Garudalwar has been affectionately glorified as Peria Thiruvadi , Pakshiraja, Vainateya, Suparna, Garuthman, Vinatasuta, Vishnuvahana, Nagantaka and Kashyapeya by devotees Garudalwar is always engaged in eternal service to Lord Sriman Narayana .
As a result, of his SharaNagati to Lord Sriman Narayana (Narayana Sayujyam). Garudalwar enjoys the benefit of Sameepyam (constantly being beside the Lord), SarUpyam (Shuddha Satvam) and SalOkyam (residence in Vishnu Lokam).
Garudalwar serves as the eternal chariot of Lord Vishnu. Consequently, Garuda received the name Periya Tiruvadi as against the divine role played by Hanumanjee as the Vahana for Lord Rama. Hence, Hanumanjee received the title Siriya Tiruvadi.
Those who have had the mercy of the darsanam of the 11 Garuda seva at ThirunAngUr dhivya desams at ThirunAngUr are truly blessed . Their fortune is comparable to those who had witnessed the Garuda Sevai at Kanchi ( VaikAsi and Aadi ThiruvONam ), SrIrangam ( Thai , Maasi, Panguni and Chitthirai) , NaacchiyAr Koil , AzhwAr Thirunagari and the famous Nava Garuda seva ( “Nine Garuda Sevais”) at Thirukurungoor with Swamy NammAzhwAr vaibhavam enacted .
Garudaalwar is worshipped as Veda Moorthy .His appearance star is SvAthi , which is the same as for Lord Narasimhar. Garudalwar incarnated as PeriyAzhwAr at SrI VilliputthUr and became the Father-in-Law of Lord RanganAthan and had the privilege of having his daughter and son-in-law live at his home in SrI VilliputthUr, which is known today as NaacchiyAr ThirumALigai.
At TheruzhunDUr dhivya desam , Garudalwar stands next to Aaamuruviyappan (GhOsakhan) awaiting His Lord’s command . At AhObilam, Garudalwar performed penance for the darsanam of Lord Narasimhan as He appeared before PrahlAdhan and the Lord responded to his tapas by giving darsanam to Garudalwart as “JwAlA Narasimhar”. Hence one of the names for AhObilam is GarudAdhri.
At Vadanadu Divya desam , Badarikashramam , Garudalwar is blessing the devotees with his darsanam in the assembly of of Nara-NaarAyana.
At ThiruveLLiyangudi dhivya dEsam , Garudalwar graces in PerumAL Sannidhi with Sankham and Chakram as a Nithya Soori. At ThiruvallikkENi Garudalwar gives the darsanam with Lord GajEndra Varadhan , in a separate Sannidhi.
Nachiyar Koil is a srivaishnava Divya desam is located in Tirunaraiyur en-route to Tanjavur from Kumbakonam. Since importance is given to Nachiyaar in this temple, it is called Nachiyaar Koyil.
The moola virat Lord Tirunaraiyur Nambi worshipped as Vasudevar graces us in the Kalyana kolam with Vanchulavalli Thayar in the sanctum sanctorium . The Theertham is Manimuktha pushkarini and the Vimanam Srinivasa Hema Vimanam. Legend has it that Lakshmi appeared as Vanchulavalli and MahaVishnu manifested himself in the Pancha Vyuha forms and married Vanchulavalli.
In the sanctum one finds the sculptures of the deities Sankarshana in the east, Pradyumna in the south, Anirudha in the west, Purushottaman in the north and Vasudeva in the center. There is no separate shrine for Thayar. There are shrines for Yoga Narasimhar, Ramar, Hanuman and Chakrapani.
Kal garudan is of special significance at this temple. The Garudalwar gives darshan with nine serpents and is believed to have the powers to remove the Navagraha dhosham.
It is understood from elders that a sculptor was making this deity of Garuda with utmost devotion . On completion, he suddenly found the deity flying after he had made Garuda’s wings.
Excited and simultaneously confused at this sudden action, the sculptor prayed Garudalwar for his mercy .
Garudalwar pleased with his dedication and prayers decided to settle here at this place and bless the devotees. ( Kal in tamil means stone ).
A huge and well built Garudalwar gives darshan to all the devotees coming to this Srivaishnava Divya desam . During the Tamil month of Aadi, the temple Lordships Thiru Naraiyur Nambi makes a visit to this Garuda’alwars Sannidhi.
A magical event happens during Garuda Sevai . Garudalwar increases his weight manifold . Science has not been able to explain the mystery underlying the fact that when the Salagrama deity of Garudalwan is taken out for procession, he is so light that he is carried by just 4 persons.
As the palanquin bearers (Srimaan taangigaL) , cross the outer enclosures one by one, Garudalwar becomes progressively heavier and needs 8, 16 and 32 men to carry the palanquin after each enclosure. Finally, when the Lord is taken outside the temple, Garudalwar increases in weight so much that 128 devotees assemble to carry the Lordships .
Similarly, after the outing procession (PurappaaDu), when Garudalwan enters the sanctum, he keeps loosing weight so that it need progressively lesser number of men to hold it from 32 to 16 to 8 and finally just 4 and in that order.
Another unique feature of this grand festival is that one can see Garudalwar sweating profusely as he makes his way out for the procession.
Thirumangai Azhwar, Periya Azhwar, Poigai Azhwar etc have done their Mangalasasanams to Garudalwar.
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan..
Photos credits : google images
video credits : ramyagiri , mighty garuda and advanced devotees
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