Thirukkurungudi and Mahendra Giri - the mystic hills through the ages of Ramayana, Divya Prabhandam and ISRO
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| Thirukkurungudi, Thirumalai Nambi Temple - திருக்குறுஙஂகுடி ஸ்ரீ நின்ற நம்பி பெருமாள் ஆலயம் Source: Wikimedia |
If you are looking for a place of immense spiritual
significance that is perched on the green hills almost removed from the spoils
of civilisation, Thirukkurungudi, one of 108 DivyaDesams, should be on your list.
Rustic roads lead up the hill past a stream that leads up to a small waterfall and its reservoir that is used by devotees for ablution. Pilgrims to the temple are known to walk their way up the hills from the foothills, especially on Saturdays. This
temple is known for multiple specialities, right from references to the place
in Ramayana and Varaha Puranam, to the many Siddhars who are still said to be performing penance in Mahendra Giri Hills.
Thirukkurungidi is a small village that is located at
Mahendra Giri hills in the Western Ghats on the banks of Nambiyaaru, a small
river with water that is said to be pure and loaded with the herbal goodness
from the medicinal herbs of the hills. The
name is said to have been derived from the ancient ages of Varaha Avatar, where Lord
Varaha minimised His form, leading to the name, Kuriyavan Kudi, which later
became Kurungudi. Thirukkurungudi
is a Vamana Kshetram, where Lord Vishnu blesses devotees in His form of Vamana Avatar.
The presiding deity of the temple is Nindra Nambi (நின்ற நம்பி), also known as Sri Vaishnava Nambi because the Lord Himself is said to have obtained initiation into the Vaishnavite system of worship by Ramanuja - there is a shrine in the temple devoted to this event. There are four other shrines with their deities known by many other names such as Irundha Nambi, Kidandha Nambi, Malaimel Nambi, Thiruparkadal Nambi (இருந்த நம்பி, கிடந்த நம்பி, மலைமேல் நம்பி, திருப்பாற்கடல் நம்பி). The Goddess of the temple is Kurungudi Valli Thaayaar (குறுஙஂகுடி வள்ளித் தாயார்). Of the five temples, the one located further up Mahendra Giri Hills is Malaimel Nambi’s shrine.
The presiding deity of the temple is Nindra Nambi (நின்ற நம்பி), also known as Sri Vaishnava Nambi because the Lord Himself is said to have obtained initiation into the Vaishnavite system of worship by Ramanuja - there is a shrine in the temple devoted to this event. There are four other shrines with their deities known by many other names such as Irundha Nambi, Kidandha Nambi, Malaimel Nambi, Thiruparkadal Nambi (இருந்த நம்பி, கிடந்த நம்பி, மலைமேல் நம்பி, திருப்பாற்கடல் நம்பி). The Goddess of the temple is Kurungudi Valli Thaayaar (குறுஙஂகுடி வள்ளித் தாயார்). Of the five temples, the one located further up Mahendra Giri Hills is Malaimel Nambi’s shrine.
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| Malaimel Nambi Shrine on Mahendra Giri Hills Source: Wikimedia |
Thirumangai Azhwar, the last of the 12 Azhwar saints of
South India,
composed his last sacred hymns or Pasurams and attained Moksha at this temple. His
contributions to Tamil poetry include his 1316 hymns included in the collection of 4000 hymns by Azhwar saints, Divya
Prabhandam, making him the most prolific of the Azhwars. Thirumangai Azhwar's Brindhavanam is located in the temple complex. Apart from Thirumangai Azhwar and Ramanujar, the other Azhwars
of Nammazhwar and Periyaazhwar have also sung praises of Nindra Nambi at
Thirukkurungudi.
The temple's association with Ramayana goes to the epic where Hanuman had to take the leap of faith across the ocean on his mission to search for Sita. Mahendra Giri is known to be the hills where Lord Hanuman
had set His foot while travelling to Sri Lanka in search of Sita, as mentioned
in Sundara Kandam of Srimad Ramayanam. This Mahendra Giri in Tamil Nadu is not to be confused with Mahendra Giri of Odisha, which is the second highest mountain peak in the state in the south-eastern coast of India.
Another unique aspect of the temple is the way Lord Shiva's shrine could be found among the other shrines, with various sculptures depicting the Shaivite tradition - it is not all that common for a Vaishnavite temple to have such references to Shaivism. Lord Shiva is said to have been relieved of His Brahmahatti Dosham, which He incurred on account of plucking off one of Brahma’s heads. Lord Shiva has been referred to as Pakkam Ninraar (பக்கம் நின்றார் - the one who stood beside Ninra Nambi) by Thirumangai Azhwar. The shrine of Lord Mahendranadhar found between the shrines of Kidantha Nambi and Iruntha Nambi is said to commemorate this event.
Another unique aspect of the temple is the way Lord Shiva's shrine could be found among the other shrines, with various sculptures depicting the Shaivite tradition - it is not all that common for a Vaishnavite temple to have such references to Shaivism. Lord Shiva is said to have been relieved of His Brahmahatti Dosham, which He incurred on account of plucking off one of Brahma’s heads. Lord Shiva has been referred to as Pakkam Ninraar (பக்கம் நின்றார் - the one who stood beside Ninra Nambi) by Thirumangai Azhwar. The shrine of Lord Mahendranadhar found between the shrines of Kidantha Nambi and Iruntha Nambi is said to commemorate this event.
Today, this temple and the village have got a fresh uplift from the keen attention and interests by one of the most prominent business houses of India. Thirukkurungudi is also the hometown of one of the most
successful businessmen hailing from South India – TVS, or Thirukkurungudi
Vengaram Sundaram Iyengar – the family is actively involved in maintaining the
village, and have also resurrected the traditional art of Kaisika Natakam that
is performed annually in the village.
Kaisika Natakam is a play enacted in Thirukkurungudi during Kaisika Ekadasi day, which falls on Shukla Paksha Ekadasi in the Tamil month of Karthikai, in remembrance of the conversation between Nambaduvaan, an ardent devotee of Thirukkurungudi Nambi, and a Brahma Rakshas who was bound by a curse. The Rakshas was finally relieved of his curse and was liberated by Nambi on the request of Nambaduvaan, as mentioned in Kaisika Puranam. Kaisika Ekadasi, also known as Prabhodini Ekadasi or Dev Uthani Ekadasi, holds significance across many Vaishnavite temples - this year, Kaisika Ekadasi falls on October 31st in 2017.
Another Divya Desam in close proximity to Thirukkurungudi is Thothadrinathar Temple (தோதாத்ரி நாதர் திருக்கோவில்) at Nanguneri, on the banks of river Tamirabarani. The greatness of Thirukkurungudi continues from the epics of Ramayana to the modern day science - Mahendra Giri is also popular for its being a major testing hub for ISRO’s liquid propulsion systems for satellites and launch vehicles, 25 kms from Thirukkurungudi temple.
Kaisika Natakam is a play enacted in Thirukkurungudi during Kaisika Ekadasi day, which falls on Shukla Paksha Ekadasi in the Tamil month of Karthikai, in remembrance of the conversation between Nambaduvaan, an ardent devotee of Thirukkurungudi Nambi, and a Brahma Rakshas who was bound by a curse. The Rakshas was finally relieved of his curse and was liberated by Nambi on the request of Nambaduvaan, as mentioned in Kaisika Puranam. Kaisika Ekadasi, also known as Prabhodini Ekadasi or Dev Uthani Ekadasi, holds significance across many Vaishnavite temples - this year, Kaisika Ekadasi falls on October 31st in 2017.
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| Screenshot from YouTube: Kaisika Natakam |
Another Divya Desam in close proximity to Thirukkurungudi is Thothadrinathar Temple (தோதாத்ரி நாதர் திருக்கோவில்) at Nanguneri, on the banks of river Tamirabarani. The greatness of Thirukkurungudi continues from the epics of Ramayana to the modern day science - Mahendra Giri is also popular for its being a major testing hub for ISRO’s liquid propulsion systems for satellites and launch vehicles, 25 kms from Thirukkurungudi temple.
Thirukkurungudi is located around 40 kms from the southern city of Tirunelveli, and 11 kms from the town of Nanguneri. Trekking up the hill could be an enthralling experience in the laps of nature. Transportation could also be available for those who may find it challenging to walk up the rustic path. Private jeeps are available from Nanguneri and the foothills that ply devotees to the main temple and also to Malaimel Nambi shrine further up the hill.
The main temple is open from 7:00 am till 12:00 noon, and again from 5:00 pm till 8:00 pm. Malaimel Nambi shrine is open from 8:30 am till 3:00 pm. It may be ideal to visit Malaimel Nambi's shrine up the hill first, since the shrine tends to be closed by 3:00 pm on account of the forest road closure in the evening. To enjoy a complete experience, one may reach the temple by 1:00 pm at the latest and descend down the hill to the main temple, which is open till late.
Contact person: Murali Bhattar a.k.a Nambi Krishnan
Mobile: +91-94432-05739
It is the historic significance associated with so many devout Acharyas, multiple references in hymns and epics with its unique place in Tamil literature across time, the mystic charm and celestial bliss presided over by the aura of Siddhars in penance, the age-old culture and rich tradition that still continues to thrive with fresh impetus from a well-known business family, the picturesque location marked by the green hills and the serene stream of Nambiyaaru, and the numerous devotees that continue to throng to seek the blessings of the powerful deity, which make this Divya Desam one of the key places to visit on your next holiday or pilgrimage.
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| How to reach Thirukkurungudi |
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| Thirukkurungudi and ISRO Mahendra Giri |
The main temple is open from 7:00 am till 12:00 noon, and again from 5:00 pm till 8:00 pm. Malaimel Nambi shrine is open from 8:30 am till 3:00 pm. It may be ideal to visit Malaimel Nambi's shrine up the hill first, since the shrine tends to be closed by 3:00 pm on account of the forest road closure in the evening. To enjoy a complete experience, one may reach the temple by 1:00 pm at the latest and descend down the hill to the main temple, which is open till late.
Contact person: Murali Bhattar a.k.a Nambi Krishnan
Mobile: +91-94432-05739
It is the historic significance associated with so many devout Acharyas, multiple references in hymns and epics with its unique place in Tamil literature across time, the mystic charm and celestial bliss presided over by the aura of Siddhars in penance, the age-old culture and rich tradition that still continues to thrive with fresh impetus from a well-known business family, the picturesque location marked by the green hills and the serene stream of Nambiyaaru, and the numerous devotees that continue to throng to seek the blessings of the powerful deity, which make this Divya Desam one of the key places to visit on your next holiday or pilgrimage.
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