Introduction – Madurai

Madurai

One of the South India’s greatest temple towns, Madurai, is synonymous with the celebrated Meenakshi Temple. Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era more than 2500 years old. Madurai was an important cultural and commercial centre even as early as 550 AD. It was the capital city for the great Pandya kings.

Madurai

The Pandyan King Kulasekarar built a great temple and created a lotus shaped city around the temple. On the day the city was to be named, as Lord Shiva blessed the land and its people, divine nectar (Madhu) was showered on the city from his matted locks. This city was henceforth known as Madhurapuri. Madurai is famous for Jasmine Flowers.

10) Samadhi of Yamunacharya :

Samadhi of Yamunacharya

Just around when Ramanuja abandoned the life of a householder and became a Sannyasi. About this time, Yamunacharya being very old was on the look-out for a young person of good ability and character to take his place as head of the Mutt at Srirangam. He had already heard of Ramanuja through his disciples and made up his mind to instal Ramanuja in his place. He now sent for Ramanuja. By the time Ramanuja reached Srirangam, Yamunacharya had left this world; and Ramanuja saw his body being taken by his followers to the cremation ground outside the village. Ramanuja followed them to the cremation ground. Ramanuja saw Yamunacharya body fingers were uniquely curled. 3 of Yamunacharyas fingers were curled. Taking this as yamunacharyas last 3 wishes for him, Ramanaujacharya proclaimed to fulfil first wish that a Visishtadvaita Bhashya should be written for the Brahma Sutras of Vyasa. At this the first finger of Yamunacharya uncurled. Secondly Ramanujacharya proclaimed that the names of Parasara and Veda Vyasa, should be commemorated on the earth by giving it to a person worthy to bear it. Yamunacharyas second finger got uncurled. Thirdly Ramaunja would compose a commentary on Tiruvaymozhi of Nammalwar , the most prolific of Alwars. Thereupon the third finger also got straightened. Ramanuja lived for 120 years, and in the course of his long life, fully redeemed his promise by fulfilling all the three wishes of Yamunacharya. Yamunacharya was then given Samadhi (entombed) on the banks of river Kollidon in Srirangam. This is around 10 minutes walk from back gate of Rangnath swamy temple via Rangnayaki nachiar kovil to river banks. Samadhi is a little towards right side of the bathing gaths of the river. Many acharyas samadhis are also present there.

Transport

Air : The nearest airport is Tiruchirappalli International Airport. Trichy Airport has connections to Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Thiruvanathapuram, Singapore, Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait, Malaysia, Abu Dhabi.

Rail : Srirangam has a railway station that can be reached from Chennai through any of the major trains travelling in the Chennai-Kanyakumari railway track and the approximate journey time from Chennai is about 5 hours and 10 minutes (320 km).

The Tiruchirappalli fort and Trichy junction which are the distance of 2 km and 8 km serves as connection point to many destinations in southern India, such as Thanjavur,Thiruvananthapuram, Chidambaram, Madurai, Tirupathi, Tuticorin, Tenkasi, Quilon, Rameswaram, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Mysore, Kochi, Kanyakumari and Mangalore. It also connects to some northern Indian cities including New Delhi.

Bus :  Bridge Connecting Trichy and Srirangam across Kaveri River. Trichy Central bus stand has direct services to most parts of Tamil Nadu. From the bus stand, tourists can avail local buses, taxi, auto rickshaw to reach Srirangam. City Bus service to all places of tourist interest from Central Bus Stand and from Chinthamani -Main Guard Gate Bus Stand (Both in Trichy). Tourist Taxis andAuto Rickshaws are also available at reasonable rates.

9) Kattu Narasimha Perumal Temple (Azhagiya Singar)

The Kattu Narasimhaperumal Temple is a Narasimha temple situated in the suburb of Srirangam .. It is also known as Azhagiya Singar temple and is situated at a distance of 1 kilometre from the Srirangam railway station.

The temple predates the Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam and is one of the oldest temples in the city.

Kattu Narasimhaperumal Temple (Azhagiya Singar)

Kattu Narasimhaperumal Temple (Azhagiya Singar) 2

As the Lord appeared here in the middle of a forest and stayed back to protect the devotees, he came to be called ‘Kaattu’ Azhagiya Singar.

Centuries ago, with this temple being in the midst of a forest and with minimal human existence, it was considered unsafe and hence the utsava deity was placed inside the Koorathaazhvan Sannidhi at the Srirangam Ranganatha temple.

That tradition has come to stay and today one finds the Utsava deity of Lord Narasimha not at the Kaattazhagivya Singa Perumal Koil but at the Srirangam Ranganatha temple. Old time residents say that this place was very much like a forest till the early 1970s. It is only in the last 3 decades that there has been development around the Kaatazhagiya Singar temple.

The place was a jungle in the olden days with elephant menace. Elephants cannot be killed according to scriptures as it would put people in a circle of sins. People were struggling for safety. They prayed to Narasimha building a temple for Him. The animals slowly left the place. Hence the Lord is named Kattazhagiasingar (handsome jungle God).

Kattu Narasimhaperumal Temple (Azhagiya Singar)

Once a year, on the evening of Vijayadasami day, Namperumal, the Utsava deity of Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam, comes on a street procession to this temple in a palanquin. Goddess is believed to have undertaken penance at this place and handed Nam Perumal a bow and an arrow at the end of the 10th day of the Navarathri festival.

After Thirumanjam, the event of Lord Namperumal on a Horse Vaahanam, striking an arrow on the Vanni tree to signify the destruction of evil forces and protection of the devotees, is enacted every year on the Vijayadasami evening at this temple.

8) Nachiyar Koil in Woraiyur

Azhagiya Manavalan Perumal Temple (also called Thirukozhi or Nachiyar Koil) in Woraiyur, a suburb Tiruchirappalli.

Nachiyar Koil in Woraiyur

As per History, Lord Vishnu was pleased by the worship of the childless Chola king Nanda Chola and blessed the king that Lakshmi, his consort, would be born to him and at appropriate age, he would get married with her. The king found the child in a lotus tank while hunting in a forest. Since the child was born out of lotus, she was named Kamalvalli by the king. Time came when Kamalavalli fell in love with Lord Vishnu in the form of Ranganath, the presiding deity of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple. The Chola king readily got her married to Ranganath. He built a temple to commemorate the occasion. The event is celebrated as Servai festival every year. Since Lord Vishnu appeared as Azhagiya Manavalan, meaning a beautiful groom, the temple is called Azhagiya Manavalan Temple.

Serthi Sevai, the annual home coming festival is celebrated in the temple annually during the Ayilyam star in the Tamil month of Panguni. The festival is a part of the Panguni Uthiram festival of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, when the festival uthsav deity of Srirangam temple, Namperumal, is brought to the Nachiyar temple and the images of Nachiyar and Namperumal are adorned in the Serthi hall of the temple. Special Pujas are performed during the occasion.