- Special FeaturesFoundation YearThe temple is 1300 years oldSthala TreeTheerthamThiruparkadal, Pancha ThuraiRathamArchitectureOther SpecialityThis is a Divya Desam (Sr. No.78)
- Sthala Puran
Kurangam in Tamil means Mother Earth-Bhoomadevi. As Mother Earth prayed here to Perumal, the place is also known as Kuranga Kshetram.
Lord Vishnu condensed (Kurukuthal in Tamil) His huge Varaha Avatara form here on the banks of Nambi River while being with Mother Mahalalakshmi; hence, the place is named Kurungudi.
When He took the Vamana (Dwarf) Avatar and then grew touching the sky, the spring that came out of His anklet is named Silambaru, Silambu-anklet, according to ancient scriptures.
Lord Nambi graces devotees in three forms, standing, sitting, and reclining in this temple.
Lord Nambi is praised in the Mangalasasanam hymns of Nammazhwar, Tirumazhisai Azhwar, Tirumangai Azhwar, and Periazhwar. Periazhwar was no less an avatar of Lord Nambi Himself.
Thirumangai Azhwar was directed to go to Tirukurungudi by Srirangam Lord Ranganatha where Nambi would grant him salvation he wished.
There was one Nampaduvan (Madangar), a great devotee of Lord Nambi, who always used to sing in praise of Lord Nambi even though he belonged to a low caste.
One day, when he was on the way to the temple, unexpectedly, he was blocked by a demon Brahma Rakshas, who was very hungry. He told Nampaduvan that he wanted to eat him immediately to satisfy his hunger.
Nampaduvan was not petrified; instead, he told the Brahma Rakshas that he would sing in praise of Lord Nambi first and would come back to be eaten.
Though he explained that he will return without fail, the Brahma Rakshas did not believe him. At last, Nambaduvan made a promise that if he did not return, he would get the sin of those who equate Lord Vishnu with other deities.
After these words from Nampaduvan, the Brahma Rakshas got satisfied and allowed him to go to the temple to praise Lord Nambi. After singing devotional songs in praise of Lord Nambi, Nampaduvan was returning to see the Brahma Rakshas.
On his way, he was stopped by an old man, who was none other than Lord Nambi.
The old man asked Nampaduvan where he was going. Nampaduvan explained that he was going to meet the Rakshas. The old man advised him not to go there and told him to escape from the Brahma Rakshas.
But Nampaduvan iterated that he would fulfill his promise. The old man then appeared in the original form of Lord Nambi and blessed Nampaduvan.
Nampaduvan went to the Brahma Rakshas and offered himself to the Rakshas to be eaten
The Brahma Rakshas was pleased by this act of Nampaduvan and told him that his hunger had gone and asked him to give the fruits that he bought from the temple after praising Lord Nambi.
After eating the fruits given by Nampaduvan, the sin of the Brahma Rakshas disappeared and the Rakshas took his original form.
He thanked Nampaduvan and told that he was a Brahmin named Soma Sarma in his previous birth and he was cursed to become a Brahma Rakshas because of his irregularities in performing yagna.
The temple also houses the shrines of Lord Shiva and Lord Bhairavar as a symbol of Saiva-Vaishnava harmony. When pujas are performed to Lord Nambi, to ascertain whether pujas are performed to Lord Shiva also, a priest nearby would ask “Anything needed for Lord’s beloved friend?”. The other one will reply “Nothing”. This is done even today.
The temple is 1300 years old. The walls of the temple resemble a big fort and the village has been constructed around these walls in a very organized manner.
The interiors of the main temple tower are covered with teak wood sculptures depicting most of the deities.
There are five Nambis in this Kshetram: Ninra Nambi (standing posture), Irundha Nambi (sitting posture), and Kidandha Nambi (sleeping posture) in this temple.
The fourth, Thiruparkadal Nambi Temple, is located very near to the River Nambiyaru, 1 km from the main temple.
The fifth, Thirumalai Nambi Temple, is located on Mahendragiri hill at a distance of 8 km from the main temple at Thirukkurungudi.
Lord Azhagia Nambi temple is spread over 18 acres and has a five-tier rajagopuram, five prakarams, the Eastern temple tower, a number of mandapams, vahanams, vimanams, prakarams and huge outer walls.
It was here at the Thiru Kurungudi temple that Lord Nambi took the role of a disciple and obtained Vaishnava initiation from Ramanuja. Hence, the Lord here is referred to as ‘Vaishnava Nambi.’
As per the Vaishnava Sampradayam, Thirukurungudi is said to be the ‘Southern Home’ of Lord Vishnu and is also called Dakshina Bhadri. Hence, it is believed that ‘Vaikuntam’ is at a ‘calling distance’ from Thirukurungudi.
Sundara Kanda in Valimiki Ramayana portrays the greatness of Thirukkurungudi. Lord Hanuman rested on top of the Mahendragiri Parvata before travelling to Lanka. He saw a beautiful city at the foot hills of Mahendragiri, glowing brightly in the night which made Him think that it could be the eternal Sri Vaikunta loka which was none other than this kshetram.
The temple address is: Lord Azhagia Nambirayar (Vaishnava Nambi) Temple, Tirukurngudi – 627 115, Tamil Nadu.
Thirukkurungudi is 12 km from Nanguneri and 10 km from Valliyur.
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