Vaithamaanidhi Perumal | Thirukolur | The Treasure Trove
Once upon a time, Kubera ruled a beautiful and wealthy city. Once, when Kubera went to Kailash to see Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva was talking lovingly to his wife Sri Parvathi Devi. At that time, Kubera, who had gone there, was enchanted by the beauty of Devi and looked at her with one eye. Seeing this, Devi, who was very angry, cursed Kubera saying, “Because you have looked at me with wrong intention, you will lose sight in that one eye, lose your wealth, and live with a deformed appearance.” The next moment, the Navanidhis left Kubera, one eye disappeared, and Kubera took on a deformed appearance.
Thus, the Navanidhis who had left Kubera, feeling that there was no worthy leader to take refuge under, built a holy water tank at the banks of the river Thaamaraiparani, bathed in it, and worshipped Lord Vishnu.
At their request, the Lord descended and appeared before them, and took the Navanidhis with Him. He placed the Nidhis by his side, protected them, and rested on them, earning the name Vaithimaanidhi Perumal.
Realizing his mistake, Kubera fell at the feet of Lord Shiva and begged for forgiveness, while Lord Shiva asked Parvati to forgive him. Accordingly, Parvati apologized to Kubera, and said that your nine children have also taken refuge in the Lord, so you will worship the Lord at the banks of Thamiraiparani and receive his blessings. Immediately, Kubera also came to the Thirukkolur area and performed severe penance thinking of the Lord.
Finally, Perumal, who appreciated Kubera’s penance, appeared to Kubera and granted him the remission of the curse, and returned a portion of his lost wealth to Kubera, measuring it with a wooden stick. After receiving the wealth, Kubera returned to his abode and began ruling.
In ancient times, there was a man called Dharmagupta who had eight children and lived in great poverty. Poverty afflicted him in many ways. At this time, he met Sage Bharadwaja, worshipped him, explained his condition and expressed his regret. The Guru told him, “You were born as a wealthy man in your previous life. When the king of your village asked you how much wealth you had, you hid the truth and told false information. You did not help anyone with that wealth, and you are now reaping the consequences of that.” Therefore, he advised that if you surrender to Lord Vaithamaanidhi, who accepted the nine offerings of Kubera on the banks of the Thamirabarani River, your sins will be forgiven and you will be blessed. It is also said that Dharmagupta, who came here on the advice of his Guru, performed penance towards the Lord here, saw the vision of Lord Vaithimaanidhi, got rid of his previous sins and acquired wealth. kOL means to say complain about someone. When it is considered an inappropriate act to point out another’s fault, the prefix “thiru” was added before the kOL and this place was called “Thirukolur”. There is a story behind this name.
Once, Dharmadevata came to this place and hid in fear of Adharma. At that time, Adharma, who came here, fought with Dharmadevata and eventually adharma devata was defeated. When Adharma left here, he went to Kubera and complained to him that all his descendants reside permanently in this place, and that is why this place was called “Thirukkolur”.
In the sanctum sanctorum, seated on the Adhiseshana under the Srikara Vimana, Vaithamaanidhi Perumal gives darshan in a posture as if counting the amount of wealth, with his right arm smeared with ink extended, and the wooden scale given to Kubera as a measure of wealth placed on his head.
Sri Kolurvalli thaayaar (Sridevi) is in a separate shrine to the right of the Perumal shrine, in a seated position with four arms. In a separate shrine to the left of the Perumal shrine, Goddess Kumudhavalli, (Bhudevi), is seen in a seated position with four arms. Utsava moorthi called Nikshepavitthan, is seen with Sridevi and Bhudevi thaayaar.
Madhurakaviazhwar was born in Thirukollur. He was born as an amsa of Garuda, who is called Periyathiruvadi and Sri Kumuda Ganesha. He was well-versed in the Vedic scriptures and had the talent of singing. He was called Madhurakavi because he composed poems with nectarine words. A separate shrine has been established for him at his birthplace.
Sri Swamiji sings of Vaithamanidhi Perumal in this beautiful song in panthuvarALi
vaittha mAnidhi perumALai
vaitthakkaN vAngAmal pArtthiDuvAy nI thOzhi || vai ||
O Friend! May you see Vaitthamaanidhi Perumal without battling your eyelids
apAra mahimai koNDa ivaniDam
kubEranum vandu aDipaNindAn anDrO || vai ||
Kubera surrendered to this Lord who has boundless glory!
1. kumudam ivanuDaiya kaNgaL
amudam ivanuDaiya adharam
kumudavaLLi prANanAyakan
kumudam ivanuDaiya iru thiruvaDigaLumE || vai ||
His eyes are Red Lotuses
His Lips are nectar
He is the Lord dearer than life to Kumudavalli
His two Feet are Red Lotuses
2. shankha paduma chakra gadai tharitthavan
shankhapaduma nidhi vivaram aRindavan
sankyaiyuDan paDiyAl kubEranukku aLandavan
sangaiyillA muraLIdharanukku enDrum aruLubavan || vai ||
He holds the conch, Lotus, disc and mace in his hands
He knows the details of the shanka and padma nidhis
He measured wealth and bestowed it to Kubera
He is the one who always blesses doubtless Muralidharan
ராகம்: பந்துவராளி தாளம்: ஆதி
வைத்த மாநிதி பெருமாளை
வைத்தக்கண் வாங்காமல் பார்த்திடுவாய் நீ தோழி || வை ||
அபார மஹிமை கொண்ட இவனிடம்
குபேரனும் வந்து அடிபணிந்தான் அன்றோ || வை ||
1. குமுதம் இவனுடைய கண்கள்
அமுதம் இவனுடைய அதரம்
குமுதவள்ளி ப்ராணநாயகன்
குமுதம் இவனுடைய இரு திருவடிகளுமே || வை ||
2.சங்க பதும சக்ர கதை தரித்தவன்
சங்கபதும நிதி விவரம் அறிந்தவன்
ஸங்க்யையுடன் படியால் குபேரனுக்கு அளந்தவன்
சங்கையில்லா முரளீதரனுக்கு என்றும் அருளுபவன் || வை ||
