Thirukkadigai
Encyclopedia
Thirukkadigai or Sholingapuram is a Hindu
place of pilgrimage
in Sholinghur
in the Vellore district
of Tamil Nadu
. As one of the 108 Divya Desams
, places of worship sung about by the early-medieval Alvars
in their "Mangalasasanam" (praise-songs), it is a holy site of particular importance to Vaishnavism
.
There are three separate shrines, dedicated to gods Narsimha, Bhaktavatsala Perumal and Hanuman
(Anjaneya). They are situated on the larger hill, at the base of the larger hill and on the smaller hill respectively.
sits in a Yogic posture and thus is called 'Yoga Narasimha-Swamy'. There is a separate shrine for Goddess Amrithavalli Thayaar.
(Anjaneya), situtaed on the hill Chinna malai (small hill). There is also a shrine for Varadaraja
and Rama
. In this shrine, Lord Hanuman is seated in a Sukasana posture . This is a very rarely seen imagery of the Lord. Legend has it that this is the place that Lord Narasimha settled down after Killing the Demon King to satiate his anger and Lord Hanuman can be seen directly facing Lord Narasimha from the Chinna Malai (Small Hill) meditating on Lord Narasimha.
This town originally was under the control of shivites which is substantiated by the temple ruins near parappan kulam, in the valley between two hills. This is were original sholinghur was situated. Unfinished Nandhis and Sthupas are found in numerous places in Sholinghur.
, Peyalvar
had sung in praise of Lord at Sholingpuram in the Divya Prabandha.
In recent times, Sri G. Sampath, a resident of Chennai, published his compositions on the various temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his album Hari Samarpanam, with music directed by Chitravina Ravikiran, featuring various singers. One of those songs is about Lord Yoga Narasimhar and Yoga Anjaneyar and can be found here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hweh3cT-6k4&NR=1. It glorifies the sthala and the Lord, who is always there to protect his bhaktas.
திருமங்கையாழ்வார் (1731, 1736)
1731
மிக்கானை மறையாய் விரிந்த விளக்கை என்னுள்
புக்கானைப் புகழ்சேர் பொலிகின்ற பொன்மலையை
தக்கானைக் கடிகைத் தடங்குன்றின் மிசையிருந்த
அக்காரக் கனியை அடைந்துய்ந்து போனேனே. (2) 8.9.4
1736
கண்ணார் கண்ணபுரம் கடிகை கடிகமழும்
தண்ணார் தாமரைசூழ் தலைச்சங்க மேல்திசையுள்
விண்ணோர் நாண்மதியை விரிகின்ற வெஞ்சுடரை
கண்ணாரக் கண்டுகொண்டு களிக்கின்றதிங் கென்றுகொலோ. (2) 8.9.9
பேயாழ்வார்(2342)
2342:
பண்டெல்லாம் வேங்கடம் பாற்கடல் வைகுந்தம்,
கொண்டங் குறைவார்க்குக் கோயில்போல், - வண்டு
வளங்கிளரும் நீள்சோலை வண்பூங் கடிகை,
இளங்குமரன் றன்விண் ணகர். (2) 61
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
place of pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
in Sholinghur
Sholinghur
Sholinghur is a town under Walajapet taluk in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, India. Sholinghur is very famous for the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy...
in the Vellore district
Vellore District
Vellore district is one of the 32 districts in the Tamil Nadu state of India. Vellore City is the headquarters of this district. It had a population of 3,477,317 as of 2001. It is 37.62% urbanised...
of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. As one of the 108 Divya Desams
Divya Desams
Divya Desams refer to 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the works of the Tamil Azhvars . 105 of these are located in India, 1 in Nepal, while 2 are located outside of the Earthly realms. 'Divya' in Tamil language indicates premium and 'Desam' indicates place or temple.The two major deities...
, places of worship sung about by the early-medieval Alvars
Alvars
The alwar or azhwars were Tamil poet saints of south India who lived between the sixth and ninth centuries A.D. and espoused ‘emotional devotion’ or bhakti to Visnu-Krishna in their songs of longing, ecstasy and service. Sri Vaishnava orthodoxy posits the number of alvars as ten, though there are...
in their "Mangalasasanam" (praise-songs), it is a holy site of particular importance to Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
.
There are three separate shrines, dedicated to gods Narsimha, Bhaktavatsala Perumal and Hanuman
Hanuman
Hanuman , is a Hindu deity, who is an ardent devotee of Rama, a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and one of the dearest devotees of lord Rama. A general among the vanaras, an ape-like race of forest-dwellers, Hanuman is an incarnation of the divine and a disciple of Lord Rama in the...
(Anjaneya). They are situated on the larger hill, at the base of the larger hill and on the smaller hill respectively.
Sri Yoga Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Thirukovil
This temple is located on top of the hill Periya malai (big hill). Lord NarasimhaNarasimha
Narasimha or Nrusimha , also spelt as Narasingh and Narasingha, whose name literally translates from Sanskrit as "Man-lion", is an avatar of Vishnu described in the Puranas, Upanishads and other ancient religious texts of Hinduism...
sits in a Yogic posture and thus is called 'Yoga Narasimha-Swamy'. There is a separate shrine for Goddess Amrithavalli Thayaar.
Sri Yoga Anjenayar Swamy Thirukovil
The temple of HanumanHanuman
Hanuman , is a Hindu deity, who is an ardent devotee of Rama, a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and one of the dearest devotees of lord Rama. A general among the vanaras, an ape-like race of forest-dwellers, Hanuman is an incarnation of the divine and a disciple of Lord Rama in the...
(Anjaneya), situtaed on the hill Chinna malai (small hill). There is also a shrine for Varadaraja
Varadaraja
Varadarāja was a 17th century Sanskrit grammarian. He compiled an abridgement of the work of his master, the Siddhānta Kaumudī of Bhaṭṭoji Dīkṣita, in three versions, referred to as madhya "middle", laghu "short" and sāra "substance, quintessence" versions of the Siddhāntakaumudī, the latter...
and Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
. In this shrine, Lord Hanuman is seated in a Sukasana posture . This is a very rarely seen imagery of the Lord. Legend has it that this is the place that Lord Narasimha settled down after Killing the Demon King to satiate his anger and Lord Hanuman can be seen directly facing Lord Narasimha from the Chinna Malai (Small Hill) meditating on Lord Narasimha.
This town originally was under the control of shivites which is substantiated by the temple ruins near parappan kulam, in the valley between two hills. This is were original sholinghur was situated. Unfinished Nandhis and Sthupas are found in numerous places in Sholinghur.
Legends
- It is believed that sage Vishwamitra attained Brahmarishi title by worshipping NarasimhaNarasimhaNarasimha or Nrusimha , also spelt as Narasingh and Narasingha, whose name literally translates from Sanskrit as "Man-lion", is an avatar of Vishnu described in the Puranas, Upanishads and other ancient religious texts of Hinduism...
here for around 45 minutes. - It is said that saptha rishis had vison and blessings from Lord Narasimha for a duration of time, termed as 'Kadigai'(approximately 45 minutes) and hence the name'Thirukkadigai'.
- It is also believed that IndraIndra' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
, with his demigods, would take a bath in the pushkarni and pray to Narasimha. The name of Pushkarni is 'Thakkan' - The Pushkarni is believed to have medicated water which cures all diseases.
- BudhaBudhaIn Hindu mythology, Budha is the name for the planet Mercury, a son of Chandra with Tara or Rohini. He is also the god of merchandise and protector of Merchants....
(son of chandra) worshipped here and was cured from the curse given by sage DurvasaDurvasaIn Hindu mythology, Durvasa , or Durvasas, was an ancient sage, the son of Atri and Anasuya. He is supposed to be an incarnation of Shiva. He is known for his short temper. Maledictions or curses he gave in his rage ruined many lives. Hence, wherever he went, he was received with great reverence ...
. - Many mental disoders, Evil acts and prolonged diseases of any kinds are cured when people take bath in pushkarni and devote to the lords in two hillocks.
Composers
Thirumangai AlvarThirumangai Alvar
Thirumangai Alvar or Tirumangai Alvar or Tirumankai Alvar or Thirumangai Mannan is the last of the 12 Alvar saints of south India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. He is considered one of the most learned Alvar and the most superior Alvar in the context of...
, Peyalvar
Peyalvar
Peyalvar is one of the 12 Alvar saints of South India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. The temples reverred by these azhwars are termed Divya desam....
had sung in praise of Lord at Sholingpuram in the Divya Prabandha.
In recent times, Sri G. Sampath, a resident of Chennai, published his compositions on the various temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his album Hari Samarpanam, with music directed by Chitravina Ravikiran, featuring various singers. One of those songs is about Lord Yoga Narasimhar and Yoga Anjaneyar and can be found here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hweh3cT-6k4&NR=1. It glorifies the sthala and the Lord, who is always there to protect his bhaktas.
பாசுரங்கள்
திருமங்கையாழ்வார் (1731, 1736)
1731
மிக்கானை மறையாய் விரிந்த விளக்கை என்னுள்
புக்கானைப் புகழ்சேர் பொலிகின்ற பொன்மலையை
தக்கானைக் கடிகைத் தடங்குன்றின் மிசையிருந்த
அக்காரக் கனியை அடைந்துய்ந்து போனேனே. (2) 8.9.4
1736
கண்ணார் கண்ணபுரம் கடிகை கடிகமழும்
தண்ணார் தாமரைசூழ் தலைச்சங்க மேல்திசையுள்
விண்ணோர் நாண்மதியை விரிகின்ற வெஞ்சுடரை
கண்ணாரக் கண்டுகொண்டு களிக்கின்றதிங் கென்றுகொலோ. (2) 8.9.9
பேயாழ்வார்(2342)
2342:
பண்டெல்லாம் வேங்கடம் பாற்கடல் வைகுந்தம்,
கொண்டங் குறைவார்க்குக் கோயில்போல், - வண்டு
வளங்கிளரும் நீள்சோலை வண்பூங் கடிகை,
இளங்குமரன் றன்விண் ணகர். (2) 61
External links
- ramapuram narasimhar sri lakshmi narasimhar temple, chennai-89
- About Thirukadigai
- About Sholingapuram
- Sholingur
- Yoga Narasimhar Temple
- About Sholingur and Narasimhar