Thiruvanpurushothamam is traditionally enumerated as number 32 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.
This is one of the divya desams in Thirunangoor village in Sirkazhi taluk of Tanjore District. It is five miles from Sirkazhi. The moolavar is known as Purushothaman. He is seen in a standing posture facing east. The Thayar is known as Purushothama Nayaki. The theertham is known as Thirupparkadal theertham. The vimanam is Sanjeevi vigraha vimanam.
In Tamil Nadu this is the only Vaishnavite temple where the Perumal is known as Purushothaman and hence the place where He stays has come to be known as Thiruvan Purushothamam.
The temple of Sri Purushothama Swamy is the most important temple in Thirunangoor. The original structure was reportedly in bricks. It is believed that Thirumangai Alvar had this temple renovated.
The mythological story relating to this temple is interesting. It is said that sage Uthanga did penance in Nangoor according to Purushothama yoga as propounded in the 15th Chapter of Bhagvad Gita as also the Purushasooktha. He thus tried to realise God through severe penance. The severity and the depth of the penance sent ripples of fear among the Devas in Satyaloka. They approached Lord Vishnu for protection. Lord Vishnu agreed to go over to Uthanga and make him stop his severe penance. He appeared before Uthanga and blessed the sage. The sage prayed that the Lord may continue to stay in the same place so that
many others also could have the benefit of worshipping Him in the archa form at Thirunangoor. God is said to have conceded his request and the present idols of Lord Purushothama and the Thayar known as Purushothama Nayaki are said to be the idols which appeared at the behest of sage Uthanga and which were also worshipped by him.
Yet another story connected with this place relates to an incident that occurred in the life of the sage Vyagra pathar (Pulikkal munivar - the rishi having feet like those of a tiger). Once upon a time, Vyagra pathar and his three year old son by name Upamanyu came to Purushothaman Koil. Vyagra pathar is said to have left the child in the temple and went into the forest to collect flowers for worshipping the Lord. After sometime, thé boy felt hungry and started crying. The Perumal and Thayar appeared before the child and out of their spontaneous grace and kindness are said to have brought ksheerabdi itself (i.e. the milky ocean in Heaven) to Nangoor so as to satisfy the hunger of Upamanyu. Later God is believed to have converted part of the ksheerabdi into a huge lake of water and even today this tank at the entrance to Thirunangoor is known by the name of Thirupparkadal. This episode is said to have occurred on Sukla Dwadasi i.e. the twelth day after the New Moon in the month of Karthigai. It is believed that a dip in the lake on that day will wash away all sins.
TELUGU · తెలుగు
దివ్యదేశం: తిరువణ్ పురుషోత్తమం. పూర్తి వివరణ త్వరలో.