Parimala Ranganathan Temple Location
As can be seen from the map, Parimala Ranganathan Temple is located in a cluster of about 160km due east of Srirangam along the Bay of Bengal coast not far from Chidambaram.
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Thiruindalur
Sthalapuranam
Chandra (moon) one of the Navagrahas was cursed. He was advised to go to this place and worship the Lord here for relief from the curse. The word INDU also means Chandra. Hence the name of the town. The Lord here is ‘Parimala Ranganathan’. The universal mother is ‘Parimala Ranganayaki’ or ‘Chandra Saabha Vimochana Valli’.
The temple pond is ‘Indu Pushkarani’ and the vimana is ‘Veda Chakra Vimana’. The area is called ‘Sugandha vanam’.
Special features
The temple is old and has contribution from medieval cholas, Vijayanagar kings and Nayaks.
Thirumangai Alwar arrived at this temple to find the doors locked. After being unable to enter, he told the Lord to enjoy his temple himself and started to walk away. Needless to say Perumal could not be hostile to His devotee and so the doors opened. The ten pasurams are a very affectionate argument between Parimala Rangan and Alwar.
Mangalasasanam
In Peria Tirumozhi (1328-1337), Thirumangai Alwar asks Parimala Rangan how it would reflect on Perumal’s reputation if a devotee visited Him and found the doors locked. Alwar points out that the purpose of Archa rupam is to give darshan and so will he not show His handsome form to Alwar and save his reputation? The Lord says in return to Alwar that Alwar should not worry about Him.
The Alwar points out to the Lord that something has happened that the Lord cannot tolerate. The Lord asks what is this new matter? Alwar replies that it is human nature to move on to the next thing if something is not within reach. “So, if a devotee cannot get to see the Lord, he may lose interest and go on to the next. You cannot tolerate losing that devotee’s bhakthi. But I am not like that.
My bhakthi for you will increase instead of reducing” says Thirumangai Alwar. He also asks the Lord during various yugas you are white, golden and blue in colour. Now in Kali yuga, what is your colour?” The entire ten pasurams are a series of discussions between the Lord and Alwar.
