Thiruvanparisaram

Thiruvanparisaram is traditionally enumerated as number 83 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.

This is one among the 13 divya desas of Malainadu. It is also known as Tirupatisaram. It lies on the Nagercoil-Tirunelveli bus route and is about three miles from Nagercoil. The moolavar here is known as Tirukkuralappan as also Tiruvazhmarban. He is seen in a sitting posture facing east. The moolavar has four hands. The upper arms hold shanku and chakra. The lower right arm is seen in abhaya hasta pose and the left is placed on the knees. The idol is nearly 9 fect tall. It is made through the kadu sarkara yoga process. This is the same process described earlier while mentioning about the idol at Tiruvattar. In brief, the idol is made out of granite and lime with a paste formed out of a mixture of molasses and mustard applied on it. So the moolavar can never have an abisheka and water cannot be poured on such idols. The utsava deity therefore receives all the daily abisheka. The moolavar is surrounded by the Saptha rishis. The thayar is known as Kamalavalli Nachiyar. The Theertha is known as Lakshmi theertha. The vimana is Indra Kalyana vimana.

Some say that this place is known as Tirupatisaram as it is the essence of all sacred places and having a temple of great antiquity held in reverence by innumerable devotees. Yet others say that the place is known as Tiruvanparisaram as the great king Kulasekhara of the 8th century A.D. found his favourite horse lost while marching back after his victorious foray into the neighbouring countries in that region. He found it peacefully grazing on the banks of Soma theertha. the king was immensely pleased and named the place as Tiruvan pari saram. In Tamil the word"pari"means horse. As the king found the horse in that place, he named it Tiruvan pari saram. He is said to have taken a bath in the theertha and worshipped at the small Vishnu temple in the place and as a thanks-giving offer, reconstructed the same temple on a grand sacle.

The sthala purana has a different story to relate. It is said that once upon a time the Saptha rishis were doing penance at Asrama, a vil’age near Suchindram in the hermitage of Atri. After their intense prayer, God appeared before them in the form of