About the Temple & Location:
This sthalam is situated in Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu. Two miles away from Thirukkulandai, a small village named “Mangala Kurucchi” is situated. Travelling by walking for 2 miles through the walking path, we can visit this sthalam after crossing it.
Devapiran Perumal Temple, also known as Thirutholaivillimangalam Irettai Thirupathi Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Tholavillimangalam, a village in Thoothukudi district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. It is located 22 km from Tirunelveli. 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 CE. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Devapiran and his consort Lakshmi as Karunthadankanni. The temple is also classified as a Navatirupathi, the nine temples revered by Nammazhwar located in the banks of Tamiraparani river. Along with the Aravindalochanar temple located 100 yards away, the temple is referred as Irattai Tirupathy (meaning twin Tirupathis). This temple is a Kethu Sthalam.
A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. Unlike other South Indian temples, the temple does not have a rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower. The Vijayanagar and Nayak kings commissioned pillared halls and major shrines of the temple during the 16th century.
Devapiran is believed to have appeared to slay the demon Somuka who abducted the four Vedas. The temple follows the Thenkalai tradition of worship. Four daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the ten-day annual Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Chithirai (April - May) and the Nammazhwar birth celebrations with Garudasevai 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.
Sthalapuranam :
In this sthalam, a munivar (rishi) named “Athreya Suprabha rishi”, started and maintained a yaaga saali (place where yagam is done). When he was cleaning the yaaga salai, he found a bright Tarasu (equilibrium measuring instrument) and a Bow. On touching those two, it Changed into a beautiful man and a woman. They both explained to him that they were changed into the tarasu and the bow because of the sabham, given by Kuberan; it will end only if they are touched by Suprabha rishi. And after explaining this, they both got sabha vimochana and got paramapadham mukthi.
Since, the tarasu (or otherwise named as “Thulaam”) and bow (otherwise called as “Vil”) both of them got the vimochan and went to paramapadham, this sthalam is named as “Thulam Vil Mangalam” and as the years passed the name changed to “Tholai villi Mangalam”.
The sthala Emperumaan explains and thinks that all the humans and all other living and non living things should lead their lives in an happy way, the perumal gives his seva both in Nindra and Veetrirundha thirukkolam.
Vil (Bow) is the other resemblance of Yaegapathini (good character) Character of Human. Sri Rama, who is considered to be the kind of person who loved only his wife Sita piratti, was popularly named as “Yaegapatthini Vridhan”. Having this kind of character only, he was able to lift the Shiva dhanush (Vil (or) bow) and was able to kill Kakkasuran, vaali and Ravanan.
Tarasu (Measuring Instrument), which has two hands equally measures both the items kept on it. Our good and bad characters and activities are calculated and according to that, we are given the destiny.
This sthala perumal gave his pratyaksham for Indiran, Vaayu bhagavan and Varuna bhagavan. To live, we need to inhale the air and the air is Vaayu bhagavan and other necessary things are water and varunan and the green land is Indiran. By giving the pratyaksham to these three, Emperumaan equalises them and explains to the world how important and essential they are.
Kumudam means Dharbai Pul (Dharbai is one kind of Grass). Since, in this sthalam, the Yaagam was done, this sthala Vimaanam is called “Kumudha Vimaanam”.
This entire world becomes so fresh and gives the Vegetation only because of the Rain that is coming down to the earth. Because of this, the Sthala pushkkarani is Varuna theertham.
For the Bow (Vil) getting into action, two things are necessary. One is the arrow and another one is the person who performs the action on the Bow. And the person who is performing this action is Sri Srinivasa perumal, who is the whole structure of Good habits and thinking and giving his seva in Nindra Thirukkolam and along the sides two pirattiyaars are found.
A person's expression of Love, his kind nature and the bhakti is expressed through his eyes. So, the bhaktas who live in a good way and lead their lives in the Dharma way to achieve Sriman Narayanan’s Thiruvadi, Emperumaan, gives his seva as “Senthamarai Kannan” and as Aravindha Lochana along with Karuthandangi Naachiyaar. Dharma Tarasu has two plates, which stand equal to one another, likewise the Emperumaan and Thaayar are found to be equal and give the Veetrirundha seva.
Since, both of this sthalam are found along the Thamirabarani river, how rivers flow in different directions, but when they mix together they are treated as the same, likewise even though there are two sthalams, these two are considered to be one divyadesam.
All these Nava tirupathis have a common and a distinct news, that has to be explained. In thirukkurugoor Indiran, who did not give the proper respect for his parents, in Thirukkolur where Guberan has given the Sabham, in Thirupperai, varunan treated his Guru, and in ThiruVaikundam, a thief giving his share of the theft things to Emperuman, in Thiru Varaguna Mangai, where Saavithri fought for her husband’s life, in Thirupulingudi, Yagna sharma, who got the sabha of Vashista Muni’s sons and in Thiru tholai villi mangalam, a man who was buried into the land as “the Bow” and a women as “Tarasu” by Guberan, got their Sabha Vimochana. All in these nine tirupathis, Sriman Narayanan, gave them the Sabha vimochana and to attain the paramapadham world.
Specials:
Joining two Azhwar tirupathi sthalams, and it is considered to be a single divyadesam, this is called as “Twin Tirupathi”.
Both these two sthalams are found inside a small village where there is only a small amount of human life.
Legend
As per Hindu legend, Somuka, a demon, defeated Brahma, the Hindu god of creation and stole the four Vedas (sacred texts) from him. Brahma was helpless and he did severe penance in the banks of Tamiraparani River seeking favour from Vishnu in the form of Devapiran. Pleased by the penance, Vishnu appeared to Brahma and promised to retrieve the Vedas. He killed the demon Somuka and restored the Vedas to Brahma. He also wished to set his abode as Srivakuntam and resided there as Vaikuntanatha.
As per another legend, the place finds mention in Brahmanda Purana and Padma Purana where it is called Kedara Nilaya. Once a sage named Suprabha wanted to perform penance and in his search for land, he ploughed at this place. He found a balance (tola) and a bow (vil), which, when he lifted, turned into a couple. The couple were cursed by Kubera once for insulting them. Since the bow and balance were redeemed to their original form, the place is called Tolavillimangalam. The sage Suprabha continued to perform penance, at the end of which, the Devas received the share of offering (Havibhaga). Vishnu was pleased by the devotion of the sage and since he appeared with Devas, he came to be known as Devapiram.
History
There are six inscriptions in the temple deciphered by the Archaeological Department. The inscription from a ruler named Konerimaikondan records a gift of five velis of land as a tax free gift to the temple. The temple also obtained a grant for building and maintenance of a garden from a ruler who defeated the Cheras. The Pandya ruler Jatavarman Kulasekaran I (1190–1216 CE) also offered a similar grant to the temple. Maravarman Sundara Pandyan (1216–1238) made offerings to perpetual lighting of the temple. An inscription from his reign also indicates the installation of the shrine of Karunthadankanni. Vira Pandyan IV (1309–1345) offered land to the temple to perform special poojas in the temple during his birthday in the Tamil month of Vaikasi. During 1801, the temple acted as a fort for the British against the forces of Veerapandiya Kattabomman (1790–99). It is believed that the marks of war were visible in the temple during modern times. An official of the Madurai Nayak rule, Vadamalayappa Pillai arranged for the installation of Dasavathara images and Thiruvenkamudayan hall. There were also a lot of offerings in jewels and kind made to the temple during his period. There were other people like Pillai Perumal, Ellarukum Nallan and Chockalingam, who made similar grants. The wooden chariot with minute sculptures were installed by Paramasivan Pillai during modern times.
Architecture
The temple occupies an area of 5 acres (2.0 ha) and is surrounded by a granite wall 580 ft (180 m) long and 396 ft (121 m) broad. Unlike other South Indian temples, the temple does not have a rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and two of its three bodies of water. The temple has five precincts. The sanctum houses the image of Devapiran in standing posture. The image is made of Saligrama stone and ablution is usually done with milk. The hall preceding the sanctum, the Artha Mandapam houses the festival image of Kallapiran made of panchaloha with the images of Sridevi and Bhudevi on either of his sides. It is believed that the sculptor caressed the cheeks of the image with his hand as he got enchanted by the image and it is seen in the image. The Ardha mandapa is guarded by two Dwarapalas on either side.
There are two shrines for the two consorts of Vishnu, Caikunta Nayaki and Chorantha Nayaki, both facing each other. There are separate shrines for Senai Mudaliyar, Garuda, Venugopala, Manavalamamunigal and Yoga Narasimha. There is another shrine that houses the images of the ten avatars of Vishnu, the Dasavatharam. The Mahamandapa and the Swarga Madapa are believed to be later additions. The Dwajastamba mandap has pillars with refined architectural features. The temple maintains an elephant, which is housed in the hall close to the temple flagstaff.
Religious significance
Brahmanda Purana one of the eighteen sacred texts of Hinduism and written by Veda Vyasa contains a chapter called Navathirupathi Mahatmeeyam that describes all the nine temples of Nava Tirupathi. The Devapiran 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 Navatirupathi, the nine temples revered by Nammazhwar located in the banks of Tamiraparani river. Nammazhwar makes a reference about the temple in his works in Thiruvaimozhi. 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 is associated with one of the Nava Tirupathi temples. The temple is associated with Ketu, a snake planet. Along with the Aravindalochanar temple located 100 yards away, the temple is referred as Irattai Tirupathy (meaning twin Tirupathis).
Festival
The Garuda Sevai utsavam(festival) in the month of Vaikasi(May-Jun) witnesses nine Garudasevai, a large event in which festive images from the Nava Tirupathi shrines in the area are brought on Garuda vahana(sacred vehicle) to Alwarthirunagari Temple. An idol of Nammalvar is also brought on an Anna Vahanam (palanquin) and his paasurams (verses) dedicated to each of these 9 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 paasurams(poems) dedicated to each of the nine Divyadesams are chanted in the respective shrines. This is the most important of the festivals in this area, and it draws thousands of visitors.
The temple follows the traditions of the Thenkalai sect of Vaishnavite tradition and follows Pancharatra agama. 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 four times a day:
Kalasanthi at 8:30 a.m.,
Uchikalam at 11:30 p.m.,
Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., and
Aravanai Pooja between 8:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), nivedhanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Devapiran and Karunthadankanni. 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
Moolavar and Thaayar:
First temple is found along the banks of River Thamirabarani. The Moolavar of the first sthalam is named “Sri Srinivasan”. Also named as “Devapiran”.
He is giving his seva in Nindra thirukkolam facing his thirumugam (face) facing in East direction.
Two pirattiyaars are found on either side of him.
Second sthalam is found along the Thamirabarani river.
This sthala Moolavar is Sri Aravindha Lochana. Also named as “Senthamarai Kannan”. He is giving his seva in Veetrirundha thirukkolam facing east direction.
Thayar – The Thaayar of this temple is Sri Karunthadanganni Nachiyar.
This sthala perumal is pratyaksham for Indiran, Vaayu bhagavan (Air), Varuna bhagavan (Rain).
Mangalasasanam:
Nammalwar – 11 Paasurams.
Manavala mamunigal has also done the Mangalasasanam here.
Total – 11
Pushkarani:
Varuna Theertham.
Thamirabarani Nadhi.
Vimanam:
Kumudha Vimaanam.
