In celebration of Nadamuni’s contribution in the compilation of Naalaayira Divya Prabandham and the initiation of the Vaishnava Sampradaya, one witnessed a grand 10-day utsavam at the Veera Narayana Perumal temple in Kattu Mannar Koil near Chidambaram, that culminated on his birthday this Tuesday with the great Vaishnavite savant being taken out in a procession around the four Mada Streets on Garuda Vahanam. The 4000 sacred verses were also recited on this occasion. On each of the preceding nine days, Nadamuni, decorated in a special alankaram, went out on a procession in a palanquin with the chanting of Nammazhvar’s Thiruvoimozhi.
Kattu Mannar Koil is the Avathara Sthalam of Nadamuni who was instrumental in bringing back the Naalaayira Divya Prabandham that had been previously lost to the world. It was Veera Narayana Perumal, the presiding deity at Kattu Mannar Koil, who asked Nadamuni to collect the verses of the Azhwars and to spread the positive message contained in these sacred verses.
In centuries gone by, the direction to Kattu Mannar Koil was given as being North of Cauvery/Coloroon, West of Veda Pushkarani and South of Vedanarayana (Veeranam) lake.
The story
Pleased with the penance of Jhirumbana Raja Maharishi, who was childless, it is believed that Goddess Mahalakshmi was born as his child. Once she grew up into a beautiful young girl, a svayamvara was organised to find her a suitable match. Lord Narayana in the guise of a king, who came for the event, in his Garuda Vahanam, won over Goddess Lakshmi and took her away earning the wrath of the other kings who attacked him. Lord Narayana, displaying his Viswaroopa, defeated them. Having shown his valour here, the Lord came to be called ‘Veera’ Narayana Perumal.
Another story goes that Mathanga Rishi, to liberate himself from Brahma’s curse for having committed an error while reciting a Veda, went to Srimushnam, where the Lord appeared before him and redirected him to Manyu Kshetram (Kattu Mannar Koil), South East of Srimushnam, to undertake penance in the Veda Pushkarani. Answering his prayers, Lord Narayana displayed his Chathurbhuja form here at Kattu Mannar Koil and acceding to the request of the rishi stayed here to provide darshan to the devotees.
Nadamuni’s quest
Nadamuni, who mastered the Vedas at a young age, spent most of his time performing daily pujas for the Lord at Kattu Mannar Koil. One day, while performing his daily rituals, he heard a set of devotees from Thiru Narayanapuram chanting the Aaravamuthey verse. These devotees ended their chanting with the words ‘these 10 out of the 1000.’ Nadamuni, drawn to these songs, asked them to sing the rest of the 990 verses. However, they knew only these 10.
Seeking to find these 1000 verses, Nadamuni decided to visit Kumbakonam and left Kattu Mannar Koil. Once in Kumbakonam Lord Aaravamudhan directed him to Thiru Kurugur. Unable to get his answers at Kurugur, Nadamuni went to Thiru Kolur, where he got initiated with Madura Kavi Azhwar’s verses of ‘Kannin Siruthambinaal.’ He came back to Thiru Kurugur and recited these verses 12,000 times, on completion of which Nammazhwar appeared before him and shared not just the 1000 songs that he was looking for but the entire 4000 verses.
Veera Narayana Perumal then called Nadamuni back to Kattu Mannar Koil where the Vaishnavite Savant chanted and shared the Naalaayira Divya Prabandham to the world at large. Thus, Nadamuni of Kattu Mannar Koil, was instrumental in bringing back to the world the 4000 verses of the Azhwars.
Creation of Araiyar Sevai
Along with his nephews, Keezhaiyagath Azhwar and Melaiagath Azhwar (the Araiyars are descendents of these two), Nadamuni presented the Naalaayira Divya Prabandham, that was until then only in a text format, in a musical and dance form, adding raga and tala. The credit goes to Nadamuni for creating the Araiyar Sevai.
He went to Srirangam and presented the Araiyar Sevai, of the Thiruvoimozhi verses with his two nephews, and once again started the Adhyayana Utsavam at Srirangam which had been discontinued after the time of Thirumangai Azhwar.
As Lord Narayana came here as ‘Mannan’ to take the hand of Mahalakshmi and later showed the way for Nadamuni to compile the Divya Prabandham and the Vaishnava Sampradaya to the world at large, he was referred to as ‘ Kattum’ ‘Mannan- Aanaar’. In course of time, Kattum Mannan-Aanaar became Kattu Mannar.
Born in Kattu Mannar Koil, Nadamuni’s grandson ‘Yamunai Thuraivan’ (Alavanthan) travelled often to Srirangam to spread the message of Vaishnavism. Alavanthan nominated Ramanuja as the acharya to succeed him after his death.
Structure of Kattu Mannar Koil
The temple is built as specified in Koorathazhwar's sacred verse: ‘ Lakshmi Naatha Samaarambaam Nathayaamuna Mathyamaam; Asmath Aacharya Pariyantham Vanthey Guru Paramparam’ - Lord Veera Narayanan in the middle with Maragathavalli Thayar to his right, Nadamuni (facing South) to his left and Alavanthan (facing North) to his right ( opposite to Nathamuni).
Tamil Inscriptions
There are several inscriptions in Tamil relating to Kattu Mannar Koil and its history that goes back in time to different periods and rulers.
Paranthaka I renovated the temple with brick construction. He also built the Veera Narayana Lake (now Veeranam) in the 10th Century AD. Following him, during the time of Kulothunga I, the temple saw another renovation with the granite structure replacing the previous brick construction.
An 1139 AD inscription refers to this place as Veeranarayanapuram and the tank as Veeranarayana Eri.
An inscription in Tamil on the base of the Southern wall of the Central shrine in the temple dating back to 1255 AD records an agreement for the sale of land to the temple by Vikramachola Piramadaraya. A 1243 AD inscription on the Northern wall refers to an order granted to sell certain lands to the temple and the purchase by the temple from the cash provided for the ornaments of the God.
On the Western wall of the central shrine, a 1260 AD inscription, once again in Tamil, dating back to the period of Jatavarma Sundara Pandya I, records tax free gift by the king of cultivable land for providing offerings and conducting festivals every month on the day of Moolam and a 1269 AD inscription on the Northern Wall, during the same rule, records a similar gift of tax free land for providing offerings and worship to the God. Another 13th Century inscription records that the product of the growing lands between Kollidam and Vellaru be assigned for repairs to the temple.
On the inner wall of the entrance to the second gopuram, a 1283 AD inscription dating back to the rule of Maravarma Vikrama Pandya III records tax free gift for offerings and worship to the God.
As per the inscriptions, the moolavar deity that one sees today dates back to the 13th Century AD, to the period of Sadayavarma Sundarapandyan. Inscriptions in Tamil also indicate significant contributions made by Cholas, Rayas and Nayak Kings.
During the Chola period, this place was referred to as Veera Narayana Vinnagaram, while during the times of Sundarapandyan this was called Mannanar. Krishna Deva Raya referred to the Lord as Azhagiya Mannanar. This place has also been referred to as Veera Narayanan Chaturveda Mangalam and Thuvarapathi Mannan Thiru Koil.
There are five wells inside the temple and an expansive garden, which Nadamuni used for his daily pujas for Veera Narayana Perumal.
Quick Facts
Moolavar: Veera Narayanan East Facing Standing Posture
Thaayar: Maragatha Valli Thaayar
Utsavar: Rajagopalan with Rukmini and Satyabhama.
Nithya Utsava Perumal - Sundara Gopalan.
Prarthana Perumal - Shenbagamannan with Sridevi and Bhoodevi.
Temple time: 7.30 a.m.-12 noon and 4.30 p.m.-9 p.m.
Contact details: Annan Srinivasan Bhattar @ 99522 76110
How to reach Kattu Mannar Koil
Buses ply every half hour between Chidambaram and Kattu Mannar Koil.
One can also reach Kattu Mannar Koil from Vriddachalam, Srimushnam and Jayakondam.
By road from Chennai, one can reach Kattu Mannar Koil by taking the Vikravandi-Panruti-Sethiya Thope route (about 235 kms).
Features of the Kattu Mannar Koil
This is the birth place of Nadamuni and Alavanthan.
Inscriptions date back to the early Chola period.
Nadamuni brought back Naalaayira Divya Prabhandam and initiated the chanting from this temple.
Nadamuni started the Araiyar Sevai.
