Thursday, July 23, 2009

1.Alagar Koil_ Thirumaalirunsolai

Even though Ravi and I have visited few Divyadesams (DDs) before our marriage, we have planned to visit the 106 DDs after our marriage.

The first DD we visited is Thirumaalirunsolai also called as Alagar Koil. This Divyadesam is situated 21 kms towards Chennai from Madurai, the Athens of East.

Azhagar Koil Road

It is believed that Emperumaan Vishnu came to this place from his heavenly abode to give away Goddess Meenakshi in marriage to Lord Sundareswarer.
Here, Lord Vishnu resides as Azhgar, brother of Meenakshi. A huge crowd of devotees is seen here in the month of April/May when Chithirai Festival is celebrated. During the festival, wedding ceremony of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarer takes place and Lord Azhagar travels to Madurai.
It is believed that Azhagar is having holy bath at VAIKAI river before he attends Meenakshi- Sundareswarar marriage and this is popularly celebrated in the month of Chithirai every year on a Full Moon day.


Kallazhagar Vaikhai Attril erangum posture --->




One can view a very big gate for Karuppanaswamy and his shrine with 18 steps while entering Azhagar koil. It is claimed that nobody dares to tell even a lie at this spot.
When we went, the temple was due for Kumbabishekam and the works were going on.

We went for Ravi's Friend Sankar's Marriage to Madurai during May 2007. It was 5 months after our marriage and doctor also confirmed my pregrancy and advised me not to travel, but I had a big fight with Ravi to travel with him to Madurai. Ravi's Friend Saravanan, Mahalingam, Ramki and both of us booked an ambassador cab and went there. It was a hectic journey as Madurai is 485 kms from Chennai. Ravi cancelled the bus ticket booked already as I was also joining them and we went in Ambassador.
But somewhow we managed and reached madurai and attended the reception and marriage.
After Marriage, we all went to Azhagar Koil and had darshan of Azhagar (Kallazhagar).

Utsava Moorthy
Uthsava moorthy is believed to be made of solid gold

Near Azhagar koil, there is a small peak called Azhagar malai, 5km in the Azhagar malai from the temple you can find the famous Murugan's Arupadai temple "PAZHAMUDIRSOLAI". We also visited NOOPURA GANGAI which is above Pazhamudirsolai. The place is also known for its holy springs called Silambaru and Noopura Gangai. According to local tradition, these springs originated from the anklets of Maha Vishnu during his incarnation as Trivikrama Avatharam.

This water is considered to be equivalent to Ganga. Thirumanjanam to Perumal is done only with this theertam. The hills surrounding the temple are called Vrishabadri as they look like Vrishaba, the cow. During Trivikrama avathara, part of the water that was used by Brahma to wash the feet of Lord passed through his Silambu (ornament worn by dancers on the legs - Gungroo) and ran here as a river. Hence the river is called Silambaru.

After visiting Azhagar koil, We also visited Thiruparankundram, another Arupadai veedu of Murugan, which is 5 kms from Madurai Bus terminus. In the evening we visited Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple and started to Chennai by same car.

Moolavar

AZHAGAR KOIL
Perumal- Azhagar, Malalangarar, Maalirunsolai Nambi.
Thaayar-Sundaravalli
Pushkarani-Silambaaru(Noopura Gangai)
Perumal in this temple is in Nindra thirukkolam and facing East Direction
Mangalasasanam performed by Thirumangaiazhwar, Peyazhwar, Bhoothatazhwar, Periyazhwar, Andal, Nammazhwar

This DD is One among Paandiya Thirupathigal

Madurai can be reached by Air, Train or by A/c and Non A/c Buses operated by Govt and many private bus agencies. Nearby Airport is Madurai Airport and many trains starts from Egmore Junction and it is 8 hrs journey by train from Chennai to Madurai .
It is 485 kms from Chennai.
Other places to Visit in Madurai City are Meenakshi Amman Temple, Vandiyur Mariyammam Temple Theppakulam, Thiruparankundram, Pazhamudir Cholai,School where Mahakavi Bharathiyar worked, Thirumalai Naikar Palace etc.

Kodaikanal, Palani Murugan Temple, Suruli Falls are nearby popular place of interest around Madurai.

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