Brahmotsavam at Sri Ranganatha Perumal Kovil tiruneermalai started today 3rd may 2012 and ends on the 14th may 2012.
Details of the utsavam can be seen below
3/5: Night -Angurarpanam
4/5: Morning Dwajarohanam between 6-7.30 AM, Noon-Tholukiniyan;
5/5:Morning -Simha Vahanam, and Hamsa Vahanam;
6/5: Morning-Pallaku, and Hanumantha;
7/5:Morning-Pallaku and-Sesha Vahanam;
8/5: Morning-Nachiyar Tirukolam, and -GARUDA SEVAI;
9/5: Morning-Chooornabishekam-Tholikiniyan, and -Gaja Vahanam;
10/5 Morning-THIRUTHER;
11/5: Morning-Pallaku, Evening-Thirumanjanam, and -Ashwa Vahanam;
12/5 : Morning-Pallaku, and-Dwajavarohanam-Tholukiniyan;
13/5: Sapthavarnam Tholukiniyan;
14/5: Sriranga Vimanam Vidaiyatri Utsavam
This Divya Desam praised by ThiruMangai Azhvaar and BhoothathAzhvaar is on the outskirts of Madras, about 5 kms West of Pallavaram. At Thiru Neermalai, one finds Lord Vishnu in four forms – Sitting, Sleeping and Walking posture atop the hill and Standing posture in the temple at the foot of the hill.
Thiru Mangai Azhvaar came here to sing praise of the Lord but heavy rains flooded the place and he could not reach this temple. Having come this far, he decided to wait till the rains stopped. It proved to be a long wait of 6 months before Thiru Mangai could meet his Lord. The hill on which he stayed during these 6 months still exists and is called ThiruMangai Azhvaar Puram. This is the only Divya Desam where Thiru Mangai waited this long to meet the Lord. One has seen in the stories relating to a few of the other Divya Desams where Thiru Mangai has left/threatened to leave without waiting for the Lord.
The Utsavar deity of Ranganatha is seen at the Neer Vannan temple at the foot of the hill. Only thrice a year- on the first and last day of Brahmotsavam festival and on the Panguni Uthiram day- is he taken up the hill to be alongside the Moolavar Lord Ranganatha. This place is called Madhya Rangam and Lord Ranganatha is seen in Bhoga Sayanam.
Darshan as Raama to Valmiki
Having offered his prayers to the three Lords atop the hill, Valmiki is said to have missed the presence of Lord Raama at this place and is said to have undertaken penance thinking of Lord Raama.. Ranganatha is said to have appeared before him as Raama, Lakshmi as Sita and Adhiseshan as Lakshmana at this place.
Thirumangai and Bhoothath Azhvaar have praised the Lord with 21 Paasurams.
Thirumangai Azhvaar says in his praise of the Thiruneermalai Lord that worshipping this Divya Desam is equivalent to having visited Thiru Kovilur, Thiruvali, Naachiyar Koil and Thiru Kudanthai.
Among the Divya Desams, this is the first Thaayar (Goddess) – Mani Maa Malar- that Thiru Mangai has praised with his paasurams.
“ Anraayar Kulakodiyoodu, Manimaamalar Mangaiudan Palavi,
Avunarukku Enraanumirakum…..Nanraaya Punal
Naraiyur Thiruvaali Kudanthai Thadanthigal Koval Nagar
Ninraan Irunthaan, Kidanthaan Nadanthaarkidam
Maamalaiyaavathu Neer Malai Ye”
BhoothathAzhvaar in his only paasuram compares this temple to Srirangam and Tirupathi.
One of the two oldest ‘hill’ Divya Desams
During Dwapara Yugam, there were only two Divya Desams that were on hills. One was Ahobilam and the other was Thiruneermalai.
It is believed that Lord Narasimha gave darshan to Arjuna after he performed the Ashwamedha Yaagam here at this place. Only Divya Desams where Lord Narasimha is seen in a cool posture – called ‘Shaanta Narasimhar’.
Prarthana SthalamThis is a prarthana sthalam and the Lord is said to answer prayers relating to different issues, especially marriage.
One of the 8 Mukthi Sthalams
Thiru Neermalai is said to be one of the 8 Mukthi Sthalams, others being Srirangam, Tirupathi, Saaligram, Naimisaarinyam, Sri Mushnam, Pushkaram and Naarayanpuram.
Quick Facts
Deity : Neer Vannan ( at the foot of the hill) standing posture facing East
Deities atop the hill: Ranganatha in Bhoga Sayanam, Shaantha Narasimha in Sitting posture and Trivikrama in Walking posture
Goddess : Mani Malar Mangai Thaayar
Azhvaar : ThiruMangai Azhvaar –20
(1078-87, 1115,1521,1554,1660,1765,1848,2069,2673,2674)
Bhoothath Azhvaar –1 (2227)
Temple Timing : 8am-12noon and 4pm-8pm
Bus from Pallavaram Bus Stand : 55A
Priest : Raju Bhattar
Contact : 98405 95374
Address : No. 8 West Tank Street, Thiru Neermalai 600 044
