Nindra Narayanan | Thiruthangal | Goddess’ Eternal Stay
Sri Nindra Narayana Perumal temple is located in Thiruthangal, a town 4 km from Sivakasi, on the Madurai road. The temple is located on a hill called Thangalmalai, enclosing all its sannidhis and tirthas.
This hill temple has two levels. The presiding deity ‘Sri Nindra Narayana Perumal’ is in a standing position on the upper level. His Divine Form is made of jade. On the second level, Sri Chengamala Thaayaar is enshrined in a separate shrine. She has the names Kamala Mahalakshmi, Annanayaki, Aanandanayaki, and Amrithanayaki. This temple has been blessed by Sri Bhoothathazhwar with one pasuram and Thirumangaiyazhwar with four pasurams. Bhaskara Theertham, Papanaasa Theertham, and Arjuna Nadi are the main theerthams.
There was once an argument between the banyan tree and Adishesha as to who is more special to Vishnu. Brahma, was asked to mediate and he judged in favour of Adishesha, who went on to become the serpent bed of Vishnu. The Banyan tree was highly dissatisfied and he started doing intense penance praying to Vishnu at Thiruthangal. Vishnu appeared to the banyan tree and gave him a boon that he would stand over him at Thiruthangal. The rock is thus believed to be the banyan tree and thus came to be known as Thangalgiri.
While Lord Narayana was lying in Thiruparkadal, a dispute arose among the three goddesses near him, namely Sridevi, Bhoomadevi, and Neeladevi, as to who was the greatest among them. Sridevi’s friends said, “Our Sridevi is the greatest among all the other goddesses. She is the goddess of fortune. She is called Mahalakshmi (Sri). Indra, the leader of the gods, derives strength from her. The Vedas praise her as the daughter of the Lord. She is the one whom the Lord loves the most. It is because of her name that the Lord has the names Srinivasan, Sripati, and Srinikethan”. They praised her by saying that the Lord carries her on his right chest.
Bhoomadevi’s friends said, “Our Bhoomadevi, who is the support of this world, is very gentle. She is full of patience. It is difficult to defeat the patient. It was to protect her that Lord Srimala took the form of Varaha. If so, understand her importance”, they praised her. Neeladevi’s friends said, “Our Neeladevi is the goddess of water. Water is called ‘Naram’. This is why Perumal got the special name ‘Narayana’. The name that everyone in the world pronounces is Narayana. Our Neeladevi is the one who turns water into milk and makes Adisesha float in it and supports it. Therefore, she is the supreme one,” they said. The debate only grew and did not end. Therefore, Sridevi left Vaikuntam and came to Thiruthangal called Tangalamalai to prove that she was the best and performed severe penance under the name of Chengamala Nachiyar. Pleased with her penance, Perumal gave her a vision and accepted that she was the best. Since Sri stayed here, this place was named ‘Thiruthangal’ – meaning place where the Goddess stayed.
As per another legend, Lord Ranganatha from Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple was enamoured by the devotion of Andal. He started a journey to Srivilliputhur Divya Desam to seek her hand for marriage. While reaching the place, it became dark and he decided to spend the night in the place. Since he stayed at this place, it came to be known as Thiruthangal and the hillock came to be known as Thalagiri.
Sri Swamiji sings of this kshetra in this kirtan:
To view kirtan, click:
https://youtu.be/n4XNZX3dvZk?si=1s8UPke1niA7i8tA
rAgam: simhEndramadhyamam thALam: Adi
pallavi
ninDra nArAyaNA – thirutthaN kAlil
Narayana who stands at Thiruthangal
ninDra nArAyaNA maN thinDra nArAyaNA || ni ||
Narayana in standing posture, Narayana who (as Krishna) ate mud.
anupallavi
anDrivvulagam aLanda nArAyaNA
Narayana who measured the world (with His Feet as Vamana)
puLLinvAy piLanda nArAyaNA || ni ||
Narayana who (as Krishna) tore open the demon-bird’s (Bakasura) mouth
charaNam
thavamiyaTrum lakShmI nArAyaNA – ninDravARE
Lakshmi Narayana who does penance in a standing posture
kunDrinmEl ninDra kuRaiyonDrillAdha nArAyaNA
Blemishless Narayana who stands on the hill
panDrivuruvAy vandha bhUmi nArAyaNA
Narayana who came as a boar (Varaha) for the Earth
kanDrinam mEyttha muraLI nArAyaNA
Narayana with the flute, who (as Krishna) took the cows to graze
|| ni ||
ராகம்: ஸிஹ்மேந்த்ரமத்யமம் தாளம்: ஆதி
பல்லவி
நின்ற நாராயணா – திருத்தண் காலில்
நின்ற நாராயணா மண் தின்ற நாராயணா || நி ||
அனுபல்லவி
அன்றிவ்வுலகம் அளந்த நாராயணா
புள்ளின்வாய் பிளந்த நாராயணா || நி ||
சரணம்
தவமியற்றும் லக்ஷ்மீ நாராயணா – நின்றவாறே
குன்றின்மேல் நின்ற குறையொன்றில்லாத நாராயணா
பன்றிவுருவாய் வந்த பூமி நாராயணா
கன்றினம் மேய்த்த முரளீ நாராயணா || நி ||
