Sarangapani Temple, Kumbakonam

Sthala Purāṇam

Thirukkudanthai, the Sarangapani temple at Kumbakonam, is among the foremost Divya Desams and a Pancharanga Kshetram. Its sthala puranam begins with sage Bhrigu, who, testing the supremacy of the Trimurti, kicked the Lord's chest at Vaikuntha; though Narayana forgave him, Goddess Lakshmi, who resides upon His chest, took offence at the slight and departed to be born on earth. Bhrigu thereafter prayed that Lakshmi be born as his own daughter. Reborn as Hema Rishi (Hemarishi), he performed severe penance on the banks of the Potramarai (golden-lotus) tank. Pleased, the Lord granted the boon, and Lakshmi manifested upon a lotus amid a thousand blossoms in the tank, named Komalavalli for her tender lotus birth. To wed her, the Lord descended from Vaikuntha as Aaravamudhan (insatiable nectar) seated in a great chariot drawn by horses and elephants; residing first at the nearby Someswaran shrine to win her consent, He married her here. The central sanctum is sculpted as that very celestial chariot. The Perumal is Sarangapani, He who bears the Saranga bow in His hand, reclining as Uthana Sayi, and the Thayar is Komalavalli. The towering eleven-tiered rajagopuram and the chariot-shaped vimana mark the shrine, which is glorified by numerous Alvars including Andal, Periyalvar, Tirumalisai Alvar, Nammalvar and Thirumangai Alvar.

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