Koodal AzhagarTemple
The Koodal Alagar Temple is located in the City of Madurai, which is a very famous hub of art and culture. The Temple of Koodal Alagar is a very old one and is one of the best terms the City’s cultural traditions. At about two kilometers away from the western outskirts of Madurai stands the Koodal Alagar Temple.
Sri Koodal alagar temple one among the 108 Vaishnavaite shrines, is unique as Alwars had performed Mangalasasanam for this temple. Also Periyalwar had praised this temple in his literary work “Thiruppallandu”. Attanga vimana considered the foremost among the 94 vimanas is found over the sanctum sanctorum of this temple. It is rare to see Attanga vimana in temples, which adds to the uniqueness of Sri Koodal alagar temple.
The Koodal Alagar Temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu, one God of the Divine Trinity in the Hindu Mythology. A unique feature of this temple is the three different posture of the same God residing in three different alter. The three figures of Vishnu are in rank, sitting and reclining postures. These three figures of the deity are known by three different names. The most respected of the three figures is Lord Vishnu in the seated posture. The seated Lord Vishnu is locally known as Lord Koodal Alagar from whom the temple derives its name. The reclining idol is more popu-larly known recognized as Sri Ranganatha. Sri Surya Narayan Perumal is the name for the standing image of Lord Vishnu.
The decorative windows are among the other extraordinary feature of the Koodal Alagar Temple. These amazingly engraved windows added with the delicately designed wooden panes create a spectacular sight.
Mahasamprokashanam is a festival that the temple of Koodal Alagar observes. It is celebrated occasionally thus increasing the enthusiasm of the people regarding the festival. A large throng gathers to be a part of this memorable religious festival. A visit to the Koodal Alagar Temple will simply astonish the visitors and it is one of the tourist destination in Madurai worth paying a visit. It is sure to be engraved forever in one’s mind.
History
This temple hails from the earliest Age of Sangam period. There are references of this temple in Paripadal and Silappadikaram. The presiding deity was praised and worshipped by the Sangam tamil Poets as the president and guardian deity of the Sangam and called him by the name “Thuvarikoman” (the King who ruled over from Dwaraka) and Koodal Alagar. Koodal refers to the assembly of Poets and scholar. The Ancient Pandya rulers celebrated Avani Onam festival in praise of Sri Koodal Alagar for a period seven days. This festival is vividly described in Maduraikkanchi, on the ten lengthy poems called Pathupattu of the Sangam period. Ilangovadigal praises the Lord as “Needu Neer-Vaigai Nedumal” meaning the Lord who spanned the universe by taking three strides. (Thiruvokrama) Who is now seated at the bank of the river Vaigai in Archa form.
Brahmanda Purana brightly describes this kshetra in seven chapters. Sri Koodal Alagar is seated in the Ashtanga vimana flanked by his consort. The legendary Kings Prithu, Malaydioaja workshipped Sri Koodal Alagar, who bestowed them with prosperity and achievement of moksha at the end.
Sri Koodal Alagar pleased by the grand success appears before the parade seated on the shoulders of Garuda the divine vehicle and blessed Vishnuchittha. Vishnuchittha got himself immered in the infinite beauty of the lord, regaining his senses he blessed the lord, with a long life of thousands of years by express his wishes in the form of twelve verses in tamil known as Thirupallandu. Vishnuchittha recited the verse in tune with the ringing of the bells tied to the elephant. He offered Mangalasasanam at the holy feet of Sri Koodal Alagar. Thirupallandu is recited even today as the starting invocations in the shrines. The Pandya King praised Vishnuchittha as “Pattar piran” while the lord gave him the name “Periyalwar”. Vishnuchitta is regarded as the leading among the twelve Alwars by the merit of his never-ending love and utterance of Pallandu, which was given the foremost place in the recital of Divya Prabandam by Nathamuni who confided the Naalayira divya prabandam.
