Thirukoshtiyur

We went to this temple on 10th January 2020 after visiting Utharakosamangai temple on 9th January 2020.. I have written about Utharakosamangai temple in my previous post.

Sri Sowmya Narayana Temple in Thirukoshtiyur is one of the 108 Vaishnava Divya Desams mentioned in the work of Alwars. Divya indicates divine and desam indicates place of Abode.

On entering the temple is the “Thirumaamani Mandapam”, where the sanctum of Lord Shiva is situated and he is known as “Sarabeshwarar”. He is said to be a Suyambu ( on his own ). The shrine for Sri Narayana is constructed in form of three stages, or in three tiers. This signifies as Boologam (earth), Thiruparkadal and Vaikundam. Narayana appears in three stages in three forms as Nindran ( Standing posture), Kidanthan ( sleeping posture), Aadinan (dancing posture) . In Ground floor we can see him as Krishna in a dancing posture. Next level after climbing a few stairs, is the main sanctum and we can see Sri Narayana in a sayana thirukolam resting on Adhisesha and he is called as Uraga Mellanayaan . And top tier we can see him in a standing posture as Sri Sowmya Narayana Perumal.
The Shrine Vimanam of Moolavra is Ashtanga in architecture. Ashtanga is eight parts Adhistanam (base), three Padas ( Structure), Prasthana ( Limb), Griva (Leading structure), Shikara ( Cylindrical Holder), and Stupi (top portion)

There are two life size images of Narasimhar , one is holding Hirnayakshapu and the other is slaying him. The shrine of the consort of Perumal, ThirumaMagal is on the south side of Perumal.

Emperumanar Sri Ramanujar is found on the top of Vimhanam facing the village.

A guide takes us by the steps to the top of the vimahanam explaining the details. he may ask for some tips at the end. the temple was under renovation when we went.

There are also separate Sannadhis for Ramanujur, Thirukottiyur Nambi, Vinayagar, Senai Mudhalianadan, alwars, anjeneya, Nardhana Krishnar, Rukmani, Sathyabama, Andal, Chakratha alwar, Ramar and Yoga Narasimmar.

As per Legend Khadamba Maharishi was observing penance at this shrine for dharshan of Vishnu. He had obtained a boon that no disturbance would be caused at the place where he was observing penance. 

Hiranya Kashipu was tormenting the Devas and Rishis because he had taken a boon that he should not have death from Devas, Manushya, Bird, Animals, any living being or weapon. the boon also added that his death will not be Night nor day, Neither inside the house nor outside the house. With this back ground once he threw a Bhootha in front of Kadambha Maharishi’s Ashram. Kadambha Maharishi got angry and gave a shapa that if at all the Hiranya Kashipu comes near that spot his death will take place. Hiranya Kashipu was thinking Narayana was the enemy number one. He tormented the Devas and Rishis. Devas and Rishis went to Brahma and Rudhra and they all went to Sriman Narayana . Sriman Narayana told that Asura Hiranyan is none other than his former Dwarapalaka. They decided to assemble at Thirukoshtiyur which was the place where Kadambha Maharishi lived. Since all the Devas and  Rishis assembled in Goshti ( Group) at Kadambha Maharishi’s Ashram, this place came to be known as Thirukoshtiyur. It was decided that a Nithya Asuri named  Shankarnan will be born in the womb of Kayathu the wife of HiranyaKashipu and will be known as “Prahalada”  and Naradhar will bring them to this Kadambha Maharishi’s ashram and do the Upadesham of Moola mantra in the womb itself. When Prahalada was in the womb of Kayathu, Naradhar did the Upadesham of Ashtakshra to Prahalada , and Prahalada was chanting only Narayana namam always. As this reached Hiranya Kashipu’s ears, he started troubling Prahalada . One day Hiranyan became angry and asked where is your  Narayanan, for which Prahalada replies Narayana is present everywhere. Hiranyan shows a pillar and asks whether his Narayana is present here. Prahalada tells yes, he is present in the Pillar, and when Hiranyan strikes the Pillar, Lord Narayanan comes in in the form of Nara Simha (He was neither man nor Lion) , it was twilight time( Neither day nor night) Then he lifted Hiranyan and carried him to the Nelapadi ( Door frame of main door) ,placed Hiranyan in his thighs and tore open his stomach and killed him. On Prahalada’s  request he gave darshan in Yoga Narasimha Form. The place where Lord slew the Hiranyan is just 5 Km from Thirukoshtiyur and the place is now known as Pattamangalam. These is the place where Kadambha Maharishi’s Ashram was there. At the request of Kadambha Maharishi Perumal stayed in Thirukoshtiyur as Madhavan, Sowmiya Narayan.

HISTORY

Ramanuja Dasan is a great religious philosopher of all time.Once he was so eager to discover the meaning for a secret mantra which would lead to heaven after his death. So he approached his guru, Nambi, living in Thirukottiyur. The very moment he reached the doorsteps, he knocked on the door and cried, “Nan Ramanuja Dasan” ( “I’m Ramanuja Dasan here”). But, Nambi refused to grant his request and replied back to him, “Nan setta piragu vaa” (“Come back after I die”). Ramanuja Dasan was confused with Nambi’s response but wasn’t in the mood to give up. So, he tried visiting him back the very next morning and he got back the same answer from Nambi saying, “Go back now and come back after I die.”

This continued for 17 times. Ramanujar will travel all the way from Srirangam to Thirukoshtiyur every time. Ramanuja Dasan got fed up and started to think what was wrong with him for Nambi not to teach him the powerful manthra. He realised the meaning behind his guru’s words. The word I” uttered by him simply points to Ramanuja’s ego and pride instead of guru himself. So, finally on his 18th attempt, Ramanuja was standing outside the same doorsteps and cried, “Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan” (“Yours humbly, its me Ramanuja Dasan”) – getting rid of the “I” (ego) in himself. Nambi obliged Ramanuja’s request and started teaching him the meaning of the mantra.

Most of the vaishnavites use Adiyen before their name while visiting their relatives / friends

Ready to Go to Hell

At the end of the teachings, Nambi extracted a promise from Ramanuja that he would not reveal the mantras to those unqualified to receive them. However, the following day, Ramanuja went to Sowmiya Narayana temple , clmbed to the top of Ashtaga Vimhanam and reuested all the villagers to assemble. After the villagers assembled he revealed the sacred mantra Om Namo Narayana to them. When Nambi heard this, he demanded an explanation from Ramanuja for his disobedience. To this, Ramanuja, replied that if the act of his results in thousand souls reaching Vaikundam (heaven), he would be glad to be burned in hell which is the punishment for those who disobey their guru’s commands. On hearing the explanation, Nambi was speechless and embraced him and gave him the title emperumanar and Sri Ramanujar came to be called as Emperumanar Ramanajur.

Belief System

Those who have any problem( namely child birth, employment, education, family welfare etc) can collect an earthen lamp from the priest after praying to the lord for getting rid of the problem. The devotee will have to keep the lamps in a cover in their pooja room at their house and keep praying. once their wish is fulfilled the devotee will have to return the lamp with the cover and also give another lamp ( depending on the capacity of the devotee it could be even silver lamp) to the temple.

After taking VRS from my bank in April. 2001 (without pension PF optee) at the age of 44, I and my wife were returning to chennai from Paramakudi by my car. We happened to pass by this temple and my wife took lamps from the priest. ( I believe she might have prayed for a good job for me , I am still not aware as to with what prayer she took the lamp from the temple). She returned back the lamp on 10 january 2020 when I am again unemployed. However I earned handsomely during the intervening period and also started earning pension as the banks gave one more option of joining the pension scheme.

My mother in law prayed in this temple for a child for her third son. she has also named her grand daughter as Soumiya ( name of the uthsavar diety ) who was born after the prayer in the temple.

My wife’s cousin who came with us took a lamp from the temple for her son’s success in Examination. Her son cleared the CA final examination in the same month. He had not been successful in his earlier attempts

Accesability

The temple is on the Sivagangai-thrirupathur route and is 8 Kms ffrom Thirupathur and 28 Kms from Sivagangai. Frequent buses are plying on this route. Taxis are available in Tirupathur. the place is 18 Kms from Karaikudi. We took a circuitous route from Ramanathapuram to reach here. We could have taken Ramnad-sivaganga-thirukoshtiyur but followed Ramnad-Kariakudi-Tirupathur-thriukoshtiyur.

Hotels

We didnt see any hotel in Thirukoshtiyur. We stayed in Ahobila Mutt. There was no cot or mattress. we were given a big Jamkalam to be laid on the floor to sleep. the religious ladies, whom I accompanied liked the place as the bathrooms and toilets were not attached and were separate. Good hotels are available in thirupathur, Karaikudi, Pillayarpatti and Sivagangai

Taxis and Autos

No taxi is available in this place. But autos are available. we used an auto to travel from here to Pillayarpatti, vairavanpatti, Kundrakudi and Kuber temples and return.

We left this place by Bus to Trichy

I request you to offer your comments and suggestions to enable me to improve my future posts and also to know more about this temple