ALL IS WELL——THANK GOD
\n—-Vengrai Parthasarathy <\/p>\n
Vanamamalai is the most pre-eminent of the eight holy places that give the blessing of Salvation. It is believed that devotees should visit this temple at least once in their life time. <\/p>\n
In an era long gone by, there was a Ruler of Sind who was fond of hunting. In one of those outings, he was confronted by an elephant that had eight legs. For no reason at all. it started chasing him and he ran hither and thither in confusion and haste to escape from it. He ran and ran, away from his entourage, till he was dead tired but safe from the marauding elephant. As he paused to gather his breath he saw a hermitage. It was inviting and had no doors. He walked in. There was no one there but a lot of victuals had been laid out.<\/p>\n
Feeling hungry and tired he helped himself and ate heartily of the food without second thought. That hermitage belonged to a sage called Kuchaanan . When he returned to his hut he was to discover that all the food had disappeared. Since it was meant for offering to the Lord, the Muni got enraged and cursed the errant king, to become a dog.. The shocked king was speechless and when he found his voice, he begged of the sage for forgiveness and redemption, The pacified Muni relented and said\u201d Go to Vanamamalai and bathe in the sacred Well there to get expiation\u201d. The king did as he was told and obtained salvation.<\/p>\n
Thiruvara Mangai is in Tirunelveli District. It was here that the Lord Vishnu\u2019s consort Lakshmi Devi was born and manifested herself as Siri Vara Mangai, by which name the place is also called. It is known by other names too. It was here that Uroma Rishi did penance and had vision of God. Hence it was called Uroma Kshetra. Again since the place is surrounded by hills and a forest of trees it is known by the name of Vanamamalai also. The Pushkarni was divided into four lakes (Eri) and for that reason it got the name of Naanguneri.<\/p>\n
The south-facing deity here is Thothadrinathan . This \u2018Divya Desam\u2019 is one of the eight Swayambhu (i.e. self-incarnate), the others being Badri, Mukthi, Naimisharanyam, Pushkaram, Thiruvenkatam, SreemushNam, and Thiruvaraaham. In this place, with copious water and rich lands, there is a Well inside the temple of dimensions 25 feet by 15 feet. There is no water spring in this well. It is a medicinal oil-well that never gets dry. <\/p>\n
Everyday the deity is bathed with six measures of Gingelly oil mixed with aromatic Sandal oil and that oil is collected and poured into this well.<\/p>\n
It is believed that this oil has medicinal qualities and cures chronic skin diseases; this is mentioned even in Agastya Rishi\u2019s medical treatise. If devotees require a measure of the medicinal oil from this well they are expected to pour an equal measure of Gingelly oil into it, to keep it well provided.<\/p>\n
Vanamamalai is the reputed headquarters of the Mutt.that goes by that name. The Jeeyar, is one of the eight and most eminent of the Dik-gaja-s named by Sri Manavala Ma Muni. He is ensconced here. Nammalvar is the PAdukai amsam (sacred foot-wear\/ sandal) of Sri Narayana, Nammalvar\u2019s sandal is amsam of Manavala Muni and his sandal is that of the Jeeyar of Vanamamalai. It is said that Manavala Ma Muni welcomed the Jeeyar as the \u2018Ponnadikkaal Jeeyar\u2019.( Jeeyar of golden foot-step)<\/p>\n
Every year on the day of \u2018Moola\u2019 star( Manavala MaMuni\u2019s birth star) in the Tamil month of Aippasi, the Jeeyar wears the gold ring worn by Manavala Ma Muni and distributes \u2018paada theertham\u2019 to devotees. Of the \u2018Nava Thirupathis (Nine Shrines) it is only in Alvar Thirunagari, that an auspicious idol of Nammalvar has been installed and is revered as equivalent to the personal blessings of the Ma Muni himself. . <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ALL IS WELL——THANK GOD —-Vengrai Parthasarathy Vanamamalai is the most pre-eminent of the eight holy places that give the blessing of Salvation. It is believed that devotees should visit this temple at least once in their life time. In an era long gone by, there was a Ruler of Sind who was fond of hunting.… <\/p>\n