal.
Click here for the complete list of Divya Desams
Thirunandipuravinnagaram
Location
This is located on the southern banks of Kollidam river not very far from Kumbakonnam. This place is also called ‘Nathan Koil’.
Sthalapuranam
In ages long gone, Nandi, the vehicle of Lord Siva wished to have darshan of Lord Vishnu and so, approached Sri Vaikunta. The Gatekeepers (Dwarapalakas) denied him entry. When Nandi became aggressive, the gatekeepers cursed Nandi. Concerned Nandi approached Lord Siva for guidance. Lord Siva told Nandi to worship Lord Vishnu in Shenbagaranyam.
Since Nandi did tapas there and was relieved of the curse, the place is called ‘Nandipuravinnagaram’.
Another story is that when Sibi Chakravarthy agreed to part with his flesh as food for the eagle in return for safety for the pigeon the Lord in this temple moved to stand witness to Sibi Chakravarthy’s legendary integrity. Originally, he was facing east. Now he faces West as a witness.
The Lord is ‘Vinnagara Perumal or Jagannathan’. The universal mother is called ‘Shenbagavalli’. The vimana is ‘Mandharavimanam’.
Special Features
There is a shrine to Nandi in this temple which is unusual in Vishnu temples. This area is called ‘Shenbagaranyam’.
Mangalasasanam
Thirumangai Alwar, in his Peria Thirumozhi has sung ten pasurams (1438 to 1447) about this Divya Desam. He starts the decad by pointing out that the Lord is Krishna, who danced with pots and ate curds, and resides in this Divya Desam. He points out that if people understood all he had said, there was a way to live and reach the Lord.
The same Lord is who ate the worlds and retained them in his stomach during pralaya. He calls the Lord residing in this Divya Desam the destroyer of Asuras and one who carried the Pancha-ayudha in his hands. He points out that the Lord who went to the forest with his brother and wife without regard for personal comfort and safety with, is the same Lord who lives here.
Thiruvelliangudi
Location
This village can be found not very far to the east and north of Kumbakonnam.
Sthalapuranam
During Vamana avatara, the asura guru, Shukracharya was blinded by Lord Vishnu when he tried to prevent Mahabali from donating three steps of land to Lord Vishnu. It is said that Shukracharya later did tapas here to recover his lost eye and lit a lamp which burns even now called Netra Deepam.
The Lord is known as ‘Kolavilli Ramar or Ksheerapthinathan’. The universal mother is Maragathavalli Thayar. The Lord is present as Trivikrama Avataar in this temple. He is also referred to as Kshringara Sundaran as he is supposed to be fond of dressing up. He is also referred to as Velliyan.
Special Features
Vyakyana Chakravarthy, Periavachan Pillai was born near this Divyadesam. The temple is called Shukra Kshetram. There is a red plantain tree that grows from the rocks and yields fruits once a year. Garuda who is the vehicle of Lord Vishnu can be seen holding Conch and discus only in this temple.
Mangalasasanam
Thirumangai Alwar in his Peria Thirumozhi (1338-1347), identifies this Divya Desam as the place where the one who stole the butter, who rested on a banyan leaf and who killed Puthana, resides. In these ten songs focused on Krishna, he calls the resident of this temple the one who danced on Kaliya the serpent and one who is dark complexioned. This is the temple where he who drove the chariot, lives, says Alwar. He also identifies him by name – Kolavilliraman.
Towards the end of the decade, he identifies the Lord of this Divya Desam with Narasimha and the Lord who carries Sudarshana.
Only a small portion of the songs on these Divya Desams is discussed here.
