About the Temple & Location:
This sthalam is situated two miles away from AzhwAr Tirunagari, in Tirunelveli district. No lodging facilities available. This sthalam is one of Nava Thirupathi.
Vaithamanidhi Permual Temple (also called Thirukolur) is one of the nine Nava Tirupathi, the Hindu temples dedicated to Vishnu. It is located on the Tiruchendur–Tirunelveli route in Tamil Nadu, India, on the southern bank of the Thamiraparani River. It is the eighth temple of Nava Tirupathi, and is named after Mars (Sevvai) and also called Kubera sthalam. 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 Vaithamanidhi Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Kolur valli.
A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower, is three-tiered in structure. The temple follows Thenkalai tradition of worship. Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the ten-day annual Vaikunda Ekadasi during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December - January) and the Nammazhwar birth celebrations with Garuda sevai with all nine temple of Nava tirupathi, being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Legend
Kubera, the lord of wealth, was once cursed by Shiva for his lustful glance towards Parvathi. Kubera soon realized his mistake and repented for his sin, seeking forgiveness from Shiva and Parvathi. They advised him to perform penance at Thirukkolur. After his penance, Vaitha ma nithi Perumal blessed him with great wealth again. As per another legend, a king named Ambarisa renounced his crown and became a hermit. He started doing penance in a forest. Sage Durvasa wanted to test his devotion and kicked him. Ambarisa was unmoved which angered Duravasa. He cursed Ambraisa. Ambarisa prayed to Vishnu to help. Pleased by his devotion, Vishnu appeared in the place and relieved him off his curse. Ambarisa built a big temple for Vishnu and called him Ambarisa Varadhar.
Architecture
The Temple has two prakaram, or closed precincts. Vaitha ma nithi Perumal, the main deity, is in a reclining pose facing east. A Marakka is used as his pillow. He is looking at the palm of his left hand to watch over the location of the wealth. It is believed that people who pray here are blessed with great wealth.The original structure is believed to have been refurbished by Rani Mangammal (1689– 1704 C.E). The temple is located in Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamil Nadu, India in the banks of Thamiraparani river, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The temple is constructed in Dravidian style of architecture. All the shrines of the temple are located in a rectangular granite structure. The temple has an imposing image of Vishnu, a lotus stalk from the navel of the image emanates the image of Brahma. The feet of the deity can be viewed through the passage. The temple has two prakarams (closed precincts of a temple). The images of the festival images are located inside the sanctum.
Sthlapuranam :
One of the Brahmaputiran, who came out of Lord Brahma’s ears – named Pulathiya Rishi and Kasthamal’s daughter Aavirpoo gave birth a child named Visiravasi. The child who born for this Visiravasi and Ilipillai is Kuberan.
Kuberan did tapas praying Lord Shiva. When Shiva and Parvathi gave their seva to Kuberan, since he could not see the bright shine came out from Parasakthi, Kuberan lost his eyes. After this, he replaced an eye made of gold and ruled Alagapuri and became one of the friends of Lord Shiva.
Vaisyantham which is said as always move from one place to another in search of money and other things and this kind of persons one called “Vaisyaas”.
Guberan is said to be one of Vaisyaas and his wife is chitiregai and his Vaaganams (vehicles) are Horse, Parrot. His weapon is Katkam and Garland is Seerakka Maalai. His park is Saithiratham and the Vimaanam is Pushpaka Vimaanam. His son is Nalakooparan.
Once he got the Sapan from Parvathi Devi and lost all of his wealth (Navanidhi) and started to worship this sthala perumal as his Emperumaan.
Emperumaan gave the Prathyaksham for Guberan in front of all of the Navanidhis (Different Kinds of Wealth) and Protecting the Navanidhis of this sthalam. Because of this, he his named as “Vaithamaanidhi”. Also named as “Nishopavithan”.
This sthalam is also called as “Adharma Pisunam”. It means Dharman wars against the Evil (Adharmam) and it permanently stayed in this sthalam by riding out the adharmam.
Vaithamanidhi perumal stands still here in this sthalam to ride of the Adharmam to protect the wealth which cannot be taken out.
This perumal has thirusangu in the left hand and in the right hand he has thiru Chakkaram by which he destroy the Adharma. In this sthalam only, Madhurakavi alwar was born, Who then because the sishya (student) of Nammalwar. Madhurakavi Alwar is said to be the Gnana Nidhi.
This sthala perumal gave prathyaksha for Kuberan, who is the wealth, Madhurakavi Alwar, who is the Gnana nidhi.
The Pushkarani is kubera pushkarani and since he became the friend of Haran (Lord Shiva) the Vimaanam is called “Sri Hara Vimaanam”.
The Moolavar of this Sthalam is Sri Vaitha Maanitha Perumal. Also called as “Nishopavitthan”. Moolavar in Kidantha kolam in Bujanga sayanam facing East direction.
Prathyaksham for Kuberan and Madhurakavi Alwar.
Thaayar : Two thaayars – Amudhavalli and Koloor valli and they have their own separate sannadhis.
Mangalasasanam:
Nammalwar – 12 Pasurams
Total – 12
Pushkarani: Gubera pushkarani
Vimanam: Sri Hara Vimaanam.
Festival and religious practices
The Garuda Sevai utsavam festival in the month of Vaisaki (May–June) witnesses nine Garuda sevai, a spectacular event in which festival image idols from the Nava Tirupathi shrines in the area are brought on Garuda vahana, a sacred vehicle of Lord Vishnu. An idol of Nammalvar is also brought here on an Anna Vahanam (palanquin) and his paasurams (verses) dedicated to each of these nine temples are recited. The utsavar (festival deity) of Nammalvar is taken in a palanquin to each of the nine temples through the paddy fields in the area. The verses dedicated to each of the nine Divyadesams are chanted in their respective shrines. This is one of the most important festivals in this area, drawing thousands of visitors.
The temple follows the traditions of the Thenkalai sect of Vaishnavite tradition and follows Pancharathra aagama. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Vaithamanidhi and Kolurvalli. During the last step of worship, nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple.
Religious significance
Brahmanda Purana one of the eighteen sacred texts of Hinduism and written by Veda Vyasa contains a chapter called Navathirupathi Mahatmeeyam. The first part of the chapter refers to Srivaikuntam. Vaikunta Mahatmeeyam is another work in Sanskrit that glorifies the temple and is a part of Tamraparani Sthalapurana available only in palm manuscripts. The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Nammazhwar. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. The temple is also classified as a Nava tirupathi, the nine temples revered by Nammazhwar located in the banks of Tamiraparani river. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar. The temple also forms a series of Navagraha temples where each of the nine planetary deities of one of the temples of Nava tirupathi. The temple is associated with the planet Angaraka (Mars). It is the birthplace of Madhurakavi Alvar. Chandra, moon god, is believed to have been relieved off his curse by his prayers in this place
