On the third day of his annual sojourn to Madurai, Lord Kallazhagar of Alagarkoil, with his entourage, travelled from Veeraraghava Perumal Temple in Vandiyur to the Thenur Mandapam on the Vaigai on Tuesday to fulfil the purpose of his visit – redemption of Mandooga Maharishi from his curse.
According to a legend, sage Suthapas was cursed by Doorvasar to become a frog for not paying heed to him while bathing in the Noopura Gangai, atop Alagarkoil. “Noopura Gangai is holier than the Ganga and the water from the stream is used during the ‘tirumanjanam’ of Lord Kallazhagar. The water is carried to Madurai during the Chithrai festival,” says Koodal Raghavan, a Vaishnavite scholar.
Suthapas came to be known as Mandooga (frog) Maharishi and he performed penance on the banks of the Vaigai at Thenur, a village near Sholavandan.
Lord Kallazhagar travelled from Alagarkoil to Thenur, through Malaipatti and Alanganallur, to redeem Mandooga Maharishi of his curse. King Tirumalai Nayak, who ruled Madurai between 1623 and 1659, shifted the venue of redemption from Thenur to Madurai, while telescoping the Masi brahmotsavam of Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple with the Chithirai festival of Alagarkoil in 1653. This was done primarily to foster amity between Saivism and Vaishavism and for the convenience of people, who were predominantly farmers.
King Tirumalai constructed the ship-shaped Thenur mandapam on the Vaigai near Vandiyur and even apportioned a sum for the transport and stay of residents of Thenur for the ritual.
Redemption enacted
Now the redemption is enacted with a frog and stork, brought from Thenur, by residents of the village. Lord Kallazhagar was taken in ‘Sesha Vahanam’ to Thenur Mandapam, which is in a dilapidated condition, for the redemption ritual. In the afternoon, the deity proceeded on his onward journey to Ramarayar Mandapam in ‘Garuda Vahanam.’
The most colourful event of the Chithirai festival takes places at Ramarayar Mandapam overnight, with Lord Kallazhagar giving darshan to a congregation of devotees in 10 avatars and in a gown made of pearls (Muththangi sevai).
“Alagarkoil is a very significant abode of Lord Vishnu among the 108 Divyadesams. This ‘Then Tiruvenkadam’ is highly venerated by all Alwars. Though Lord Vishnu descended on earth in 10 avatars, he manifests himself as the ‘eleventh avatar’ in every home in the form of Nammalvar’s Tiruvaimozhi ,” says Mr. Raghavan.