Sage Brugu, seeking to test the patience and tolerance of Lord Vishnu, visited Vaikunda. To test Him, Sage Brugu struck the Lord's chest, which is also the abode of Mother Lakshmi. Despite the physical provocation, Lord Vishnu did not react with anger but simply smiled.
Observing this, Mother Lakshmi questioned the Lord about His tolerance, expressing concern that by allowing Sage Brugu to strike His chest, He was also allowing someone to touch Her, as the Lord's chest is Her home.
In response, Sage Bhrigu fell at the feet of Mother Lakshmi and explained that his intention was not to harm but to find a deity of unparalleled gentleness for a yagna he was conducting. He pleaded with Mother Lakshmi to be born as his daughter. Moved by his sincerity, Mother Lakshmi blessed the sage, promising to be born as his daughter and advising him to undertake penance to realise his wish.
Sage Bhrigu then performed intense penance in Kumbakonam and ultimately found Mother Lakshmi, who appeared on a lotus in the Hema Pushkarini Theertha. He named her Komalavalli. In a grand ceremony, Sage Brugu gave his daughter Komalavalli to Lord Vishnu in marriage. Lord Vishnu, who came to the wedding holding a bow (Sarnga), became known as Lord Sarangapani. Thus, the place is revered as the Avatara Sthala, the birthplace of Mother Komalavalli, who is also known as Lakshmi.
A Center of Legends :
The Divine Origins of Kumbakonam: The town of Kumbakonam is steeped in divine origins. According to legend, when Shiva decided to cleanse the earth and start life anew, he summoned Pralaya Kaalam, a period of heavy rain. To secure the Vedas and Amirtham essential for recreating life, Brahma created a mud pot and left it atop Mount Meru. However, the pot was washed away in the flood and drifted southwards until it came to rest at a spot. After the floods subsided, the devas pleaded with Shiva to release the Amirtham. Shiva obliged and broke open the pot with an arrow from heaven. The Amirtham flowed and formed two pools of water, now known as Maha Maga Kulam and Potramarai Kulam. From the pot and Amirtham rose Lord Kumbeswarar, marking the place now known as Kumbakonam.
The Legend of Sage Bhrigu: An argument among the rishis regarding whom to offer an Avirbhavam led to Sage Brighu being sent to the trinities' abodes. Treated disrespectfully in Shivaloka and Brahmaloka, he hoped for better in Vishnuloka. However, Vishnuloka was no better, and in a fit of rage, Brighu kicked Vishnu in the chest, angering Mahalakshmi who resided there. She left Vishnu and went to earth. Vishnu, responding calmly, soothed Brighu’s legs and plucked out his prideful eye. Brighu, realising his mistake, sought forgiveness.
Mahalakshmi and Mahavishnu: Mahavishnu, missing Mahalakshmi, searched for her on earth, eventually taking the form of God Srinivasa and marrying Goddess Padmavati. However, their marriage ended, and Padmavati left. Naratha informed Mahalakshmi, further angering her, and she went to confront Vishnu. Anticipating her wrath, Vishnu took refuge in Paatha Loka in Kumbakonam. Mahalakshmi, unable to find him, took the form of a child, Bala Komalavalli, and was adopted by Sage Hema Maharishi, who was Brighu in a previous life seeking retribution.
The Reunion: Hema Maharishi raised Komalavalli until her marrying age and prayed to Mahavishnu to accept her back. Vishnu descended in a chariot and married Komalavalli. To appease her, Vishnu abandoned his standing posture for a relaxed laying down pose and vowed to stay true to Mahalakshmi, hence the name Sarangapani. Mahalakshmi, realising her errors, vowed to stay with Vishnu forever, earning the name 'Padi Thanda Pathini.'
The Role of the Temple in Nalayira Divya Prabandham: The temple is significant in the history of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, a revered holy text for Vaishnavas. Nadhamunigal, a devotee, was inspired by a hymn he heard at the Thirukkudanthai temple. Determined to find the rest of the hymns, he set out to the Sarangapani temple, recalling the hymn's opening words, "Aara Amudhe." Through prayer and devotion, he identified the hymn's author, Sadagopan of Thirukovilur, and met Madhurakavi Azhwar, a devotee of Nammalvar. By chanting Madhurakavi Azhwar’s Pasuram 12,000 times, Nammalvar appeared before Nadhamunigal and impart the knowledge of all 4000 Divya Prabandham. Nadhamunigal then divided the Prabandham into four groups of a thousand Paasurams each, marking the beginning of the 4000 Divya Prabandham journey at this temple.
Puranic Significance 1 :
The Pot of Brahma and the Origin of Kumbakonam : At the time of the world's destruction, a great deluge (pralaya) occurred. To save the Vedas, Amrit (nectar), and tools necessary for creating life on earth, Lord Brahma collected these items and placed them in a mud pot, which he safely kept atop Mount Meru.
During the pralaya kalam, a period of continuous heavy rain, the pot was washed away by the flood. It travelled southward and came to a halt at a particular place. At the request of the devas (heavenly beings), Lord Shiva broke the pot with an arrow. Immediately, the Amrit flowed from the pot and formed two tanks, known as Maha Maga Kulam and Potramarai Kulam. The remains of the pot and Amrit combined to form Lord Kumbeswarar. The place was named Kumbakonam or Kudanthai, after the broken pot (kumbam).
Lord Narayana's Marriage : Once, a dispute arose among the rishis about whom to offer the "Avirbhavam" (highest importance) among the trinity of Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu. Unable to resolve the matter, they sent Sage Bhrigu to test the trinity and select the most deserving one.
Sage Brighu first visited Shiva and Brahma, but was dishonoured by them. Angrily, he then went to Vaikunta (the abode of Maha Vishnu). There, he was also not honoured properly and, in a fit of rage, kicked Vishnu's chest, where Goddess Mahalakshmi resides. Maha Vishnu, instead of reacting with anger, took Brighu's feet and soothed them, saying, "Oh! Rishi, you have kicked me, but I do not mind. However, your feet may ache from this, so let me soothe them." In doing so, He tactfully removed the third eye of Brighu Maharishi, which was concealed under his toe.
This act caused Brighu Maharishi to lose his pride and become humble. He pleaded for forgiveness from Maha Vishnu. However, Mahalakshmi, angered by the kick, left Vaikunta and began living on earth at Kollapuram.
Without Mahalakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, Lord Narayana was deeply worried and came to earth in search of her. Failing to find her, He transformed into Lord Srinivasa and married Goddess Padmavathi. However, due to a dispute with Padmavathi, she left him as well. Learning of Srinivasa's marriage from Narada, Mahalakshmi, who was residing at Kolhapuri, became very angry and started searching for Lord Srinivasa, who had fled to the abyss (Paathala Loka) in Kumbakonam to escape her wrath.
Goddess Mahalakshmi, unable to find Lord Srinivasa, transformed into a small child and crawled as Bala Komalavalli in the Potramarai Kulam. Brighu Maharishi, now reborn as Hema Maharishi, found Bala Komalavalli and raised her as his own daughter. When it was time for Komalavalli's marriage, Hema Maharishi performed intense penance and pleaded with Maha Vishnu to accept Mahalakshmi. On a Mahashankaranthi day, Maha Vishnu emerged from the Vaideha Vimanam contained in the Pranava Vimana of Srirangam and arrived in a grand chariot to marry Komalavalli Thayar.
To soothe Komalavalli's anger, Lord Mahavishnu adopted the sleeping posture of Ranganatha of Srirangam and became known as Sarangapani in Kumbakonam. Sarangapani refers to the bow (Sarangam) of Sri Rama, another incarnation of Maha Vishnu, known for his dedication to a single wife. To assure security for his wife Komalavalli, Maha Vishnu adopted the name Sarangapani, symbolising the assurance and posture of Ranganatha.
The temple also features a "Paadhala Srinivasar," reminding devotees of this tale.
Goddess Mahalakshmi's Resolve : Repenting for her mistake, Goddess Mahalakshmi vowed never to leave her dear husband again. Hence, she remains within her chamber, earning the name "Padhi Thanda Patni."
Connection to Other Temples : This place is considered coherent with Thirupati, Srirangam, Kaatu Mannar Kovil, AlwarThirunagari, Thiruvellarai, Thiruvekka, Thiru Kandiyur, Thiru Karambanoor, Thiruputkuzhi, and Thirupullamboothamkudi. It explains the meaning of Paramathma Thathuvam.
The Power of the Trinity :The incidents of the magical pot of Brahma, Lord Shiva breaking the pot, and Lord Ranganatha as Aravamudhan (Sarangapani) marrying Komalavalli represent the combined power of the trinity—Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—in one place. This place, therefore, is called Bhaskara Shetram, named after the combined form of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, depicted with two heads and four hands, praying to both deities and holding symbols of Lakshmi.
Nathamunigal and Divya Prabandham : In the 9th century AD, Divya Prabandham (a collection of hymns) was not compiled and was scattered. Naadhamunigal from KattuMannar Koil near Chidambaram heard two pasuram’s (verses) starting with "Aara Amudhe" and was captivated. He sought the remaining verses but could not find them.
He prayed at the Sarangapani temple in Kudanthai and was reminded of the clue pointing to Nammalwar of Thirukurukur. Naadhamunigal visited Thirukurukur and met Parangusasadhasar, who gave him two pasuram’s by Madhurakavi Alwar, praising his guru Nammalwar. Naadhamunigal chanted these verses 12,000 times at the AlwarThirunagari temple, where Nammalwar appeared and taught him all 4000 pasuram’s of the Divya Prabandham.
Thus, Aaraamudha Perumal of Thirukkudanthai, Naadhamunigal from Kaatu Mannar Kovil, and Nammalwar of Alwar Thirunagari worked together to revive the Divya Prabandham. The Sarangapani temple's sanctum has two entries, representing the sun's orbit, linking it to Thiruvellarai.
Thirumazhisai Alwar's Interaction with Aara Amudhan : Thirumazhisai Alwar visited Aara Amudhan and was so impressed by his beauty that he prayed for the Lord to converse with him. Aara Amudhan began to rise from his reclining posture, but the Alwar requested him to remain as he was, blessing each devotee. This posture is called Uthra Sayanam, and the Lord is thus known as Uthanasai, similar to his form in Kanchipuram's Thiruvekka.
Narayanaswamy's Devotion : Narayanaswamy, a devotee from Thirukudanthai, was childless and donated all his wealth to the Aara Amudhan temple. He declared that Aara Amudhan would perform his last rites, which the deity did after Narayanaswamy's death. This tradition continues annually in the temple.
Puranic Significance 2 :
Sarangapani Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu revered in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars. This temple is situated along the Kaveri River and is one of the Pancharanga Kshetram’s.
The temple is believed to have significant antiquity, with contributions from the Medieval Cholas, Vijayanagar Empire, and Madurai Nayaks. The temple complex is enclosed within a huge granite wall and contains all the shrines and water bodies associated with the temple.
The rajagopuram (main gateway) has eleven tiers and stands at a height of 173 feet (53 metres). The Potramarai tank, the temple tank, is located opposite the western entrance of the temple. Sarangapani is believed to have appeared to sage Hemarishi.
The temple conducts six daily rituals from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and celebrates twelve yearly festivals. The temple chariot festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Chittirai, is the most prominent festival.
A legend associated with the temple tells of a great pralaya (deluge) intended to destroy the world. To preserve the Vedas, Amirtham, and other essentials for recreating life, Lord Brahma collected them in a mud pot and placed them safely atop Mount Meru. However, the pralaya's floods washed the pot away, carrying it southward until it came to rest at a specific location. At the request of the devas (heavenly beings), Lord Shiva broke the pot with an arrow. The Amudham (nectar of immortality) flowed from the pot, forming two tanks: Maha Maga Kulam and Potramarai Kulam. The remnants of the pot and the Amudham joined together to form "Lord Kumbeswarar." The place where the pot broke became known as Kumbakonam or Kudanthai, named after the kumbam (pot).
Temple has an Elephant with it :
The temple elephant is a revered and integral part of the temple’s daily rituals and celebrations. This majestic animal, often adorned with decorative cloth and ornaments, plays a key role in various processions and ceremonies. It is trained to participate in traditional rituals, such as carrying the deity's procession chariot or receiving offerings from devotees. The elephant is also considered a symbol of prosperity and auspiciousness in Hindu tradition. Its presence is a source of joy and inspiration for worshippers, who see it as a living embodiment of divine grace. The elephant is cared for with great devotion, receiving regular attention and a special diet to ensure its well-being. Its involvement in temple activities fosters a sense of spiritual connection and continuity with ancient practices.