The historically significant temple of Koodal Azhagar in Madurai, mentioned both in non-religious epics like Silappadikaram as well as in the ‘pasurams’ of Tirumangai Alwar and Tirumazhisai Alwar, is where Periazhwar is famed to have sung his ‘Pallandu.’ Koodalazhagar Perumal and Maduravalli Thayar are seated in two prakarams, around which devotees can walk around, as they do in Tirupati. They also get to enjoy the darshan of Lord Vishnu standing as Surya Narayana and reclining as Pallikonda Perumal. The temple’s five-tiered rajagopuram, the ashtanga vimanam beautified by scenes from epics, several small shrines for various deities and the Navagraham are various beloved aspects of the temple. The Hema Pushkarani was formed from the waters of the Kiruthumal river, which once ran through Madurai. It is believed that when Brahma washed the legs of the Almighty after His Trivikrama Avataram, it became Kiruthumal Nadhi.
The temple follows the Vaikasana agamam, and celebrates festivals on 253 days of the year, mostly aided by permanent funds, says the Sthanika Pattar, Balaji. Ten days are celebrated as Karthikai Utsavam, in honour of Tirumangai Alwar, who performed the mangala sasanam of the temple. The Vaikunta vaasal that is symbolic of the gateway to heaven is kept open every year on the 24th morning of the month of Karthikai. Ra Paththu is a ten-day celebration that begins on the night of Ekadasi, when a hundred of the four thousand pasurams are sung, every night. Two hundred pasurams are sung every day for ten days and this is known as Pagal Paththu, The rest of the thousand songs are sung on the final day of the celebration. Female energy is harnessed on this night, as the Lord is adorned in the “Nachiar Tirukkolam.” Another unique festival is the “Vedu Pari Utsavam” during which accounts of the temple are submitted to the Lord himself. The temple has stood through centuries as a source of spirituality and solace and today, in the words of Anita, the executive officer, it also serves food to a hundred people every day.
Rajalakshmi Padmanabhan
