Sri Sowmya Narayana Perumal Temple

1. Sowmya Narayana Perumal Temple is a Vishnu shrine that occupies a pride of place in the history of Vaishnavism.It is also called as Sri Uraga Mellanayaan Perumal
2. This is a Divyadesam, regarded as a very sacred abode of Vishnu, which many Azhwar saints have glorified in their Divyaprabhandham compositions. 
3. The temple is situated in the Thirukoshtiyur village, near Tirupattur town in the Sivaganga district of TamilNadu. 
4. Lord Sowmyanarayana Perumal is the processional deity, and his consort is Goddess Thirumamagal. 
5. Vishnu is said to have revealed his Narasimha form to the celestials, here.
6. Saint Ramanuja, the great Vaishnava Acharya, preached the sacred mantra 'Om Namo Narayana' to the people here, and made Vaishnavism accessible even to the general public. 
7. The sthala purana is the story of Killing Hiranyakasipu by Vishnu in the form of Narasimhar. 
8. Hiranyakashipu got a boon, that he should not be killed in day or night, inside or outside the room, the killing person should not be a man or animal. 
9. Hence Vishnu took the form of Narasimhar i.e. with the Lion head, sitting on the door frame of a room at the time of dusk and killed him with his bare hands.  
10. Since Maharishis in the form of crowds or “Koshti” went and complained to Vishnu, hence this place was called as Koshtiyur.
11. It is believed that Shiva, is in the form of sarabeswarar, who tried to calm down Maha Vishnu after Killing Hiranyakasibu.

PURANIC SIGNIFICANCE 1:

Narasimhar tearing Hiranyakasibhu

Hiranyakasibhu fights with Narasimhar

1. In this sthalam, a Kadamba Maharishi had a big Ashram, where lots of vedas and spiritual teachings are taught and the rishis and the people around the Ashram lived in peace.
2. At that time, an Asuran by the name "Hiranyan" gave lots of problems to rishis, devas and all the other people and all of them wanted to find a safe place. 
3. They could not protest Hiranyan, since he was very strong and had lots of soldiers, so, the rishis yogis and the Devas thought it was safe to get on to an unreachable place. 
4. Thinking Kadamba Maharishi's Ashram might be the safest place, they all seeked the help of Sriman Narayanan to kill him there by retaining the peace, once again. Sriman Narayanan, Lord Brahma, all the devas and along with the rishis, discussed the killing of the Asuran, Hiranyan. 
5. And finally after the discussion, Sriman Narayanan decided on the Narasimha avathaar, whose head being the head of the lion and rest of the body as an ordinary human. 
6. Since, Hiranyan had got the Varam in such a way that he should not be killed by an ordinary human, Sriman Narayanan has to take this avathaar to destroy and kill him. 
7. Since, all the rishis, devas and along with Sriman Narayanan and Lord Brahma met all at one place and discussed, this sthalam is called as "Goshtiyoor". 
8. Goshti means all the devas along with Sriman Naryanan grouped together and met in this, sthalam this sthalam is called as "Goshtiyoor" (or) Goshti Kshetram.
9. Kadamba Maharishi had an unlimited bhakti towards both Emperuman, Sriman Narayanan and as well as Lord Shiva. 
10. In thirukkarambanoor, he did the tapas towards the Emperumaan and in Nagapattinam, towards Lord Shiva and got his Mukti, worshipped all the Mum - Moorthies in this sthalam.
11. When knowing about the sthalapuranam of Thirugoshtiyoor, another peculiar issue has to be explained which deals with the story of Sri Ramanujar and Thirugostiyoor Nambi.
12. Thriugostiyoor is the birthplace of Thirugostiyoor Nambi, who is also named as "Selva Nambi". 
13. He was the guru of Sri Ramanujar, who preached the "Ashtakshara Mantram".
14. But, the way he was taught the Ashtakshara Mantram was one of the main issues that has to be explained. 
15. Selva Nambi ordered Sri Ramanujar to do the fasting in this sthalam. 
16. Having crossed the age of 60, to get the Mantram, he followed the order of Selva Nambi. 
17. He took only water as his food and one fine day, he was preached with the Ashtakshara Mantram for which he was waiting for. 
18. But, he was ordered by Selva Nambi that the Mantram should not be published to any one and it should be kept secret.
19. But on hearing the Mantram, he thought it is not only a secret thing that is helpful and useful for him only, but it should be made public to all and it should be useful for all the other people. 
20. As a result of his thought, he went straight to the temple of Sowmya Narayana Perumal and stood on the huge walls of it and all of the village people gathered. 
21. And once all the people gathered, he loudly pronounced the Ashtakshara Mantram, which is said to be sacred and explained it to all. 
22. He also asked them to repeat it. 
23. On hearing this, Selva Nambi got angry at Sri Ramanujar since he has not obeyed his words and has broken the promise that he had given to him. 
24. Then, he called up Sri Ramanujar and said that having broken the promise, he will have to pay for the mistake, and as a result, he will be going to hell. 
25. But before that, Thirugoshtiyoor Nambi (Selva Nambi) wanted to know the reason why he made the Ashtakshara Mantram so public? But, Sri Ramanujar answered that in this world, all the things belong to Sriman Naryanan and no other thing should be kept secret (or) themselves but it should be used by others. 
26. In the same way, by explaining the Mantram to all, it might help them from many things and because of this reason only, he answered that he published the Mantram. 
27. On hearing this from Sri Ramanujar, Selva Nambi realised how his mind was narrowed and felt for it. 
28. But, at the same time he was attracted by the thinking of Sri Ramanujar towards humanity and vaishnavism. 
29. As a result, Selva Nambi called Sri Ramanujar as his Emperumaanar. 
30. We can find two separate statues that are made of bronze for Thirugoshtiyoor Nambi and Sri Ramanujar in this temple.
31. After hearing the story of Sri Ramanujar and Selva Nambi and also the Sthalapuranam, let us know about the temple.
32. On reaching the temple, one can see the Vimanam which is very big and widely spread. 
33. On entering the temple is the mandapam named "Thirumaamani Mandapam", where Lord Shiva gives his seva as "Sarabeshwarar". 
34. He originated on his own (Swayambhu) and as a result of not caring properly, it was in a damaged condition. 
35. In the south direction of the Mandapam, a separate sannadhi for Lord Narasimhar and on the North side, a separate sannadhi for Sri Ramar are found. 
36. It is said that in front of this Narasimhar sannadhi only, Sri Ramanujar was taught the "Ashtakshara Mantram" from selva Nambi.
37. In the upper tier, we can find Moolavar, "Thiru paarkadal Nathan" also named as "Uraga Mellanayaan" (or) Sthiti Narayanan is found in Veetrirundha thirukkolam and on the either side of him is periya and Bhoomi piratti are found. 
38. It is said that utsavar, Sowmya Narayana perumal and other 3 pirattiyaar's idols are given by Indiran to Kadamba Maharishi. 
39. On the south side of Ashtanga vimaanam, a separate sannadhi for Thirumana magal Naachiyaar and on the North side, there is a separate sannadhi for Sri Aandal is found.
40. In the middle thalam (or) tier, we can see Nindra Narayanan along with Periya piratti and Bhoomi piratti in Nindra Kolam and he is also named as "Upendran". 
41. Here, we can find lots of various architectural works pertaining to the Indra Loka scenes and saptha rishis. 
42. Lots of Painting and artistic works like Desavathaaram, devas, Munis and suriyan and Alwars are found.
43. On the outer pragaram on the North side, two sculptures of Narasimhar is found, which explains the Hiranya Vadham (Killing of Hiranyan).
44. But, initially one of the statues is kept in Narasimhar sannadhi in the first tier and another one is Sri Ramar Sannadhi. 
45. But, it is said that on seeing the statues of Ugraha Narasimhar, people are frightened, so later these two statues are kept close to the paramapadha vaasal (entrance). 
46. Udayavar, Emperumaanar Sri Ramanujar statue is found on the top of the Vimanam facing the village and this sthalam is so called as "Dhvayam (two) vilaindha thirupadhi".
47. This sthalam explains all the necessary actions (or) morals to the people of the world. 
48. No one can destroy the enemy as a single person, but if as a team, we can achieve anything and it is well explained by the action performed by Sriman Narayanan to get the divine nector for the devas. 
49. And another incident is the action performed by Sri Ramanujar by explaining the Ashtakshara Mantram to the world. 
50. As an extension of this, Udayavr Sri Ramanujar who is the hamsam of Aadhiseshan, is serving as the bed for the Emperumaan.