THIRUPALKADAL SREEKRISHNASWAMY TEMPLE Part 2
Kulashekhara Azhwar
Thirupalkadal (Thiruparkadal) Thirupalkadal (Thiruparkadal) SreeKrishnaswamy Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Bhagavaan Mahavishnu.
Thirupalkadal Sreekrishnaswamy temple is known as Aadikulakovil of THE Keezhperoor Ay kingdom. The Ay Kingdom ruled over various parts of southern-most parts of Tamizhagam and became feudatories of the Chera Empires. The Ay royal family later on merged with Later Cheras and became to be called Venad and later on Travancore Kingdom. This temple was renovated in 9th century AD by Kulashekhara Azhwar.
It is believed that the Kollam Era used in Malayalam calendar commemorates the renovation of this ancient and once famous temple by the Venerable Kulashekhara Azhwar. This year 2018 in Julian calendar corresponds to 1193 in Kollam Era.
Twelve AZHWARS:
The Azhwars were Tamil poet-saints who espoused bhakti to Maha Vishnu or his avatar SriKrishna in their songs of longing, ecstasy and loving service. They are venerated in Sri Vaishnavism, which regards Maha Vishnu or SriKrishna as the Supreme Being. The devotional outpourings of Azhwars, composed during the early medieval period of Tamil history, helped revive the bhakti movement, through their hymns of worship to Vishnu and his avatars. They praised the Divya Desams, 108 "abodes" of these Vaishnava deities. The poetry of the Azhwars echoes Vishnu bhakti through love, and in the ecstasy of such devotions they sang hundreds of songs which embodied both depth of feeling and felicity of expression. The collection of their hymns is known as ‘Divya Prabandham’.
The TWELVE Azhwars are considered to be different aspects of Maha Vishnu
The Azhwars were Tamil poet-saints who espoused bhakti to Maha Vishnu or his avatar SriKrishna in their songs of longing, ecstasy and loving service. They are venerated in Sri Vaishnavism, which regards Maha Vishnu or SriKrishna as the Supreme Being. The devotional outpourings of Azhwars, composed during the early medieval period of Tamil history, helped revive the bhakti movement, through their hymns of worship to Vishnu and his avatars. They praised the Divya Desams, 108 "abodes" of these Vaishnava deities. The poetry of the Azhwars echoes Vishnu bhakti through love, and in the ecstasy of such devotions they sang hundreds of songs which embodied both depth of feeling and felicity of expression. The collection of their hymns is known as ‘Divya Prabandham’.
The TWELVE Azhwars are considered to be different aspects of Maha Vishnu
Name of Azhwar
|
Aspect of MahaVishnu
|
Poigai Azhwar,
|
Panchajanya (conch)
|
Bhoodath Azhwar,
|
KaumodaKi (mace)
|
Peya Azhar,
|
Nandaka (sword)
|
Thirumazhisai Azhwar,
|
Sudarshana Chakra
|
Namm Azhwar,
|
Vishvaksena (commander)
|
Madhurakavi Azhwar,
disciple
of Nammazhwar
|
Garuda
|
Kulasekhara Azhwar,
|
Kaustubha (gem)
|
Periyazhwar, father for Sri Andal
|
Garuda
|
Sri Andal, the only lady Azhwar.
|
Bhoodevi
|
Thondaradippodi Azhwar,
(Vipra
Narayanar),
|
Vanamaalai (garland)
|
Thiruppaan Azhwar,
|
Srivatsa
|
Thirumangai Azhwar,
|
Sharanga (bow)
|
KULASEKHARA AZHWAR (CE 767- CE 830)
Thiru Kulasekhara Azhwar/Kolli Kavalan/Koodal Nayakan was born during 8th century A.D to King Dhidavratha and his pious wife Nadhanayaki in the year Pramadhi, in the Malayalam Kumbha maasam (Tamil month Masi) with the birth star Punarvasu (Malayalam: Punardham, Tamil: Punarpoosam) in Thiruvanjikulam, near Kodungallur in Thrissur district, Kerala. Ancient lore, which has come down the generations state that Kulasekhara Azhwar’s mother was an Ay Yadava princess from Keezhperoor royal family.
The entire Chera Kingdom rejoiced over the birth of this divine child, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu’s Kausthubam, the precious gem adorned on the chest of Lord Vishnu. Young Kulashekara was introduced to Astra, Sastra and sacred scriptures at early years of childhood. In a short span of time, young prince Kulashekara mastered all the subjects and acquired profound knowledge in war tactics, archery, horse & elephant riding and the science of armaments, transforming into a brave and mighty warrior in due course. When the time came, his father offered the throne of Chera Kingdom to Kulasekhara Varman and took to vaanaprastham. Maharaja Kulashekhara is described by some sources to have ruled Koli (modern-day Uraiyur), Kudal (modern day Madurai) and Kongu Natu. He bore titles such as Kolli-Kavalan(guardian of Kolli Hills), Kudal-Nayagan(the Hero of Madurai) and Koli-Kon(the king of Cholas)
Unlike many other saint-kings, Kulasekhara Varman was powerful ruler. In fact, he was the founder of the Later Chera Dynasty. Maharaja Kulasekhara Varman was a wise and unparalleled ruler, conquered all the neighbouring cities including the Kingdoms of Pandya and Chozha. His administration was flawless, people were very happy and lived peaceful life and justice prevailed in his kingdom. His kingdom included lands of Kolli (modern day Uraiyur), Koodal (modern day Madurai) and Kongu. Indubitably, his coming to power in the name of Later Cheras was a turning point in the history of Kerala as it marked the revival of the Vaishnava bhakti tradition and the beginning of the struggle with the support of political power to oust Buddhism from Kerala. A Malayalee linguistic identity, distinct from Tamil emerged during this period.
Later, King Kulazhekara was married to the princess of Pandya Kingdom. This royal couple had a son and a daughter.
Ilai (ഇളൈ)/Chera Kula Valli Nachiyar, daughter of King Kulazhekara was a staunch devotee of Lord Ranganatha. On the auspicious day of Sri Rama Navami, Chera Kula Valli Nachiyar married to Lord Ranganatha and devoted her life as a dutiful wife to Lord Rangatha and immersed herself in the service of the Lord.
The sErthi sEvai (Tamil: சேர்த்தி சேவை; Malayalam: സെർത്തി സേവൈ) of this Thaayaar with SreeRanganathar is celebrated once an year, on Rama Navami day. In Tamil, SErthi means alongside/together and SEvai connotes Darshan. Unlike many temples, Srirangam does not have a Thirukkalyana uthsavam, the Marriage Festival, between SreeRanganathar and Thaayaar for they are regarded as Divyadhampathigal (divine couple), existing beyond mortal limitations and perceptions.
Maharaja Kulazhekara Varman was a staunch devotee of the Bhagawaan Maha Vishnu and in particular, HIS avatar, Bhagawaan SreeRama. He used to spend long hours in the company of Vishnu Bhakta learning the stories from the grand epic Ramayanam.
The Vishnu Bhakta had free access to the Maharaja. The royal ministers were concerned that the Maharaja Kulasekhara Varman was spending excessive time on devotion and inadequate time on administration of the kingdom. Determined to change this sorry state of affairs they literally took matters into their own hands and plotted the downfall of the Vaishnava devotees. On a Ramanavami day the deities were arranged for the special rituals, King Kulazhekara noticed that precious jewel ornament was missing from the idol, ordered his men to locate the same. The ministers suspected the Vaishnava scholars and saints who used to conduct lectures and prayers. There was a custom prevailed in those days that in case of any dispute the innocent should prove blamelessness by putting hands into a pot full of venomous snakes. King Kulazhekara was absolutely certain that no Vaishnava saint or scholar could commit such a sacrilege and slipped his hand inside the pot, shortly removed his hand from the pot unharmed. Putting his own life at risk, the noble King Kulasekhara proved the innocence and staunch devotion of the Vaishnava saints and scholars assembled. Later, the royal ministers’ elaborate conspiracy against the Vaishnava came to light. The royal ministers became ashamed of their despicable conspiracy against the Vishnu bhakta and they sought pardon from Maharaja Kulasekara Varman for what their evil deed. But, the noble Kulasekara informed them that he is not the right person to pardon them, they should instead seek the forgiveness of the victimized Vishnu Bhaktas. This incident only strengthened Maharaja’s devotion towards the LORD. Maharaja Kulazhekara having lost interest in the material world, discarded all the royal wealth, pomp and gory and crowned his son as the King of Chera Kingdom.
Maharaja Kulazhekara Varman, now, Kulasekhara Azhwar, lived a life of a wandering ascetic. Kulashekhara Azhwar renovated Thirupalkadal SreeKrishnaswamy Temple. He composed enthralling verses like ‘Mukundamala’ in Sanskrit and ‘Perumal Thirumozhi’ (105) in Tamil, praising the glories of the Lord. His poems are devotional in nature, being dedicated to the most prominent avatara of Vishnu - Rama and Krishna. A devotee of Rama, he considered the painful experiences of Rama to be his own. He is therefore also known as 'PERUMAL', meaning 'The Great' – an epithet for god Rama. His devotion was so intense that he worshiped the devotees as forms of Vishnu. ‘Perumal Tirumozhi’, which is compiled as a part of ‘Nalayira Divya Prabandham’, is called so, since these verses are considered divinely inspired, so much so that they are called ‘words of Perumal’ HIMSELF. Kulasekhara Azhwar is also considered to be the author of the Sanskrit works such as ‘Tapatisamvaranam’, ‘Subhadradhananjaya’ and ‘Vichchinnabhiseka’.
Legends, which have been handed down the generations, state that Kulasekhara Azhwar’s mother was an Ay princess from Keezhperoor royal family. A question arises as to why this Azhwar came to Keezhperoor and renovated the Thirupalkadal Tempe? Why did he not renovate Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kasaragod, which was at the northern end of his kingdom? Again, after the collapse of the Later Chera Empire following the defeat in a war with Raja Raja Chola, Kulasekhara Azhwar’s descendant Maharaja Rama Varma Kulasekhara did not move north to Kozhikode where he could have been relatively safer from invasion by the Imperial Cholas. Instead, Maharaja Rama Varma moved his forces south to Keezhperoor, Kollam. It could be due to the Azhwar’s matrilineal linkages to Keezhperoor.
Kulashekhara Azhwar is thought to have attained salvation at Mannarkovil, a village in Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli District, TN. The Perumal koil here is called Sri Rajagopalaswamy Kulasekara Azhwar Koyil, the only historical Perumal koil to be directly named as an Azhvaar Perumal koyil. 
Kulashekhara Azhwar composed a poem of 105 verses called "Perumal Tirumozhi"- a classic example of the yearning of a Bhakta to serve the Lord. Every single verse of the 105 verses of this work is so filled with touching emotion and packed with palpable sentiments. Distributed in 10 decads, each one vividly portrays a different facet of the Azhwar's experience of the Lord, with palpable sentiments.
taniyankaL (தனியன்கள்) (stand-alone stanzas
A fulsome praise by Sri Ramanujacharya, the supreme spiritual head of the SriVaishnava denomination, to the revered Kulasekhara Azhwar:
innamudam oottuhaen ingae vaa paingiliyae
tennarangam paada valla Seer perumaal |
ponnanSilai Saer nutaliyar vel saeralar kone
engal kulasekaran enrae kooru ||
~Sri Raamaanujaachaaryar 1017–1137 CE
~Sri Raamaanujaachaaryar 1017–1137 CE
Come here, Oh! My pet parrot! Hear these words, nectarean. The Chera King, our very own Kulasekhara Azhwar was a great Rama Bhakta. He taught His parrot to chant Rama namam. Likewise, let me teach you names of Azhwars. Chant you them always.
– inside the premises of Thillai Nataraja Temple.
DIVYA DESAMS CONSECRATED BY KULASEKARA AZHWAR
1.Tiruvarangam, near Thirukoilur, Villupuram District, TN
2.Tiruk Kanna Puram, near Nannilam, Nagapattinam District
3.Tiru Chitra Koodam or Govindaraja Perumal Temple, inside the premises of Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram. (Listening to Kulasekara Azhvaar’s praise of the Chitrakoodam Lord is equivalent to listening to the entire Ramayana.)
4.Tiru Vittuvak Kodu, (Thirumittakode Anchumoorthi temple) near Pattambi, Palakkad district, Kerala. Mukthisthalam of Raja Ambhareesha.
5.Tiru Venkadam, Ariyakudi, Sivagangai District, TN
6.Tiru Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
7.Tirup Paar Kadal, (Thirupalkadal SreeKrishna Swamy Temple, Keezhperoor, Kerala.
2.Tiruk Kanna Puram, near Nannilam, Nagapattinam District
3.Tiru Chitra Koodam or Govindaraja Perumal Temple, inside the premises of Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram. (Listening to Kulasekara Azhvaar’s praise of the Chitrakoodam Lord is equivalent to listening to the entire Ramayana.)
4.Tiru Vittuvak Kodu, (Thirumittakode Anchumoorthi temple) near Pattambi, Palakkad district, Kerala. Mukthisthalam of Raja Ambhareesha.
5.Tiru Venkadam, Ariyakudi, Sivagangai District, TN
6.Tiru Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
7.Tirup Paar Kadal, (Thirupalkadal SreeKrishna Swamy Temple, Keezhperoor, Kerala.
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