Kalai "N" Koyil
Nachiyar Temple|நாச்சியார் கோவில்
The temple sthalam at Naachiyar Koil, Tirunaraiyur is one of the 108 divya desams of Hindus. The place is very close to the temple town of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district.
The Temple:
The main deity here is Lord Vishnu in the form of Narayur Nambi and his consort Vanchulavalli thaayaar (Neela Devi Nachiyar).
This temple was built by Ko Chenkannan, the Chola King, at the place where they married, according to the legend. In this temple Nachiyar (thayar) is of prime importance. Devotees will be able to see that Vishnu stays at an arm's length from Thayar.
Lord Vishnu was of the view that in Kali Yugam men would have to listen to women. Hence he decided that he would first serve as an example and listen to the Goddess here. On all occasions, the first rights are reserved for the Nachiyar. Even the food is first served to the Nachiyar and only then to the Naraiyur Nambi.
Being a temple where the Goddess has prominence, one can see the Lord slightly by the side and the Goddess is the one who has the prominent position inside the sanctum. Even from the entrance of the temple, one gets a glimpse of Vanjulavalli Nachiyar.
Naachiyaar Koil in Thiru Naraiyur is one of the few Divya Desams where the Goddess has prominence over the Lord. Some of the other Divya Desams where the Goddess is dominant are Srivilliputhur, Uraiyur and Thiruvellarai. While Srivilliputhur is called Naachiyaar Thiru Maaligai, Thiru Naraiyur is called Naachiyar Koil. There is no separate Sannidhi for the Goddess and she is always seen together with the Lord.
Kal Garudar:
Kal Garudar is the vahana for this temple. During street procession (Margazhi and Panguni), a tradition takes place at the Nachiyar Koil. While only 4 people carry a idol of Lord Garuda out of his Sannidhi, as it is taken out of each Layer and prakaram, 8, 16 and then 32 people fulfil that role. Finally, when the Lord is taken outside the temple, 128 people are required to carry the icon. On his way back only 4 people are required to carry him.
Quick Facts:
Deity: Thiru Naraiyur Nambi, Srinivasa Perumal Standing Posture facing East
Goddess: VanjulaValli
Azhvaar: Thirumangai Azhvaar
Paasurams: 110 (1078, 1329, 1470, 1478-1577, 1611, 1659, 1852, 2059, 2068, 2673(71) and 2674 (73,133)
Garuda Panchami pooja is dedicated to Sri Garudalwar, also known as "Periya Thiruvadi".
Benefits of this Pooja:
This pooja is usually performed by women and benefits their children. Garudalwar is propitiated by women who wish to give birth to bold, brave and sharp-minded children like Garudan. Newly wed couples perform this pooja for a happy married life. By performing this pooja, it is also believed that suffering due to Naga Dosham will be alleiviated.
Story behind Garuda Panchami:
Kaasyapar, one of the Saptha Rishis had two wives named Vinathai and Kandharu. Once, when Vinathai and Kandharu had an argument about the colour of the tail of Ucchairavam, the horse of Lord Indira. Kandharu argued that it was black while Vinathai said it was white in colour. They decided to see the horse to reslove the issue and decided that that the one who lost the argument would be a slave to the one who wins. Kandharu ordered her black snake sons and to wind around the tail of the horse, so that its tail looked black in colour. Thus, Vinathai was enslaved by Kandharu, and being a slave lived a very dejected life. When Garudan, the son of Vinathai was told how his mother was tricked into being a slave he was very angry. Garudan asked Kandharu how his mother could be free again. Kandharu asked Garudan to get the Amirtham from the Deva Loka to release his mother from slavery. Garudan, who went to Indra Lokam was stopped by the devars but fought and won over them. Before Lord Indra could use his Vajrayudham, Garudan bowed down and narrated the entire story of what had happened to his mother and why he had come to Indralok. On hearing this, Indiran gave him the Amirtham and blessed him. He also proclaimed that all snakes would henceforth be enslaved to Garudan as they were also responsible for his mother's misery.
Nachiyar Temple|நாச்சியார் கோவில்
The temple sthalam at Naachiyar Koil, Tirunaraiyur is one of the 108 divya desams of Hindus. The place is very close to the temple town of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district.
The Temple:
The main deity here is Lord Vishnu in the form of Narayur Nambi and his consort Vanchulavalli thaayaar (Neela Devi Nachiyar).
This temple was built by Ko Chenkannan, the Chola King, at the place where they married, according to the legend. In this temple Nachiyar (thayar) is of prime importance. Devotees will be able to see that Vishnu stays at an arm's length from Thayar.
Lord Vishnu was of the view that in Kali Yugam men would have to listen to women. Hence he decided that he would first serve as an example and listen to the Goddess here. On all occasions, the first rights are reserved for the Nachiyar. Even the food is first served to the Nachiyar and only then to the Naraiyur Nambi.
Being a temple where the Goddess has prominence, one can see the Lord slightly by the side and the Goddess is the one who has the prominent position inside the sanctum. Even from the entrance of the temple, one gets a glimpse of Vanjulavalli Nachiyar.
Naachiyaar Koil in Thiru Naraiyur is one of the few Divya Desams where the Goddess has prominence over the Lord. Some of the other Divya Desams where the Goddess is dominant are Srivilliputhur, Uraiyur and Thiruvellarai. While Srivilliputhur is called Naachiyaar Thiru Maaligai, Thiru Naraiyur is called Naachiyar Koil. There is no separate Sannidhi for the Goddess and she is always seen together with the Lord.
Kal Garudar:
Kal Garudar is the vahana for this temple. During street procession (Margazhi and Panguni), a tradition takes place at the Nachiyar Koil. While only 4 people carry a idol of Lord Garuda out of his Sannidhi, as it is taken out of each Layer and prakaram, 8, 16 and then 32 people fulfil that role. Finally, when the Lord is taken outside the temple, 128 people are required to carry the icon. On his way back only 4 people are required to carry him.
Quick Facts:
Deity: Thiru Naraiyur Nambi, Srinivasa Perumal Standing Posture facing East
Goddess: VanjulaValli
Azhvaar: Thirumangai Azhvaar
Paasurams: 110 (1078, 1329, 1470, 1478-1577, 1611, 1659, 1852, 2059, 2068, 2673(71) and 2674 (73,133)
Garuda Panchami pooja is dedicated to Sri Garudalwar, also known as "Periya Thiruvadi".
Benefits of this Pooja:
This pooja is usually performed by women and benefits their children. Garudalwar is propitiated by women who wish to give birth to bold, brave and sharp-minded children like Garudan. Newly wed couples perform this pooja for a happy married life. By performing this pooja, it is also believed that suffering due to Naga Dosham will be alleiviated.
Story behind Garuda Panchami:
Kaasyapar, one of the Saptha Rishis had two wives named Vinathai and Kandharu. Once, when Vinathai and Kandharu had an argument about the colour of the tail of Ucchairavam, the horse of Lord Indira. Kandharu argued that it was black while Vinathai said it was white in colour. They decided to see the horse to reslove the issue and decided that that the one who lost the argument would be a slave to the one who wins. Kandharu ordered her black snake sons and to wind around the tail of the horse, so that its tail looked black in colour. Thus, Vinathai was enslaved by Kandharu, and being a slave lived a very dejected life. When Garudan, the son of Vinathai was told how his mother was tricked into being a slave he was very angry. Garudan asked Kandharu how his mother could be free again. Kandharu asked Garudan to get the Amirtham from the Deva Loka to release his mother from slavery. Garudan, who went to Indra Lokam was stopped by the devars but fought and won over them. Before Lord Indra could use his Vajrayudham, Garudan bowed down and narrated the entire story of what had happened to his mother and why he had come to Indralok. On hearing this, Indiran gave him the Amirtham and blessed him. He also proclaimed that all snakes would henceforth be enslaved to Garudan as they were also responsible for his mother's misery.