NAVA TIRUPATHI Shanti Mantra from Taittriya Upanishad reads ॐ सह । सह । सह ह । ह । ॐ ॥ Contd..2 -2- Om Saha Nau-Avatu | Saha Nau Bhunaktu | Saha Viiryam Karavaavahai | Tejasvi Nau-Adhiitam-Astu Maa Vidvissaavahai | Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih || Meaning: 1: Om, May God Protect us Both (the Teacher and the Student), 2: May God Nourish us Both, 3: May we Work Together with Energy and Vigour, 4: May our Study be Enlightening and not give rise to Hostility, 5: Om, Peace, Peace, Peace. NAVA TIRUPATHI Nava Tirupathi Kshetras are nine temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu, located on the either side of Thamiraparani River in Tiruchendur to Tirunelveli route in Tamilnadu. The Nava Tirupathi is considered as Navagraha (the nine planets) Temples. Devotees worship in these temples for relief from the adverse effects of the planets in their life. There are no separate Navagraha shrine here since Lord Vishnu is controlling the planets in the respective temples. Contd..3 -3- The Nava Tirupathi temples are included in the “Divya Desams”, the 108 temples of Lord Vishnu which are revered by the 12 Azhvars (Tamil Vaishnava poet-saints lived over 2500 years ago). The festival of ‘Vaikasi Utsav’, also named by ‘9 Garuda Sevai Utsavam’ celebrated in a grand manner every year in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June). The festival idols of deities from all the Nava Tirupathi temples are brought on ‘Garuda Vahana’. Utsavar (An idol) of Nammazhvar (prominent among 12 Azhvars) is also brought in a palanquin and taken to each of the Nava Tirupathi temples and then the selective ‘Paasurams’ (poems which are dedicated to each of the 9 temples) are chanted respectively. List of Nava Tirupathi Temples and its related Grahas (Planets) Srivaikuntanathan Perumal Temple – SURYA(Sun) ThiruvaragunaMangai Perumal Temple – CHANDRA(Moon) Thirukolur Perumal Temple – MANGALA (Mars) Thirupulingudi Perumal Temple — BUDHA(Mercury) Alwarthirunagari Perumal Temple – GURU(Jupiter) ThenThiruperai Perumal Temple – SHUKRA – (Venus) ThiruKuzhandhai(Perungulam) Perumal Temple – SHANI (Saturn) Erettai Tirupathi Perumal Temple – RAHU (North node) Erettai Tirupathi Perumal Temple – KETU (South node) ��Proud to be a Hindu������ Srivaikuntanathar - 1 of 9 Nava Tirupathis Srivaikuntanathan Perumal Temple (also called Kallapiran temple) is in Srivaikuntam, in Thoothukudi district, Tamilnadu. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Vaikuntanathar and his consort Lakshmi as Vaikuntavalli. The temple is one of the Navagraha temples in Vaishnavism, associated with Surya, the Sun god. As per the legend, Somuka, a demon, defeated Brahma and stole the four Vedas from him. Brahma was helpless and he did severe penance in the banks of Tamiraparani River seeking favour from Vishnu in the form of Vaikuntanathan. Pleased by the penance, Vishnu appeared to Brahma and promised to retrieve the Vedas. He killed the demon Somuka and restored the Vedas to Brahma. He also wished to set his abode as Srivakuntam and resided there as Vaikuntanathar. As per another legend, the image of Vaikunatha, over the period of several ages, had no patrons and was left submerged under the earth. A cow from a herd of the king, which used to graze at the place, did ablution at the place with its where Vaikuntanatha lay buried. Contd..2 -2- The king was displeased to see that a particular cow alone was not yielding milk and thought it might have been the trick of the herdsman. He deployed his men to monitor the cow, who reported the events to the king. The king realised that the cow would lead him to divinity and he dug up the region around the place. He reinstated the image of Vaikuntanathar and expanded the temple. Since Vaikuntanathar was revealed by the cow, the presiding deity got the name Pal Pandian (pal in Tamil indicates milk). Kaladushana was a head of robbers in the region, but also was a staunch devotee of Vaikuntanathar. He stole from the rich and distributed the wealth to the poor people in the region. The ruling Pandya king wanted to arrest him, but his attempts were futile. During one of the encounters, he could arrest everyone except Kaladushana. Kaladushana prayed to Srivaikuntanathar to save him and his troop from the king. Vaikuntanathar appeared as Kaladushana and surrendered before the king.Later, he appeared in the dreams of the king to narrate the events and also informed him that he wanted the king and the people to learn that large accumulation of ill-gotten wealth would be stolen and would reach the right hands.The king was enlightened and he released Kaladushana and his troop. Since Vaikuntanathar appeared for thieves (called kalla in Tamil), he came to be known as Kallapiran. ��Proud to be a Hindu������ ThiruvaragunaMangai - 2 of 9 Nava Tirupathis ThiruvaragunaMangai Perumal temple is situated in Tirunelveli district, in Tamil Nadu. It is 1 1/2 miles away from Sri Vaikundam on the East. This place is otherwise known as "Nattham". Legend says, that a Brahmin named Vedvith who lived in this place, was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu and he had maintained great respect towards his parents and elders. He did penance to attain moksha here, the Lord was pleased by his devotion and Vedvith was blessed and attained salvation in this holy land ThiruVaragunamangai. This temple explains the importance of Sathyam and Dharmam, the right path to live. It is known as the ‘Chandra Kshetram‘, and is believed that the devotees who visit this temple will get the blessings of the Lord Vishnu to attain moksha. ��Proud to be a Hindu������ THIRUKOLUR - 3 of 9 Nava Tirupathis Sri Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple is located in Thirukolur, 4 kms from Alwarthirunagari, on the Tiruchendur to Tirunelveli route in Tamilnadu. This Nava Tirupathi temple is for Mars (Mangal/Sevvai) and is also called as Kuberasthalam. Kubera, the lord of wealth lost his prominence due to the curse of Lord Shiva for Kubera's evil glance on Parvathi. When he repented for his sin and sought forgiveness from Shiva and Parvathi, they advised him to do penance at Thirukolur. After his penance at Thirukolur, Vaithamanithi perumal (Lord Vishnu, presiding deity in this temple) blessed him with his original position with all the wealth. Vaithamanithi perumal is in reclining pose with the wooden measurement tool (Marakkal) as his pillow to measure the wealth and looking at the palm of his left hand to watch over location of the wealth. It is believed that people who pray here are blessed with all kinds of wealth. Madhurakavi alwar was born here and later became the sishya of Nammalwar. Madhurakavi Alwar is known as the 'Gnana Nidhi'. ��Proud to be a Hindu������ Thirupulingudi - 4 of 9 Nava Tirupathis Thirupulingudi temple is at one km distance from Thiruvaragunamangai, on the Tiruchendur to Tirunelveli route in Tamilnadu. The temple represents the Budha (Mercury) sthalam of the Navagraha among Nava Tirupathis. Once Lord Vishnu accompanied Goddess Lakshmi to this place on the banks of Tamiraparani river. Lord Vishnu's another consort Bhooma Devi thought that Lord had ignored her and went to the 'Pathala Lokam". Due to which, Earth became dry and dark. The Devas worshipped the Lord to restore the normalcy on the earth. Maha Vishnu and Lakshmi Devi went to Pathala Lokam, consoled Bhooma Devi, assured her that she and Lakshmi Devi were both equal to him and came back to this place accompanied by both of them. Earth was thus protected and the Lord came to be known as ‘Bhoomi Palakar‘. The presiding deity is Bhoomipalaka perumal in Bhujanga sayanam and the utsavar is called Kaichina Vendhar perumal. Lord Indra is said to have been relieved from Brahma hatya dosham at this sthalam. To see both the thirupaadam (Holy feet) of the Lord, we have to see through a small window in the outer prakaram. ��Proud to be a Hindu�� Alwar Thirunagari - 5 of 9 Nava Tirupathis Alwarthirunagari temple is about 5kms from Srivaikuntam in the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur route in Tamilnadu. This is the birthplace of NAMMALVAR (prominent among 12 Azhvars). Lord Vishnu is believed to have incarnated as Nammalvar. The presiding deity Lord Aathippiraan is swayambu (self manifested) and the Lord's feet are covered under the ground. The temple represents the Guru (Jupiter) sthalam of the Navagraha among Nava Tirupathis. This place is also known as Thirukkurukoor because Lord Brahma received mantropadesam (mantra teaching) from Lord Vishnu in appreciation of his tapasya (penance). Since the Lord became Guru (Kuru), the place is called Thirukkurukoor. Contd..2 -2- There is a legend related to Ramayana and subsequently to Nammalvar, because of whom this holy place is called Alwarthirunagari. Three days before the cessation of Ramavataram, Lord Yama (God of Death) came to see Lord Rama, who instructed his brother Lakshmana not to allow anybody thereafter. Sage Dhurvaasa came desiring to see Lord Rama before the completion of incarnation and Lakshmana, afraid of incurring his wrath and curse, did not stop him. But this displeased Rama who cursed his brother to become a tree, as he did not respect his order. Lakshmana cried and asked pardon that he could not live without him. Rama then said that he himself had to be like a statue for 16 years, for committing the sin of sending Sita to the forest and that he would sit in the hole of the tree at that time. Lakshmana would become a tamarind tree at the Varaha Kshetram. As said by the Lord, Sage Kashyapa and his wife, born as Kaari and Utaya Nangai came to Kurukoor praying for a child. The Lord was born as Maran (Nammalvar) to them and as a baby he crawled to the hole in the tamarind tree and sat motionless for 16 years.