Alagirinathar Temple

Alagirinathar Temple
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
Deity	Alagirinathar (Vishnu) Sundaravalli (Lakshmi)
Location
Location	Salem
State	Tamil Nadu
Country	India
Shown within Salem Alagirinathar Temple (Tamil Nadu) Alagirinathar Temple (India)
Geographic coordinates	TN 11.65°N 78.15°E / 11.65; 78.15
Architecture
Type	Dravidian architecture
Creator	Cheras, Cholas, Pandyas and Pallavas

Alagirinathar Temple (also known as Kottai Perumal Koil & Kottai Alagirinathar Koil) is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, located on the banks of the Thirumanimutharu river at Salem, Tamil nadu, India. The temple is one of 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition. The temple is also one of the Pancha Kshethram where Vishnu's consort Lakshmi was born as Bhargavi, the daughter of the sage Bhrigu.

The temple follows Vaikhanasa agama and the temple priests perform the pooja rituals during festivals and on a daily basis. The priests belong to the Vadakalai sect of Vaishnavism, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day. During the last step of worship, nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument) are played, and religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests.

Legend

As per Hindu legend, Alagirinathar (Azhagirinathar), a form of Hindu god Vishnu, appeared for the sage Bhrigu, who performed penance in the bank of Thirumanimuthar.

The sage did not get the attention of Vishnu and in his anger, he kicked Vishnu on his chest. Vishnu's consort Lakshmi, who also resides in Vishnu's chest, was agitated as her husband did not reprimand the sage for his action. She left their divine abode Vaikuntha and reached earth and took the form of Padmavathi. Vishnu followed her and married her.

Padmavathi was still angry with Vishnu. The sage Bhrigu apologized and requested Lakshmi to be born to him as Sundaravalli in his next birth. The sage was reborn as Bhrigu again and performed penance to attain Lakshmi as his daughter. Vishnu was pleased by the penance and granted his wish. One day, he found a girl under a Tulasi plant in a garden in his ashram and influenced by her beauty named him Sundaravali (lit. "beautiful girl"). Vishnu descended to earth as Alagirinathar. He convinced Lakshmi to marry him and the couple eventually got married.

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  Entrance of the Mandapa dedicated to Vishnu
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  Thulasi madam where Sundaravalli is said to be taken by Bhrigu Maharishi

History

The Temple is constructed in various periods by various kings. It is said that all the three main kingdoms Chera, Chola and Pandya's had worshipped. There are beautiful sculptures in the temple walls and is very famous temple for the celebration of Vaikuntha Ekadashi.

The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Architecture

The temple has beautiful sculptured pillars and there are many carvings of monkeys on the ceilings of the temple. It is one of the most oldest temples of the district and has 4 huge mandapas (halls) - one for the god Krishna (an avatar of Vishnu) and other two for Alagirinathar (the chief god) and his consort goddess Sundaravalli. Apart from the shrines of Alagirinathar and Sundaravalli Thayar, there are separate shrines for Venugopla Krishna (a form of Krishna), Kothandarama (Rama), Santhana gopala (Krishna), Chakrathazhwar, Andal, Alvars and Vaishnavate acharyas. The temple has a huge Mirror mandapa just like Srivilliputhur Andal temple. There is a small garden where stories of the Bhagavata Purana are portrayed and also has paintings of the epics Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The temple has the swarga vasal door which opens once a year during Vaikuntha Ekadashi.

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  Sculpture of monkey on the temple
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  Alagirinathar's Vimanam
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  Sundaravalli Thayar's Vimanam

Religious significance

It is considered as an Abhimana sthalam of Vishnu and one of the Pancha Kshethram Where Maha Lakshmi was born as Bhargavi- the daughter of Maharishi Bhrigu. The rest four temples of the Panch Kshethram are Sarangapani temple, Kumbakonam, Oppiliappan temple, Nachiyar Koil and Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala. This temple is one of the most important temples of the Sri Vaishnavism sect of Hinduism. It is considered that Hanuman had worshipped Alagirinathar and also performed penance to become the next Brahma. There is an 8 feet (2.4 m) statue of Hanuman next to the Kodimaram.

Festivals and religious practices

The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Ushathkalam at 7 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Alagirinathar and Sundaravalli Thayar. During the last step of worship, nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. The temple priests celebrate several festivals throughout the year. The main festival celebrated in this sacred temple is Vaikunta Ekadashi. Some other festivals which are celebrated by the temple priests include: Rama navami, Krishna janmashtami, Thiru aadipooram, Akshyathritheeya, Pavithrotsavam, Brahmotsavam, Puratasi, Navaratri, Pagal pathu, Ra pathu and Deepavali. Another special occasion in the Temple is Thirukalyanam of Andal.

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  Utsava murti of Venugopalaswamy shrine of the temple during the festival Krishnajanmashtami
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  Vedic sacrifice called Homam in the Temple