Kazheesirama Vinnagaram is also known as Thirivikrama Narayana Perumal Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located in the Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. The temple holds significance as it is one of the “Divya Desams” that the 12 Alwars have admired in their work or poems.
Here the god is known as Man alantha Thadalan. It means the one who measured the land. The temple is also a part of the five Divya Desams mentioned by Thirumangai Azhvaar; there are four other temples. Swami Dhoddayacharyar is the administrator of this temple. Read more on 108 Divya Desams Vishnu Temples.
Prayer Time
The temple remains open from 7.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
People come here to visit from different states and pray for their progress or promotion in jobs. They also pray for a healthy and long life. As an offering, they offer Tulsi garlands, vastras, and sweet pudding to the Lord.
Festivals
There are many festivals celebrated in this temple. They are:
Sri Rama Navami & Sri Ramanujar Utsavam (April-May)
Brahmma Utsavam & Vasantha Utsavam (May-June)
Jyeshtabishegam (July-Aug)
Sri Jayanthi & Pavithra Utsavam (Aug-sep)
Navarathri Utsavam (Sep-Oct)
Deepavali Utsavam & Manavalamamunigal Utsavam (Oct-Nov)
Thirumangai Mannan Utsavam (Nov-Dec)
Pagal Pathu & Rapathu, Vaikunda Ekadasi Utsavam, Koodarai Vellum Sethi, Thaayar Adhyayana Utsavam & Mattayadi Sethi (Dec-Jan)
Sankaranthi & Thiruppavai Sattrumurai (Jan)
Thirumangai Azhwar Mangalasasana Utsavam & Garudasevai (Jan-Feb)
Dhottayacharswami Sattrumurai (Feb)
Panguni Uthiram & Thaayar Sethi Utsavam (Mar-Apr)
Thirumangai Azhwar Mangalasasana Utsavam and Garudasevai – January or February
There are four different types of Poojas happen, all having different timings as below:
Ushathkalam Pooja – 8 a.m.
Kalasanthi Pooja – 10:00 a.m.
Sayarakshai Pooja – 5:00 p.m.
Ardha Jamam Pooja – 7:00 p.m.
Legend
There is a legend related to the temple, according to which Lord Brahmma, the creator of the Universe, got filled with pride. This is because Brahma was known for his longevity boon crossing many Yugas. Lord Vishnu learned about this pride of Brahma, and he decided to teach Brahma a lesson.
Here a sage called Romesa performed great penance for the Lord to get his Darshan. Lord Vamana-Trivikrama appeared in front of the sage and granted the wish. He told the sage that he would live even longer than Brahma. He also told the sage that every time Brahma sheds hair, one year of his longevity would be reduced.
By then, Lord Brahma also understood that Lord did all this to teach him a lesson; Brahma learned his lesson and made peace with it. Lord hence appeared in this place in his Trivikrama avatar. Here devotees can see the left foot of the Lord every day; his right foot is put on display only once a year.
Shangu Pushkarani and Chakra Theertham:
Sangu is here, which contains Paramapadham and Chakram. It is known to give all the wealth and here as Shangu Pushkarani and Chakra Theertham.
Sri Rama Vinnagaram:
Here Rama is the term used for the one with one wife, one arrow, one word, one rule, and one dharma. He is the world’s ruler and is known as Sri Rama Vinnagaram.
Etymology:
The name forms with two words: Thal and Aalan. Here Thal means Earth or World, and Aalan means the ruler. Hence the Lord is referred to as Thadalan, the ruler of the world who measured this world by just his one foot.
The Debate Between Thiru Mangai and Thiru Gnana Sambandhar
Let’s get to know the debate that once happened between Thiru Mangai and Thiru Gnana Sambandhar. This starts with the temple left without any care. Once, an old woman who lived there kept the deity inside a husk pot. She took care of the Lord and, worshipped him, performed the poojas.
At that time, Thirumangai Mannan was going to Sirkazhi after visiting Chidambaram. During the journey, his subjects praised him by uttering his many names. This act of praising Mannan made the disciples of Thiru Gnana Sambandhar angry. They blocked the way of the subjects and asked them not to praise Mannan because it was the place of Sambandhar.
Instead, the Sambandhar disciples wanted Mannan subjects to engage with them in a debate. They decided that the party that won could praise whoever they wanted. Before the day of the debate, Lord appeared in the dream of Alwar and told him to get the Thadalan from the old woman.
Lord told the Alwar to visit the deity and pray to him before going for the debate. The Alwar did the same, and at the time of debate, the poet was able to answer all the questions asked by Thiru Gnana Sambandhar. Upon winning, he praised Lord Vishnu in his 10 verses.
Thiru Gnana Sambandhar got spellbound with the knowledge and wisdom of Mannan. He also admired how sweet Mannan was while praising the Lord with his verses. Sambandhar honored the Mannan as “Mangai Azhvaar,” and he also rewarded the Alwar with Vel, the divine weapon given by Goddess Parvathi to his son Karthikeyan. They both found common ground, hugged each other, and went their own ways.
