Namazhwar, one of the twelve revered Azhwars in the Vaishnavite tradition, holds a unique place in Tamil devotional literature. Born in Thirukurungudi, Tamil Nadu, he is considered an incarnation of Vishvaksena, Lord Vishnu's divine attendant.
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| An idol of Namazhwar kazhiyurvaradanblog.in |
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| Azhwar Thirunagari Adinathar Temple, 4.bp.blogspot.com |
Namazhwar is renowned for his deep spiritual wisdom and devotion to Lord Vishnu, which he expressed through his compositions in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, particularly the Tiruvaimozhi. These hymns emphasize absolute surrender (prapatti) and highlight the divine grace of Vishnu.
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| Festival idol of Nammazhwar,en.wikipedia.com |
The Azhwar Thirunagari Adinathar Temple, located in Azhwar Thirunagari (near Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu), holds significant connections to Nammazhwar. This temple. dedicated to Lord Adinathar (a form of Lord Vishnu), is considered the sacred site where Namazhwar attained enlightenment. According to tradition, Namamzhwar meditated under a tamarind tree (Thirupuli Alwar) within the temple complex for sixteen years without speaking or eating, lost in divine communion. His spiritual insights, later communicated through Madhurakavi Alwar, form the cornerstone of Vaishnavite philosophy.
The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams celebrated in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. Namazhwar’s hymns glorify the Adinathar temple and the surrounding region, describing the Lord’s divine presence and the sanctity of the site. The temple continues to honor Namazhwar through special rituals and festivals, particularly during the Vaikunta Ekadasi celebrations, when his idol is taken in a grand procession to the Vaikunta Dwaram.
The temple is also classified as a Navatirupathi, the nine temples revered by Nammazhar located in the banks of Tamiraparani river. . The temple is one of the Navagraha temples in Vaishnavism, associated with Jupiter, also known as Brihaspati.
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| Perumal seated on the Garuda Vahana. kazhiyurvaradanblog.in |
The Garuda Sevai utsavam (festival) in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June) witnesses nine Garudasevai, a colorful event in which festival image idols from the Nava Tirupati shrines in the area are brought on Garuda vahana (Eagle mount). The festival idol of Nammazhwar is also brought here on an Anna Vahanam (Sawan shaped palanquin) and his paasurams (verses) dedicated to each of these nine temples are recited. During this festival, the idols of Vaithamanidhi Perumal temple and Mathura Kavi Azhwar are also taken to Azhwar Thirunagari for Garudasevai.
The utsavar (festival deity) of Namazhwar is taken in a palanquin to each of the nine temples, through the paddy fields in the area. The pasurams (poems) dedicated to each of the nine Divya Desams are chanted in the respective shrines. This festival bein an important one in this area draws thousands of devotees far and wide.
Nammazhwar’s connection with the Azhwar Thirunagari Adinathar Temple exemplifies the profound bond between saintly devotion and sacred geography. This relationship underscores the temple’s importance as both a spiritual sanctuary and a testament to Namazhwar’s enduring legacy in Vaishnavism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alwarthirunagari_Permual_Temple
https://kazhiyurvaradanblog.in/2016/05/16/nava-garuda-sevai-vaibhavam-at-azhwar-thirunagari
https://www.navrangindia.in/2020/01/adinatha-swamy-temple-azhwar-thrunagari.html
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