Thirukkadigai: Difference between revisions

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines uphills. The temple has a five-tiered raja[[gopuram]] at the top of hill, while the temple tank is located opposite to the temple, outside the main entrance in the foothills. The temple follows [[Thenkalai]] tradition of worship. Six daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Karthikai festival during November - December, Brahmotsavam during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Chittirai'' (March - April), and Narasimha Jayanti during ''Vaikasi'' (May - June) being the most prominent.  The temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].  

The place was originally called as Chozhsimhapuram, which later became Sholinghar. Various scriptures quote the place as Kadigachalam or Thirukadigai as the place is believed to offer blessings to devotees with a worship lasting a ''Kadigai'' (24 minutes). Peyazhwar refers the presiding deity as "Vaan Poonkadigai Ilankumaran", while based on legend the presiding deity is also called Bhakotchita Swami. ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' and ''[[Padma Purana]]'' refer this place as Kadigai and since Vishwamitra got his [[Brahmarishi]] title here, it became Simhapuram. The temple has many inscriptions at the foothills and also on the top of the hill. They indicate generous contributions from [[Kulothunga Chola III]] Mayuravarman and Seeyagangan. [[Manavala Mamunigal]] is believed to have performed enunciation of ''[[Thirupavai]]'' at this place on the request of his disciple Erumbiappa. The town originally was under the control of [[Shaivite]]s which is substantiated by the temple ruins near Parappan Kulam, in the valley between two hills. This is where original Sholinghur was situated. Unfinished [[Nandi (bull)|Nandhi]]s and Sthupas are found in numerous places in Sholinghur.<ref name=hindu>{{cite news|title=Twin temples that draw devotees|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2000/12/08/stories/13080794.htm|date=8 December 2000|access-date=29 November 2015|last=T.A.|work=[[The Hindu]]|first=Srinivasan}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The temple is seen as one of the famous temples of Narasimha and a powerful image of [[Hanuman]].<ref>{{cite book|title=South Indian Shrines Illustrated|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&q=sholingur+temple&pg=PA539|page=539|last=Ayyar|first=P.V. Jagadisa|year=1993|location=New Delhi|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=81-206-0151-3}}</ref>  

Thirukkadigai is revered in ''[[Nalayira Divya Prabhandam]]'', the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by [[Peyazhwar]] and [[Thirumangai Azhwar]]. The temple is classified as a ''[[Divyadesam]]'', one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. Peyazhwar describes the place as the one having gardens thronged by a swam by bees.<ref>{{cite book|title=Sri Pei Azhwar's Moonram Thiruvandhadi|last1=Pēyāl̲vār|last2=M.|first2=Rajagopalan|year=2004|publisher=N. Rajagopalan|page=75}}</ref> The temple also finds mention in later works by [[Nathamuni]], [[Thirukachi Nambi]], [[Ramanuja]] and [[Manavala Mamunigal]]. The temple is believed to be one of the 74 seats established by [[Ramanuja]] to spread Vishitadvaita.<ref name=R>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|pages=455–6}}</ref> During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like ''108 Tirupathi Anthathi'' by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Yoga Narasimhar temple|url=http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=542|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=31 May 2014|year=2014}}</ref> Doddacharya was a Vaishnava saint believed to be the descendant of Mudaliandan. Doddacharya followed the steps of Ramanuja in advocating Vishishadvaita and maintained the temples hailed by the Azhwars. He is believed to have performed lot of miracles and impressed by his work, [[Achyuta Deva Raya]] (1529-42 CE), the relative of [[Krishnadevaraya]] gave him benovelent donations for maintenance of temples. During festival occasion in the temple like Brahmostavam, Doddacharya is given a special place in processions and also during the Garuda Sevai in Kanchipuram temple. A festival named Doddacharya Utsavam is celebrated during the Tamil month of ''Masi'' (February - March). His descendants are believed to administer the religious activities during modern times.<ref name=hindu1>{{cite news|title=Twin temples that draw devotees|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/09/27/stories/2002092701070600.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030418063233/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/09/27/stories/2002092701070600.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 April 2003|date=27 September 2002|access-date=29 November 2015|last=T.A.|work=[[The Hindu]]|first=Srinivasan}}</ref> The temple is frequented by people with mental illness, who are believed to get cured by the grace of the presiding deity.<ref name=Meena>{{cite book|title=Temples in South India|last=V.|first=Meena|publisher=Harikumar Arts|location=Kanniyakumari|year=1974|edition=1st|page=48}}</ref>