New AC lounge at Tiruchirapalli Junction

Another Passenger friendly initiative at Tiruchirapalli Junction


Having recently renovated the retiring rooms and dormitories and made it comparable to any classy hotel room, Tiruchirapalli Junction has come out with another convenience measure for passengers travelling Trichy.

The station has opened a first of its kind AC lounge for passengers, offering convenience that one has not experienced before in railway stations.

Priced at a very nominal Rs.10 for the first two hours and Rs.10/- for every subsequent hour, this facility on platform 1 is a welcome measure. The lounge has a discussion table and sports high quality chairs and sofa sets

The AC lounge would be ideal for passengers who come in on short half day/one day trips (they can stay here instead of taking up a hotel room). The lounge also has modern wash facilities. This is also quite convenient for passengers arriving or departing via late night trains (There are a number of trains arriving in/departing from Trichy Junction between 1130pm and 3am).

Train arrivals and departures are also displayed inside the lounge. With a number of plug points, the AC lounge will also be convenient for passengers to work on their laptops. Add to it the restaurant within the Junction, ATM, News Mart… You possibly have the most convenient ‘short trip’ staying location for train travellers to Tiruchirapalli.

The upper class waiting room(free) also sports a new and refreshing look.

A couple of suggestions:

1. Provide a facility for women to stay in dormitories

2. Make provision for internet browsing within or just outside the Junction complex

Then Thiruperai Nigaril Mugil Vannan

Sukra Sthalam

Bhoodevi takes the form and colour of Sridevi
3 kms North East of Thiru Kolur off the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur highway is the big Nigaril Mugilvannan temple at ThenThiruperai, with the Lord seen in a majestic seated posture facing East.

The story
Goddess Lakshmi was upset that Lord Vishnu was spending more time with Bhoodevi and not with her. She shared this grievance with Sage Durvasa and also wanted the same colour and beauty as Bhoodevi.

Durvasa, who then met with Bhoodevi, was angered at her disregarding his presence and cursed her to take the same form and colour as Sridevi.

While undertaking penance at this place on the banks of Tamaraibarani, she found two fish shaped ear rings and offered it to the Lord. The Lord who wore this came to be known as ‘Makara Nedun Kuzhaikathan’.

Since Bhoodevi had taken the form and colour of Sridevi (as a result of the curse), this place came to be called SriPerai/ThiruPerai.

Another Story
Having been defeated by the Asuras, Varuna (the Rain God) lost his chief weapon (he had earlier insulted his Guru and hence this fate) and undertook penance here. Lord Vishnu is said to have appeared before him on the full moon day in Panguni and helped him recover his lost weapon as well as his powers.

As a mark of this episode, it is believed that Varuna, visits this temple, every year, on the full moon day in the month of Panguni (March-April) to worship Vishnu.


Nammazhvar's Praise of Nigaril Mugil Vannan

நகரமும் நாடும் பிறவும் தேர்வேன்
நான் எனக்கு, இல்லை என் தொழ்மீர்கால்
சிங்கார மணி நெடு மாடம் நீடு
தென் திருபெரையில் வீற்றி இருந்த

மகர நெடுங்குழை காதன், மாயன்
நூற்றுவரை அன்று மங்க நூற்ற
நிகர் இல முகில்வண்ணன், நேமியான், என்
நெஞ்சம் கவர்ந்து எனை ஊழியானே

The lord of Then Thiruperai is surrounded by mountain like jewel mansions.
He is Makara Nedung Kulai Kathan, one who is seen wearing Makara Ear Rings.

He is the Lord who killed a 100 Kauravas.
He is the one who stole my heart long long ago.


Quick Facts

Deity : Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan, Nigaril Mugil Vannan East facing Sitting Posture
Goddess : Kuzhai Kaathu Valli, ThiruPerai Naachiyar(Separate Sannidhis)
Azhvaar : NammAzhvaar 11 Paasurams(3359-69)

Temple timing : 730am-12noon and 5pm-830pm
Contact :Anantha Padmanabha Bhattar @ 04639 273902 or 93605 53489
Office : 04639 272233

Thiru Kolur- Vaitha Maa Nidhi Perumal

Birth Place of Madhura Kavi Azhvaar
A visit to this Divya Desam will help one recover lost wealth

Located 2 kilometers South East of Azhvaar Thirunagari is the birth place of Madhura Kavi Azhvaar and the Vaitha Maa Nidhi Divya Desam at Thiru Kolur. The Lord is seen in a reclining posture (Bhujanga Sayanam) facing East.

Recover Lost Wealth
Legend has it that Kubera, the protector of the nine forms of wealth, once went to have a Darshan of Lord Shiva. He is said to have cast an evil eye on Goddess Parvati, who cursed him as a result of which he lost an eye as well as the power of being the protector of the wealth. To be liberated from the curse, Kubera is said to have come down to Thiru Kolur to undertake penance.

Lord Vishnu is said to have appeared in a sleeping posture and taken care of the nine forms of wealth from the banks of Taamaraibarani. Hence the Lord is called ‘Vaitha Maa Nidhi’.

Another story goes that Dharma Gupta, a brahmin, was in financial distress not being able to even feed his children. He invoked the blessings of his Guru Sage Bharadwaja.

The Sage explained to him the reasons for his current state- Dharma Gupta who had been wealthy in his previous birth had become arrogant and did not share his wealth with the poor.

The sage asked Dharma Gupta to proceed to Thiru Kolur to undertake penance in front of Vaitha Maa Nidhi Perumal. He is said to recovered his lost wealth at this place.

It is said that a visit to this temple will help one recover lost wealth. The Lord here is said to help his devotees in distress.


Quick Facts

Deity : Nishebavithan, Vaitha Maa Nidhi Perumal East Facing Sleeping Posture
Goddess : Kumutha valli, Kolur Valli
Azhvaar : NammAzhvaar 12 verses- 3293-3303 and 3473

Time : 730am-12noon and 4pm-8pm
Contact : Balaji Bhattar @ 90472 17914
Srinivasa Bhattar @ 99429 31701 or 04639 273806

Azhvaar Tirunagari Aathi Nathan temple

Naatha Muni came here to listen to the sacred verses from NammAzhvaar and is said to have composed the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham



Located about 30 kms East of Tirunelveli on the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur highway, Aathi Naathan Temple in Azhvaar Tirunagari is one of the Nava Tirupathi temples on either side of Taamaraibarani. This place is also referred to as Aathi Kshetram, Varaaha Kshetram, Theertha Kshetram, Thaantha Kshetram and Sesha Kshetram and is also called Thiru Kurugur. Most of the inscriptions here date back a 1000years.

There is a separate Sannidhi for NammAzhvaar said to be more significant than the main Sannidhi itself for it was here that he spent 16 years in silence. This is the only Divya Desam to have the name of the Azhvaar.

Composition of Naalayira Divya Prabhandham

Naatha Muni, who came here to compile the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham composition, is said to have met with Madura Kavi Azhvaar and picked up ‘Kanninun Sirutha Ambinaal’ composition from him. It is believed that Naatha Muni recited these verses 12000 times before NammAzhvaar appeared before him to share the contents of the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham, which Naatha Muni wrote and compiled.

The story

3 days before the end of the Raama Avataar, Lord Yama came to meet Raama. Given the timing, Raama asked Lakshmana not to allow anyone inside. Unfortunately for Lakshmana, it turned out that Sage Durvasa chose to meet with Raama. Knowing the sage’s anger and not wanting to be at the receiving end, Lakshmana remained silent and allowed him entry.

As he stood still like a tree and did not stop the Sage from coming in, as instructed by him, Raama pronounced that Lakshmana turn into a tree. Saddened by this, Lakshmana pleaded before Raama that he could never live away from him. Consoling him, Raama said that he himself had to atone for the sin of making Sita stay in the forest and that he would be born as NammAzhvaar and stay ‘still’ for 16 years. During this period, he would sit under the tamarind tree (Lakshmana).

He directed Lakshmana to the banks of Taamaraibarani, where he would get transformed into a tree. When born, Nammazhvaar is said to have not opened his eyes or cried. He resided under the tamarind tree within the Aathi Naathan temple for 16 years till he met Madurakavi (who later became his disciple) who posed some interesting questions about life. And that is when NammAzhvaar is said to have spoken for the first time.

So impressed was MaduraKavi (Azhvaar) with Nammazhvaar’s answers, that he said ‘I do not need God, Nammazhvaar is enough’.

NammAzhvaar Paasuram

ஓடி ஓடி பல பிறப்பும் பிறந்து
மற்ற ஓர் தெய்வம்
பாடி ஆடிப் பணிந்து, பல்படிகளால்
வழி ஏறிக் கண்டீர்

கூடி வானவர் ஏத்த நின்ற
திரு குருகூர் அதனுள்
ஆடு புள் கோடி ஆதி மூர்த்திக்கு
அடிமை புகுவதுவே

After having tirelessly and having several births, one has tried many paths to truth.
NammAzhvaar asks the devotees to come and serve Aathi Nathan at Thiru Kurugur, whom the celestials stand and worship and Garuda dances.


Stone Nadaswaram

A special feature at the Aathi Nathan temple at Azhvaar Thirunagari is the stone nadaswaram said to be over 350 years old.

Festival

An important festival at this temple is Vaikasi Utsavam, when the deities from all the Nava Tirupathi temples congregate here on the occasion of Garuda Sevai to listen to Paasurams, with Nammazhvaar seated on the Hamsa Vaahanam.

Araiyar Sevai
This is one of the three Divya Desams in TN where Araiyar Sevai, the visual song and dance enactment of the ‘Paasurams is still being performed.

Quick Facts

Deity : Aathi Nathan East Facing Standing Posture
Goddess :Aathi Nathavalli, Kurugur Valli
Azhvaar : NammAzhvaar- 3106-16(11 Paasurams)
Timing : 7am-12noon and 5pm-8pm
Contact : Appu Sadagopachari @ 04639 273984 or office 04639 273607
Thiruvengata Bhattar @ 04639 272079
Araiyar Srinivasan @ 98944 43900

How to reach Azhvaar ThiruNagari

By bus- It is an hour from the new bus stand at Tirunelveli. Buses ply every 5-10minutes on the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur route.

By Train- The broad gauge conversion between Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur has just been completed and one can reach the temple by getting down at Azhvaar Tirunagari station

By Car- One can also take a cab from Tirunelveli and finish all the 9 temples in half day- one day