At the foot of a high range of hills called Azhagar Malai. the presiding deity is a beautiful one as the name suggests. The Perumal is known as Sundararaja Perumal or Kallazhagar or Maliruncholai Nambi. The temple is situated at a very beautiful spot surrounded by the ruins of a fort. the very impressive tower at the entrance was built by one of the Pandya kings. the hill is full of natural beauty formed of grooves dense forests, numerous water falls, valleys filled with flowering shrubs, providing a feast to the eye and tranquility to the mind. mention of this beautiful hill is found in paripadal written several thousands of years ago. vamana purana also talks of the hill and the greatness of Azhagar Perumal ands nupura ganga theertham. Brahmanda purana also speaks of Vrushabadri mahatyam and the greatness of Nupura Ganga theertham. a mention is also found in Varaha Puranam. the pandava brothers Yudishtirar and Arjuna came to this hill on a pilgrimage. The Goda Parinayam a book in sanskrit which deals with the wedding of Andal mentions the fact that Perialwar along with Kothai came to Thirumalliruncholai and that Perialwar extolled in great detail the greatness of sundararaja Perumal, the presiding deiety of Azhagar koil. Kurattalwar, the disciple of ramanuja who lost his eye sight due to ahenous act committed by his enemies is said to have composed a number of songs in praise of the presiding deity of Algar malai and regained his eyesight. this is mentioned is Sundara Bahustavam written by Kurattalwar himself. skanda Purana also mentions Pazhamudirsolai as follows:
"Mukti tharumPerazhagar Tirumalai" The holy hill where the beautiful Lord who gives moksha resides.
Pillai Perumal Iyengar has described the Algar residing in thirumaliruncholai in his Algar andaadi which forms a part of Ashta prabandham written by him. Vempathur Swami Kavi kalarudrar has also composed a song in Pillai Tamilon this Alagar. another poet Kavi Kunjaram Iyer has written a book known as alagar Kalambakam. in this book he says that the hills were always resounding with the rendering of the vedas and the rendering of the divya prabandhams of the alwars. also a poet by name Balapattai Chockanathan Pulavar belonging to the 17th century wrote a book known as Alagar Killai Vidu Doothu. in order to enable him to write that book the Nayaka king of that time gifted him certain gifts of land. Kavi Kunjara Bharati in his solai Malai Kuravanji also refers to the greatness of this alagar malai and describes the beauty of the hill in great detail. other works mentioning the beauty of the hill are Sri Hamsa Sandesham, sundararaja stotiram, 108 tirupati Andhaadhi, Divya soori Charitam. the Koil olugu of Srirangam also mentions when the Mohemadans invaded Srirangam the temple priests brought ranganathar to the Alagar hills and kept him safe inside the fortress in a well twice.
Silappadikaram a ancient tamil work also refers to this temple and the beautiful hill and the theerthams. interestingly in this book it is mentioned that Azhagar malai is enroute between the Chola capital of Uraiyur and the Pandyan capital of Madurai. the story recounts that a brahmin who had worshipped Azhagar at Thirumaliruncholai and was proceeding to Thiruvarangam, enroute met Kovalan and Kannagi, the hero and the heroine of Silappadikaram. the couple were going to Madurai. when the pilgrims met they started exchanging information about the pilgrim centers. the brahmin then told them the greatness of the Azhagar malai and efficacy of offering prayers at that shrine. He gives them in detail the direction to reach the mountain. He advises them to follow the forest path on the left side till they reach thirumal kunru. He says that in that kunru there is an underground path and in that pathway there will be three theerthams known as Punya sravana theertham, bhavakarini theertham and Ishtasiddhi theertham. the brahmin says who soever has a bath in Punya sravana theertham will be able to master Indra vyakaranam, a book written by Lord Indra. a bath in Bavaksrini theertham will confer great intelligence on the devotee and bless him with the ability to recall one's past births. a bath in Ishtasiddhi theertham he continues will ensure that the wishes of the devotees are fulfilled. the brahmin advises the couple to circle the mountain three times and then take the underground path. he says when they take the underground path a lady will appear before them on the banks of Silambaru and will pose the following question:
Immaikkum marumakkum immai marumai irandum inri
Ekkalaththum perinbam tharuvadhu yadhu?
literally translated;
what is the joy which is neither this world nor the other world but gives joy for ever?
Once that question is satisfactorily answered, the lady will show the underground passage. As one continues walking in that passage, one will come across another opening with two doors, when one crosses that door way, yet another lady will appear (interesting is it not) and ask Azhiyadha inbam edhu? literally means what is everlasting happiness? if a reply that saitisfies the lady is given then she will herself lead the pilgrims to the three theerthams mentioned earlier. the pilgrims were then advised to repeat either the Panchaksharam or the Ashtakshram and have a dip in the holy theerthams. they will then be surely blessed by God. he also tells them if they are not willing to take the underground passage they have to meditate on the lord on the hill and the god will appear with His Garuda Kodi and then all their problems will be solved and they will be assured of Moksha.
The moolavar is seen facing east a very majestic idol known as Paramaswami seen holding in his right hand the discus in a prayoga form. the utsavar is known as Sundararaja Perumal. the thayar is sundaravalli, the theertham is Nupura ganga also known assilambu aru. Chandana viruksham vimana is Somasundara vimanam, the moolavar and utsavar have the Pancha ayudhams in their hands, Perumal appeared to Malyadwaja Pandyan as well as Dharmadeva.
the utsavar is made out of a particular type of gold known as Aparanji. there is only one other idol made of this type that of Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram. The utsavar murthi is refered to as Malai Arasar, or Vrushabdreesar or also Vrushabdrinathar. even the chakram held by the utsavar isin prayoga form. The utsava murthi is given Thirumajanam bath only with the water drawn from Nupura ganga, if water from any other area is used the idol turns black. the utsava murthy idol is an example of very fine craftsmanship.
The thayar sannidhi here is of Kalyana Sundaravalli, she is very beautiful. the andal sannidhi also the Andal is seen in a sitting pose it is a aporva seva. very beautiful pose. a rare pose seen here On the day of the wedding of Andal with Sundaraja Perumal. one can see Sreedevi, Bhoodevi, Kalyana sundara valli all together this is very rare and can be seen only here.
The other sannidhis in this temple are that ofBhairava, then a sannidhi for Sudarsana and Yoga Narasimhar (Jwala Narasimhar) A SriSadirala Madavar Sannidhi ( a sannidhi for seven female Deities known as sapta Matrikas Brahmi, Maheswari, Kowmari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Mahindri, and Chamundi. the seven thayars of the respective Lords Brahma, Maheswaran, Kaumaran, Vishnu, Varaha, Mahendra and Indra they have the shakti and the weapons belonging to their husbands) daily pooja is performed to these seven dieties.) The Rakkayee amman sannidhi is the prime goddess daughter of Angireesa Muni. special poojas are performed here.
the 18 step Karuppanna swamy where special poojas are offered.
Great is the awe and veneration in which this deity is held. there is a belief that nobody dare utter a lie in this sannidhi. Very often civil criminal and revenue cases are decided on oaths taken at thisdoor step. the courts of Madurai, Ramnad and Thirunelveli send the parties here to take the oath in front of Karuppanna swami. most cases are said to be settled amicably before the last moment of oath taking.
The chhitirai festival and the pagal pattu and rapattu festivities are special significant festivals here.
"Mukti tharumPerazhagar Tirumalai" The holy hill where the beautiful Lord who gives moksha resides.
Pillai Perumal Iyengar has described the Algar residing in thirumaliruncholai in his Algar andaadi which forms a part of Ashta prabandham written by him. Vempathur Swami Kavi kalarudrar has also composed a song in Pillai Tamilon this Alagar. another poet Kavi Kunjaram Iyer has written a book known as alagar Kalambakam. in this book he says that the hills were always resounding with the rendering of the vedas and the rendering of the divya prabandhams of the alwars. also a poet by name Balapattai Chockanathan Pulavar belonging to the 17th century wrote a book known as Alagar Killai Vidu Doothu. in order to enable him to write that book the Nayaka king of that time gifted him certain gifts of land. Kavi Kunjara Bharati in his solai Malai Kuravanji also refers to the greatness of this alagar malai and describes the beauty of the hill in great detail. other works mentioning the beauty of the hill are Sri Hamsa Sandesham, sundararaja stotiram, 108 tirupati Andhaadhi, Divya soori Charitam. the Koil olugu of Srirangam also mentions when the Mohemadans invaded Srirangam the temple priests brought ranganathar to the Alagar hills and kept him safe inside the fortress in a well twice.
Silappadikaram a ancient tamil work also refers to this temple and the beautiful hill and the theerthams. interestingly in this book it is mentioned that Azhagar malai is enroute between the Chola capital of Uraiyur and the Pandyan capital of Madurai. the story recounts that a brahmin who had worshipped Azhagar at Thirumaliruncholai and was proceeding to Thiruvarangam, enroute met Kovalan and Kannagi, the hero and the heroine of Silappadikaram. the couple were going to Madurai. when the pilgrims met they started exchanging information about the pilgrim centers. the brahmin then told them the greatness of the Azhagar malai and efficacy of offering prayers at that shrine. He gives them in detail the direction to reach the mountain. He advises them to follow the forest path on the left side till they reach thirumal kunru. He says that in that kunru there is an underground path and in that pathway there will be three theerthams known as Punya sravana theertham, bhavakarini theertham and Ishtasiddhi theertham. the brahmin says who soever has a bath in Punya sravana theertham will be able to master Indra vyakaranam, a book written by Lord Indra. a bath in Bavaksrini theertham will confer great intelligence on the devotee and bless him with the ability to recall one's past births. a bath in Ishtasiddhi theertham he continues will ensure that the wishes of the devotees are fulfilled. the brahmin advises the couple to circle the mountain three times and then take the underground path. he says when they take the underground path a lady will appear before them on the banks of Silambaru and will pose the following question:
Immaikkum marumakkum immai marumai irandum inri
Ekkalaththum perinbam tharuvadhu yadhu?
literally translated;
what is the joy which is neither this world nor the other world but gives joy for ever?
Once that question is satisfactorily answered, the lady will show the underground passage. As one continues walking in that passage, one will come across another opening with two doors, when one crosses that door way, yet another lady will appear (interesting is it not) and ask Azhiyadha inbam edhu? literally means what is everlasting happiness? if a reply that saitisfies the lady is given then she will herself lead the pilgrims to the three theerthams mentioned earlier. the pilgrims were then advised to repeat either the Panchaksharam or the Ashtakshram and have a dip in the holy theerthams. they will then be surely blessed by God. he also tells them if they are not willing to take the underground passage they have to meditate on the lord on the hill and the god will appear with His Garuda Kodi and then all their problems will be solved and they will be assured of Moksha.
The moolavar is seen facing east a very majestic idol known as Paramaswami seen holding in his right hand the discus in a prayoga form. the utsavar is known as Sundararaja Perumal. the thayar is sundaravalli, the theertham is Nupura ganga also known assilambu aru. Chandana viruksham vimana is Somasundara vimanam, the moolavar and utsavar have the Pancha ayudhams in their hands, Perumal appeared to Malyadwaja Pandyan as well as Dharmadeva.
the utsavar is made out of a particular type of gold known as Aparanji. there is only one other idol made of this type that of Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram. The utsavar murthi is refered to as Malai Arasar, or Vrushabdreesar or also Vrushabdrinathar. even the chakram held by the utsavar isin prayoga form. The utsava murthi is given Thirumajanam bath only with the water drawn from Nupura ganga, if water from any other area is used the idol turns black. the utsava murthy idol is an example of very fine craftsmanship.
The thayar sannidhi here is of Kalyana Sundaravalli, she is very beautiful. the andal sannidhi also the Andal is seen in a sitting pose it is a aporva seva. very beautiful pose. a rare pose seen here On the day of the wedding of Andal with Sundaraja Perumal. one can see Sreedevi, Bhoodevi, Kalyana sundara valli all together this is very rare and can be seen only here.
The other sannidhis in this temple are that ofBhairava, then a sannidhi for Sudarsana and Yoga Narasimhar (Jwala Narasimhar) A SriSadirala Madavar Sannidhi ( a sannidhi for seven female Deities known as sapta Matrikas Brahmi, Maheswari, Kowmari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Mahindri, and Chamundi. the seven thayars of the respective Lords Brahma, Maheswaran, Kaumaran, Vishnu, Varaha, Mahendra and Indra they have the shakti and the weapons belonging to their husbands) daily pooja is performed to these seven dieties.) The Rakkayee amman sannidhi is the prime goddess daughter of Angireesa Muni. special poojas are performed here.
the 18 step Karuppanna swamy where special poojas are offered.
Great is the awe and veneration in which this deity is held. there is a belief that nobody dare utter a lie in this sannidhi. Very often civil criminal and revenue cases are decided on oaths taken at thisdoor step. the courts of Madurai, Ramnad and Thirunelveli send the parties here to take the oath in front of Karuppanna swami. most cases are said to be settled amicably before the last moment of oath taking.
The chhitirai festival and the pagal pattu and rapattu festivities are special significant festivals here.
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