article on Tirukoilur (an account of Saiva and Vaishnava history)
From the Bhakti List Archives
• January 11, 1996
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abode of peace and tranquillity [Photo Available] [Image size: 57190] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 08-12-1995 :: Pg: 31 :: Col: d Cl: Religion ================================================================= Tirukoilur promises solace and succour to spiritual seekers. An account... ================================================================= Tirukoilur, located within the spiritual aura of Arunachala, the hill of the holy beacon, beckons spiritual seekers, promising solace and succour. This area, where the Vaamana avataara is said to have taken place, is known for its divine bards, revered saints, spiritual ambience, ancient shrines, and Vijayanagara architecture. Peace and tranquillity reign supreme in Tirukoilur. The meeting of the Mudal Alwars (Poygai, Bhutam and Pey) in the house of sage Mrigandu in Tirukoilur is well known. This holy town has also the samadhis of three revered saints Sri Raghothama Teertha of the Srimad Uttaradi Mutt (1557-1596), Swami Gnanananda Giri, a Mahayogi and Gnanasiddha, who attained salvation in 1974, and Gnaniyar Swamigal, founder of the Tirukoilur Tamil Sangam. The Sangam period poet Kapilar attained jeevanmukthi by fasting on a rock here, in the south Pennar river. Tirukoilur is also the birthplace of renowned personalities such as the first Raja Raja Chola's mother Vanavanmaadevi, Tamil poet-scholar Athi Madhura Kaviraayan who lived during the period of Kavi Kalamegham, (13th century), King Meyporul Nayanaar also known as Milad Udayar (seventh century) saint-poet Kapila Deva Nayanaar, who authored the 11th Thirumurai, historical story writer Chandilyan... Sri Raghottama Theertha chose Tirukoilur as his headquarters to spread the Dwaita Siddhanta in the country while Gnanananda Giri Swamiji established `Tapovanam', to encourage the study of Vedanta. Also a Gnanasiddha, he cured diseases through his Siddha medicines. Jeeyar Madom was founded here by Sree Emperumanaar to spread Vaishnavism during the 16th century. The poet who wrote Tirukoilur Sathakam (a collection of 100 poems) Kavimamani Uthiyan (38) is incidentally, the present president of the Tirukoilur Tamil Sangam. He has authored seven novels, 400 dramas and around 2000 poems. He is the Indian representative to the ``World Tamil Poets Organisation'' headquartered in Malaysia. Unique are the temples here, so too the idols. The ten ft tall idol of Varadaraja Perumal in Manam poondi, built in stone during the Pallava period is in meditating sitting posture. The p73 Sreedevi and Bhoodevi idols are six ft tall; the Sthalapuranam reveals that both goddesses had meditated here. The Vamana idol in the Ulagalanda Perumal Temple is one of the three such rare idols in the country. The second is in Srirangam, the third in Rishikesh. The Vishnu's idol in the Ulagalanda Perumal temple is 16 ft tall. The Ten ft tall Sivalingam of the Pallava period carved in stone, in the Vellai Ganapathy temple is yet another attraction. The Rajagopuram of the Trivikrama Temple is the fourth largest heightwise in Tamil Nadu. The 1300 year old Siva temple stands as a memorial to the killing of Andhakaasura by Lord Siva. The marriage hall just outside the temple was constructed during the Vijayanagara period, in the 14th century. Ganesha, seated south west of this temple has been worshipped by poetess Avvayar (seventh century) ``Seetha kamala poom porpada kamalam''. History reveals that one among the eight Veerateshwara (Siva) temples, in the country, is in Tirukoilur, also worshipped by Appar and Tirugnanasambandar and saints such as Arunagirinathar and Ramana Maharshi. The Aathulyannatha temple (Siva) with Goddess Arul Nayaki built in the seventh century during the Pallava period is situated on the northern bank of the River South Pennar on a flattened rock. The Rajagopuram faces south while the main temple faces west. Five caves beneath and a temple tank are other features of this temple. Srivilliputhur Alwar, lived here during the 14th century. Swami Shanathananda Saraswathi had his schooling in Tirukoilur, before becoming the disciple of Swami Gnanananda Giri, who directed him to take sannyas from the Himalayan sage Swami Sivananda. Sanskrit scholar Krishna Premi predicts that Varadaraja Perumal at Manam poondi will have a great temple in the days to come. The idol is at present under a temporary shelter. The temple built in the eighth century is believed to have been destroyed in the 12th century by floods. ``Nowadays, poojas are offered on a daily basis. We are also planning to construct a temple'' says Dr. T. S. Jayaraman, a homeopathic doctor, one of the trustees of this temple. The Tirukoilur Cultural Society has been conducting ``Kapilar Vizha'', an annual affair (May 1 to 4) with unabated regularity for the last 19 years. Mr. T. S. Thiyagarajan president of the Society, which has 100 members, says that top- notch artistes, scholars and musicians have performed spoken during the vizha. ``Kapila Vaanar'' title is also presented by the society to up and coming poets, annually. ``With better roads, more informative literature in English, the Tourism Department can attract more tourists to Tirukoilur'' remarks Mr. K. Natarajan, a school teacher, at present doing research on the cultural heritage of the Tirukoilur p73 area. t"t"]1 R. KESAVA MALLIA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Go to : |Weekly edition |THE HINDU Main Menu| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright ) 1995 THE HINDU & PARALOGIC CORPORATION.
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