Pancha narasimha near kumbakonam

Thirumangai Azhwar, one of 12 Holy saints of Vaishavism has worshipped 5 Narasimha Kshetrams, which are in and around Thiruvaali- Thirunagari. These places are adorned with 5 different forms of Lord Narasimha. It is said that these forms of Lord Narasimha are as enshrined in the sloka"Ugram Veeram Mahavishnum Jwalantham Sarvathomukham Nrisimham beeshanam bhadram mrithyor mrithyu namamyaham"Ugram refers to the Ugra Narasimha Perumal at Thirukkurayalur, which is situated at about 5 kms from Mangai Madam. This is the birthplace of Thirumangai Azhwar. The temple dedicated to Ugra Narasimha Perumal is small and has sannadhis for Ugra Narasimha Perumal and Amirthavalli Thayar.Veera Narasimha Perumal at Mangaimadam is referred as "Veeram" in the above said sloka. Mangai Madam was the Headquarters of Thirumangai Mannan, a Chieftain of the small kingdom known as Thiruvaali under the Chola Dynasty. He offered food (Thathiyaaraadhanai) to 1000 people for a year to embrace Vaishanvism and marry Kumudhavalli, at Mangai Madam. He thus embraced Vaishnavism. Mangai Madam is about 10 kms from Sirkali, on the way to Poompuhar."Mahavishnum" refers to Yoga Narasimha who is behind the Main deity Kalyana Ranganathar at Thirunagari. Thirunagari is situated at about 8 kms from Sirkali, a diversion from the road leading to Poompuhar. This is one of 108 Divya Desams known as Thiruvaali- Thirunagari where Thirumangai Azhwar has sung in praise of the Lord."Jwalantham Sarvathomukham" refers to the Hiranya Narasimhar behind the shrine of Thirumangai Azhwar at Thirunagari.The last of the 5 Narasimhars is Lakshmi Narasimhar at Thiruvaali. Thiruvaali is situated on the way to Mangai Madam from Sirkali. The place is known as Thiruvaali as Lord Narasimha had embraced Lakshmi who is called as "Thiru". The Lakshmi Narasimhar here is one of rare forms as Narasimhar is seen embracing Lakshmi on his right side. This is different from normal, as Lakshmi Narasimhar is seen embracing Lakshmi to his left on almost all the other shrines on earth.Worshipping Pancha Narasimhars and performing pujas on Amavasya and Swathi days are considered good and is said to beget all the treasures in life. Also, pujas conducted during Prodosha time are considered auspicious.
ThiruvAli:
Known as AalinAdu, it is located 6Kms. Southeast of SeerkAzhi on the SeerkAzhi – Thiruvenkadu bus route. Though ThiruvAli and Thirunagari are two sthalams ( places of worship ), Azhwars have considered them as one while singing mangalAsAsanams.
Moolavar: Lakshmi Narasimhar, Vayalali ManavAlan hugging Lakshmi on the right side, in sitting posture facing East Uthsavar: ThiurvAli nagarAlan Goddess: Amruthakadavalli Also there are Poornamaharishi, NammAzhwar, Kulasekara Azhwar, PeriyAzhwar, Thirumazhisai Azhwar, Udayavar and ManavAla mAmunigal in the prAkAram. The temple has one prAkAram, Karuvarai ( where the main deity is located ), arthamandapam, mahAmandapam and the temple compound wall.
Sthala purAnam:
It is said that after killing Hiranyakasipu the Lord NarasimhA was still in a furious state; seeing this Devas and munis sent his consort Lakshmi who went and sat on the Lord’s lap; the Lord hugged her and calmed down and as he gives Darshan in this posture the place attained the name ThiruvAli. Here the Lord married Thirumagal ( Lakshmi ) who was grown up by Poorna muni; after giving darshan in that state the lord in the same newly wed state left for Thirunagari; on the way at a place called VedharAjapuram, ThirumangaiAzhwar intercepted him to rob and the Lord himself bestowed him with the ‘Thiru Mandhira upadhesam’.
Visesh:
This place is also one of the Pancha Narasimha kshethrams (the others being Kurayalur Ugra Narasimhar, Mangaimadam Veera Narasimhar, Thirunagari Yoga Narasimhar and Thirunagari Hiranya Narasimhar ).
Every year on the Tamil Panguni month Uthiram first night, the waylaying by the Azhwar and the Thirumandhira Upadhesam by the Lord are enacted in a grand festive manner. In the month of Thai Thirumangai Azhwar upon returning from Thirunangur after the grand Garuda seva, visits this temple and does ManagalAsAsanam on the Lord.
Thirumangai Azhwar was a small King with Aalinadu as the capital and hence he came to be known as AalinAdan. His wife Kumudhavalli nAchiyAr grew up here.
Kulasekara Azhwar has sung a pAsuram and Thirumangai Azhwar has sung forty one pAsurams on this Deity. There is no facility for staying here and one can stay at SeerkAzhi and visit this shrine.
Thirunagari
Known by different names Lakshmipuram, Aalinganapuram, Srinagari and Vigneswaranallur, this place is located 7Kms. East of Seerkazhi. Located at the South bank of UppanAru, it has Karuvarai, Arthamandapam, MahAmandapam and 5inner prAkArams. It has three West facing Gopurams with 7,5 and 3 stages respectively.
Moolavar: VedharAjan in sitting posture with SriDevi and BooDevi, facing West; he is also referred to as VayalAlimanavAlan Uthsavar: KalyAna RanganAtha perumAl Goddess: Amirthavalli ThAyAr This lord is also known as KalyAna RanganAthar as he gave darshan to Thirumangai Azhwar in that state. Kannan, Aandaal, all Azhwars, Aalinganapureeswarar, Nathamunigal, Udayavar and Desikar also decorate the prAkArams.
This temple is mentioned in the uthara kAndam of Garuda purAnam. Known as VilvAranyam this place is one of the Pancha Narasimha ksethrams with lord having manifested as swayampu Yoga Narasimhamoorthy.
Sthala purAnam:
ThirumAl ( Lord NArAyanA ) searched for the Thirumagal every where and found her finally in a Lotus flower in the pushkarini ( sacred pond ) here and hugged her; hence this place is known as Aalingapuri ( Aalinga means hugging ) and Sripuri ( Sri meaning the Goddess ); hence it became Thirunagari (Sri-Thiru , puri-nagar) in Tamil.
Visesh:
Thirumangai Azhwar was born here; out of five Narasimhas he worshipped ( arAdhitha ), two are here. Inside the temple in the first prAkAram there is a sannidhi for him where he stands (with the Vel he won as a momento from Thirugnanasambandhar after winning him in a debate ) looking like a hunter along with Kumudhavallidevi. He goes to ThirunAngur 11 Garuda seva uthsavam for MangalAsAsanam. Sindhanaikiniyan the very small uthsava moorthy which the Azhwar used to do AarAdhanA to is seated near him, along with SriBhoomidevi.
Kulasekara Azhwar has sung a pAsuram and Thirumangai Azhwar has sung forty one pAsurams on this Deity.
RamAnujar has visited this shrine a number of times as also ManavAlamAmunigal and both have done MangalAsaAsanam.
10 days of Brahmothsavam in Panguni and 10 days of Thirumangai Azhwar uthsavam in Karthigai are celebrated here.
It is believed that marriages which were not getting fixed for one reason or another will come thro’ if a sincere prayer is offered here, as the lord himself is known as KalyAna RanganAtha PerumAl.
More details.
It is said that after killing Hiranyakasipu the Lord NarasimhA was still in a furious state; seeing this Devas and munis sent his consort Lakshmi who in a hurry went and sat on the Lord's right lap(which is rare); the Lord hugged her and calmed down and as he gives Darshan in this posture and hence the place attained the name ThiruvAli.
Every year, in the month of Panguni (March 15 to April 15 normally), in the night of the star Uthiram, the waylaying (Vedupariutsavam) by the Azhwar and the Thirumandhira Upadhesam by the Lord are enacted in a grand festive manner. On the day following Thai Amavasai, Thirumangai Azhwar upon returning from Thirunangur after the grand Garuda seva, visits this temple and does ManagalAsAsanam on the Lord. Thirumangai Azhwar was a local (Chieftain)(Sitrrarasar) King under the Cholas with Aalinadu as the capital. He was originally named Neelan and Kaliyan by his Father Aalinadar. He was born in Thirukuraiyalur at about 3 kms from Thirunagari. His wife Kumudhavalli nAchiyAr grew up here.
Thirumangai Azhwar was born in Kuraiyalur at about 3 kms from Thirunagari; out of five Narasimhas he worshipped ( arAdhitha ), two are here (one at Thiruvali, one at Kuraiyalur and one at Mangaimadam). Inside the temple in the first prAkAram there is a sannidhi for him where he stands (with the Trident -Vel he won in a competition with Thirugnanasambandhar at Sirkazhi) dressed like a hunter along with Kumudhavallidevi. Sindhanaikiniyan the very small uthsava moorthy which the Azhwar used to do AarAdhanA to is seated near him, along with SriBhoomidevi.
Our trust is doing kaingaryam to this temple too, as they are not comfortably placed and any body who is interested is welcome to join in the same.