Thiru Adanur

Thiru Adanur is one of the 108 Vaishnava temples situated 9 kms from Kumbakonam and 3 kms from Swamimalai.

Introduction

There are 108 shrines considered as sacred to Vishnu. Thiru Adanur is one of them that is of great antiquity and is held in high veneration. Here, Vishnu reclines as Aandalakkum Aiyan. He is believed to have been worshipped by Bhargava Rishi and Adishesha.

Thiru Adanur at a glance

Vishnu here is referred to as	Aandalakkum Aiyan
Lakshmi is referred to by the names	Ranganayakiyar, Bhargavi, Kamalahasini, Sri Chakranivasini, Mantra Priteshvari
Kshetra is referred to as	Bhargava Simhapuram, Sanjivapuram
Vimana is called	Pranava Vimana
Pushkarini is called	Surya Pushkarini, Chandra Pushkarini
Hymns by Alwars	One
Location	3 kms from Swamimalai

Structure

The temple of Thiru Adanur situated in the centre of the village, is said to be a perfect specimen of Dravidian architecture. In its present form, the temple is located on a one-acre site. The construction of the temple is solid yet simple. The shrine comprises of a small tower that dominates the landscape with a three tier Rajagopuram. The designs on the Gopuram is that of small squares converging at the summit into a tower. This symbolically represents the thought that every being has to merge ultimately with the Supreme. While, inside the sanctum the atmosphere is very calm and quiet, dark but sublime. The temple houses a separate shrine for Sri Lakshmi and does not possess any extraordinary sculptures. However, that is compensated by the multitude of its legends.

Deity

Narayana here, is known as Aandalakkum Aiyan, the one who is the essence of time. It is believed that He measures our action and metes out the rewards or punishment deftly. And while doing so, as proclaimed by the Bhagavad Gita, He has no friend or foe. He is seen in a reclining posture resting on a measuring bushel (Marakkal) facing the east. Sri Lakshmi is known by several names and is popularly worshipped as Kamalavasini and Ranganayaki. Surya and Chandra Pushkarnis are the holy thirthas in this kshetra and the vimana is known as Pranava vimana. Tradition goes that Mahavishnu appeared before Brghu, Agni, Kamadhenu and Thirumangai Alwar. The temple is revered by Thirumangai Alwar in one of his pasurams.

Legends

There is no account of this temple which can be complete without the sketch of the Lord who reclines and saves mankind. The main spring of inspiration for this kshetra is provided by the Alwar saints and their hymns dating back to aeons of time. and Brahmanda puran extols the glory of the Lord in great detail.

It was at this place that Agni bhagwan was relieved of his curse. Therefore this place is a Shaapa Vimochana Sthala. It was here again that Lord Indira regained his lost glory, wealth and kingdom after offering Kainkarya to Mahalakshmi. According to puran, once the Lord in a huff left paramapada and came to Aadanoor in search of solitude. He was not accompanied either by his consort or Adisesha. After a long search Adisesha traced the Lord to this sacred spot even as the Lord was reclining on the ground without any couch. Looking at the plight of the Lord Adisesha was grief-stricken and inconsolable. In his turn the Lord of Vaikunta wanted to test whether the Sesha was the same King of Serpents that he had known from time immemorial. Adisesha proved his identity to the Lord. Then the Lord initiated Adisesha into the fold of Vaishnavism by performing Samasrayanam, a holy ritual. This ritual is also known as Mudra Dharanam when the devotee is branded on the shoulders with the emblem of Vishnu's discus and conch. Thus at this place symbolic of the Mudra dharanam, one can see the mark of discus and conch on the serpent's hood. The Lord of blemishless fame thus became the Acharya to the serpent. And it is evident that Vaishnavism has in its fold a pious and an ardent devotee.

The legend has that, the Lord directed Thirumangai Azhwar in his dream to go to the bank of Kollidam river. After the dream visitation of the Lord Thirumangai Azhwar at Kollidam river met a trader with a weighing measure. This unknown mystic helped Thirumangai Azhwar in his construction of Srirangam temple boundary wall. The mystic was also holding a palm leaf and writing instrument.

The trader gave everyone a bushel full of mud, but in the Azhwar's hand it turned out to be gold while with the rest it remained as mud. The crowd became furious and started attacking the mystic. At this juncture the Azhwar brandished his sword to drive away the crowd. This incident is depicted in the Garbagriha. with the Azhwar brandishing a sword in one hand.

The Azhwar followed the trader to Adanoor temple wherein he disappeared. Symbolic of this incident the Lord gave darshan to Azhwar in bhujanga sayana with weighing measure as his pillow, left hand holding the palm leaf and the right holding the writing instrument.

According to legend, Agni Bhagwan lured by its idyllic and sylvan surroundings bathed in the waters of repentance and got relieved of his curse by practising severe austerity at this Bhargava kshetra representing the quintessence of bhakti marga.

According to another legend, once Sage Durvasa was presented with a garland of rare Santhanaka flower by Goddess Lakshmi. In an atmosphere surcharged with devotion the Muni gave the garland to Indra seated on Airavatha. Failing to understand the sentiments of the Muni, he in turn gave away the garland to the elephant Airavatha. Unable to realise the sanctity of the garland where Goddess Lakshmi dwelt Airavata trampled the garland with his legs. The sage got angry at this and cursed Indra that Lakshmi would disappear from the three worlds ruled by him. Realising his folly Indra approached Vishnu and prayed to him for redemption. Lakshmi asked him to go to Adanoor and pray at Bhargava kshetra where she would be born as the daughter of Bhargava Maharishi.

At the same time Bhargava Maharishi was in deep penance at Adanoor. One day he found a female child near the temple pushkarni. He named her Bhargavi. Thus as per his desire he was blessed with the goddess Lakshmi incarnated as his daughter and the Lord of four arms becoming his son-in-law. Therefore this place is known as Bhargava Kshetra. When she came of age the Lord descended to Adanoor and asked for her hand in marriage.

Meanwhile Indra came to this kshetra with a prayer on his lips and faith in his heart. As promised Lakshmi cast a glance on Indra and redeemed him of Durvasa's curse and restored his lost glory and wealth. Legend also tells that once the devas had lost all their energy and strength. They became so weak that they were easily vanquished by the demons. On the advice of Vishnu they churned the ocean to recover Goddess Lakshmi who had disappeared from the three worlds because of sage Durvasa's curse. The devas and the asuras churned the ocean using Vasuki, the serpent as a rope. Goddess Lakshmi came out as the last entity. She cast herself on the chest of Vishnu. Many auspicious things like Kamadenu, Dhanvantri and Kalpakavriksha emerged out of the ocean. Kamadenu, the celestial cow wanted to have precedence over Lakshmi since she emerged first. She prayed to the Lord to grant supremacy. The Lord, the impartial judge, gave his weighing measure and asked her to fill it up with her aishwarya. The measuring unit did not get filled up fully. He then asked Mahalakshmi to reveal her qualities of aishwarya. With a prayer on her lips and devotion in her heart Mahalakshmi took a tulsi from the Lord and placed it on the measuring unit. The unit overflowed with Kamadenu realising her folly. She sought forgiveness by her deep penance. Moved by her sincerity the Lord appeared before Kamadenu and forgave her. Symbolic of the incidence one can find Kamadenu along with her calf in the sanctum at the feet of the Lord.*