Azhagar Kovil

Azhagar Kovil is a village in Madurai district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The history and living of the village is centered around Kallazhagar Temple. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshiped as Kallazhagar and his consort Lakshmi as Thirumamagal.[1]

Azhagar Kovil
village
Image of Kallazhagar Temple, after which the village is named
Coordinates: 10°04′29.45″N 78°12′47.15″E
Country India
StateTamil Nadu
DistrictMadurai
Elevation
266 m (873 ft)
Languages
 • OfficialTamil
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Part of a series on
Vaishnavism
Closeup of Vishnu, seated in the lotus position on a lotus. From depiction of the poet Jayadeva bowing to Vishnu, Gouache on paper Pahari, The very picture of devotion, bare-bodied, head bowed, legs crossed and hands folded, Jayadeva stands at left, with the implements of worship placed before the lotus-seat of Vishnu who sits there, blessing the poet.
Supreme deity
Vishnu / Krishna / Rama
Important deities
Dashavatara
Other forms
Consorts
Related
Holy scriptures
Puranas
Sampradayas
Others
Teachers—acharyas
Related traditions

Kallazhagar Temple
One of the broken gateway towers of the temple

Kallazhagar Temple covers an area of about 2 acres (0.81 hectares) and has a five-tiered gopuram (gateway tower). The temple is enclosed in a rectangular enclosure with huge granite walls. The central shrine houses the image of the presiding deity, Sundarabahu Perumal in standing posture. The images of Sridevi and Bhudevi are also housed in the sanctum. There are two life size images of Narasimha, the avatar of Vishnu. One of them is shown holding the demon Hiranya and other slaying him.[2]

The temple houses some rare Vijayanagara sculptures similar to the ones present in Soundararajaperumal Temple, Thadikombu, Krishnapuram Venkatachalapathy temple, Srivilliputhur Divya Desam and Jalakandeswarar Temple, Vellore. The temple also has one of the unique deities Chakaratalvar (Alvar) where the god with chakram having 16 hands and 16 weapons is without Narasimha above him.[3]

Chithirai Festival

Chithirai festival of this temple celebrated for ten days is one of the declared festivals of Tamil Nadu government. This festival day is declared as a local holiday. In Chithirai (April-May), Lord Kallazhagar starts from Azhagar Kovil in the form of Kallar [4] and reaches Madurai on Pournami (Full Moon day). Here he steps into river Vaigai in his Horse Vaganam. Lakhs of devotees flock to river Vaigai to see this event. "Ethir Sevai" festival is celebrated on the day before Azhagar steps into river Vaigai. Ethir Sevai is a part of the Chithirai Thiruvizha of the Kallazhagar temple at Azhagar Kovil and begins on the fourth day. On this day, Azhagar or Lord Vishnu changes his appearance as Kallar and travels via Kallar Nadu and enters Madurai and the city’s residents welcome him.[5] It is a tradition for the people of Madurai to welcome Azhagar.

As Azhagar returns from Vandiyur Dhasavatharam, festival is celebrated throughout the night at Ramarayar Mandapam in the Northern part of river Vaigai. After this event, Azhagar is taken to Mysore Veera Mandapam on decorated Anantharayar Palanquin. The next morning Azhagar in the form of Kallar returns to Azhagar kovil in ‘Poo Pallakku' (Palanquin decorated with flowers)

In the month of April and May, each year the great Chitra festival is celebrated on Pournami (full moon day). The Festival dramatically re enacts the visitation of Kallazhagar to Madurai from Azhagar Koyil. Lakhs of devotees flock to river Vaigai to personally witness the event of lord Azhagar stepping down into the river and to get his blessings.

During the months of July and August the festival of Aadi Brahmmorchavam is being celebrated for 10 days. This festival occurs within the precincts of the shrine. Devotees from different parts of Tamilnadu throng to participate in this festival. The temple car ‘Amaiththa Narayanan’ is taken in procession during Pournami (Full-Moon day) of Aadi (Brahmotchavam).

References
  1. M. S., Ramesh (1993). 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu. Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam.
  2. Rao, A.V.Shankaranarayana (2012). Temples of Tamil Nadu. Vasan Publications. p. 229–31. ISBN 978-81-8468-112-3.
  3. S., Gopalakrishnan (December 1996). "The Raṅga-maṇḍapa of the Tāṭikkompu Temple A Study of an Iconographic Programme of the Vijayanagara Tradition". East and West. 46 (3/4): 415–431. JSTOR 29757285.
  4. Bayly, Susan (2004). Saints, Goddesses and Kings: Muslims and Christians in South Indian Society. pp. [40]. ISBN 9780521891035.
  5. "Chithirai festival". hindustantimes. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
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