Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

Arulmigu Jegannatha Perumal & Tirumazhisai Alwar temple is also known as "Madhya Jagannatham" and "Poorna Jagannatham". Birth place of Saint Tirumazhisai Azhwar. This Saint devotees of Srivaishnavism believe that he was the incarnation of Vishnu's disc, Sudarshana. One of the twelve Azhwars whose work is compiled as Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th-9th centuries A.D. His works include Tiruvanthai and Tiruchanda Viruttam, which are included in the canon. According to the Hindu legend, the Saptarishis (the seven sages) wanted to have a view of Madhya Jagannatha (literally meaning jagannatha located in the middle). As per Hindu legend, the Jaganatha at Puri Jagannatha temple is called Vada Jagannatha (located in the north) and the one located in Adi Jagannatha Perumal temple at Thirupulla Madhya Jagannatha at this place.

Legend - Maharshi's Athiri, Brughu and Bhargava approached Lord Brahmma to suggest a place where they would perform penance. Lord Brahmma called the divine sculptor (Mayan), gave him a scale. He placed Tirumazhisai on one plate and the rest of earth on the other. The Plate of Tirumazhisai went down over weighing the other side of the scale. Realizing the glory of the place, the Sages performed penance here. Lord Jagannatha granted them darshan in sitting form. Born to Bhargava Rishi and Kanakangi in the Tamil Calendar month of Thai (Magam Star),Thirumazhisai azhvaar had a disfigured body at birth. Hence, his parents threw him into a Bamboo pit at Thirumazhisai (which is now a Mandapa to the west of the temple complex). A childless couple Thiruvaalan and Bangaya Selvi picked him up and brought him up with love and care.

The presence of Thirumazhisai azhvaar brought back youth to the couple who then had a son by name Kanikannan. Kanikannan became Thirumazhisai azhvaar’s disciple and served under him. Thirumazhisai Azhvaar’s favourite lord was Sonna Vannam Seitha Perumal of thiruvekka in kanchipuram. For years, he stayed at thiruvekka and undertook service there. Once, a Pallava King of Kanchi ordered Kanikannan out of the kingdom for failing to sing praise of him. When Thirumazhisai Azhvaar heard this, he too followed suit. Not just him, he asked Thiruvekka lord to also accompany him. Everyone are in shock, the lord joined Thirumazhisai Azhvaar and Kanikannan out of the kingdom plunging the whole place into darkness. Realizing his folly, the king apologized and requested them to return to Kanchi. As a mark of having left his abode and having returned subsequently, the Thiruvekka lord changed his posture and slept in the opposite direction. As the lord acceded to the request of Thirumazhisai Azhvaar to accompany him out of the kingdom, the lord of Thiruvekka Divya Desam came to be called ‘Sonna Vannam Seitha Perumal’.

Thirumazhisai Azhvaar also visited thiru Kudanthai and sung praise of Lord Aaraavamuthan Seeing the sleeping posture of the lord, a curious Thirumazhisai Azhvaar questioned if the lord’s tiredness was the reason for him to be lying down in his sleeping posture and if he would not raise and provide him darshan. After hearing this, it is believed that the lord slightly raised his posture to greet the azhvaar. Feeling the guilt of having caused strain on the lord, Thirumazhisai Azhvaar asked him to remain as he is and the lord remained so ever after. To this day, one can see the lord in a slightly ‘raised reclining’ posture (Uthaana Sayanam). The story goes that Thirumazhisai Azhvaar was undertaking yogic penance at this place. Shiva and Parvathi, who were flying and landed here. Over this place were pleased with his penance and landed here at Thirumazhisai. When asked for a boon, Thirumazhisai Azhvaar asked for Mukthi only to be rejected as only Vishnu had the power to provide moksham. He then asked for small thread that could keep rolling into the needle that he was using to stitch his torn clothes. Fuming with anger at this request, Shiva opened his third eye. Thirumazhisai Azhvaar invoked the blessings of Lord Narayana and immediately a third eye emerged for Thirumazhisai as well from the toe of his right leg with water rolling out to cool the fire raging from Shiva’s third eye. Pleased with the devotion of Thirumazhisai azhvaar, Shiva presented him the title of ‘Bhakti Saaran’.

This temple dates to the Dwapara Yuga, finds reference in the Brahmanda Purana as ‘Mageesara Kshetram’. As the place of the temple is believed to have in it all the glory of earth, it is named Magisaram. Those born in this sacred place and those who worship here will not have rebirth, according to belief.