BRAHMOTSAVAM SPECIAL STORY-3 – TIRUKKADAVUR ALARMEL MANGAI

TIRUKKADAVUR ALARMEL MANGAI

Tiruchanoor, 26 Tirukkadavuru, Alarmel Mangapuram, Tirusukanur, Vadirajapuram, Tiruchhikkanur or Tiruchanur. Call by any name, Mother Goddess Padmavathi Devi is always at the behest of Her beloved devotees.

The sacred pilgrim town of Tirusukanur now popularly known as Tiruchanoor is the abode of “Lotus Born” Goddess Padmavathi Devi. She is also called Alarmel Mangai.

ORIGIN OF NAME TIRUSUKANUR:

There are some interesting mythological stories behind the origins of this famous temple centre.

Some 5500 years ago, at the end of Dwapara aeon and in the beginning of Kaliyuga, Lord Maha Vishnu unable to bear the separation from Goddess Mahalakshmi Devi, left Vaikuntham and did penance for 12 years. Pleased by His love and devotion Goddess Mahalakshmi emerged in the Padma Sarovaram on a 1000-petal golden lotus in the holy month of Karthika in Suklapaksha Panchami tithi on Friday on the adenvent of Uttaradashada star.

According to Pancharatra Agama advisor Sri Tirumala Kanduri Srinivasacharyulu, in the later years after the sakshatkara of Padmavathi Devi, Sage Suka came to this pious place and did penance and won the blessings of Goddess. Since then this place has attained popularity as “Tirusukanur”.

GODDESS IN OTHER TEMPLES

Apart from Tiruchanoor, in other temples which are following Vaikhanasam, the presence of Goddess Padmavathi gives way to many interesting stories associated with them.

In Nagulapuram, where the presiding deity is in Matsyavatara, there used to be a big ocean spread up to this area. But in the aftermath natural calamities, the ocean sinked.

Then Lord Veda Narayana Swamy emerged and protected Vedas. Here also Goddess Padmavathi Devi is present. It is here in Narayana Vanam both Lord Srinivasa and Goddess Padmavathi Devi met and love blossomed between them.

Later in Kayampeta near Appalayagunta, both got engaged. So in this temple Lord is worshipped as Sri Prasanna Venkateswara while Goddess as Mahalakshmi.

From there they went to Srinivasa Mangapuram and tied the knot. So the Lord here is famous as Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy. Both the Devine couple reached Tirumala through Srivari Mettu and Goddess settled permanently on the chest of Lord as Vakshasthala Lakshmi.

HISTORY OF TIRUCHANOOR TEMPLE

The famous shrine of Goddess Padmavathi Devi in Tiruchanoor is said to have constructed by sage Suka some 5000 years ago and hence was initially known as Tirusukanur.

SHANTI GOPURAM:

To start with, the statue of Lord Sri Krishna brought from Mullapudi village, adjacent to Tiruchanoor, was first installed inside the temple. This is the reason that the Rajagopuram of this temple is located opposite Sri Krishna shrine only.

As the Goddess Padmavathi Devi is believed to bestow prosperity and peace on the humanity, the Gopuram which was built to Goddess is known as “Shanti Gopuram” or “Shanti Nilayam” akin to Ananda Nilayam of Tirumala temple.

During this time only Sage Suka Sannidhi Veedhi (East Mada Street) and Samajam Sannidhi Veedhi (North Mada Street) were constructed. About 100 Srivaishnava families resided here and since then offered Puja Vidhi as per Pancharatra agama to Muka Virat and snapanam to utsavarulu in Friday Gardens.

TEMPLE RENOVATION

The renovation of the temple, in traditional jargon called Jeernodharana was held between 1820-50 AD during regime of Hathiramji Mutt. But even before this, the emperor Sri Krishnadeva Raya constructed the temple of Goddess Padmavathi Devi with 16 pillars each at Bangaru Vakili, Dhwajasthambham Mandapam, Aina Mahal and Maha Mandapam. The sub temple of Sundara Raja Swamy was located towards south of Sri Krishna temple.The entire premises of the temple is spread in five acres area.

FRIDAY GARDENS

Earlier the waters from Ponnakaluva Kalva used to flow here in the Friday gardens located adjacent to temple, spread in 2.5acres. The putts manu for Ankurarpanam is collected here only.

THOLAPPA GARDENS

In Tamil, Tol means shoulder Appan means Lord. As the sacred area is believed to have emerged out of the shoulders of Lord, it is popularly called “Tholappa Gardens”. The successors of Tatacharya, an ardent devotee, donated this land to Goddess.

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