Nathan Kovil Idols: Meaning and Symbolism of Jagannatha Perumal Temple Murtis
Nathan Kovil, also called Thiru Nandipura Vinnagaram, is a village near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. The temple here is known as Jagannatha Perumal Temple and it is dedicated to Bhagavan Vishnu. It is built in Dravidian style of architecture. The temple is praised in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the collection of Tamil hymns of the Alvar saints, who lived between 6th and 9th century CE. It is counted as one of the 108 Divya Desams. Here Bhagavan Vishnu is worshipped as Jagannathan and his consort Mahalakshmi as Shenbagavalli.
The Main Idol of Nathan Kovil: Nathananthan or Vinnagara Perumal
The mulavar, the main deity, is a stone image. Bhagavan is
seated, with the right leg folded and the left leg hanging down. Sitting
posture is called asana, and it shows calmness and readiness to bless the
devotee who comes near.
He has four arms. This is common in Vishnu images, and the
number four is connected with the four goals of human life: dharma, artha, kama
and moksha. In the upper hands he carries the chakra (discus) and the shankha
(conch).
- The
chakra represents the power of Bhagavan to destroy adharma and to protect
the devotee. Some teachers also explain it as time and the mind, which He
controls.
- The
shankha represents the primeval sound, the Om, from which creation began.
Its sound also calls the devotee to the path of dharma.
The lower hands show two mudras, or hand gestures. The
abhaya mudra means "do not fear", and it gives protection. The other
hand is in ahuya-varada, which means inviting and granting boons. Together they
say that Bhagavan removes fear and also gives what the devotee needs. This is
the heart of the Vishnu bhakti teaching, that Bhagavan is easy to approach and
is ready to protect the one who surrenders (sharanagati).
Tayar Shenbagavalli
Mahalakshmi is kept in a separate shrine as Tayar, which is
the tradition in most Divya Desams. Her stone image follows the classical
Lakshmi iconography. In Sri Vaishnava teaching, the Divine Mother acts as the
purushakara, the one who recommends the devotee to Bhagavan. Because of her
compassion, the devotee finds the path easier. Her separate shrine also reminds
us that she is the source of prosperity, both material and spiritual.
The Utsava Murti: Jagannatha Perumal
The utsava murti is the festival image, made of bronze,
which is taken out in procession. It shows Bhagavan standing in chaturbhuja
form, with four arms. He holds the chakra and the shankha in the upper hands,
shows abhaya mudra in one lower hand, and the other lower hand is in
katyavalambita, resting on the thigh or waist.
The katyavalambita pose has a deep meaning. It is often
explained as showing that the ocean of samsara, the cycle of birth and death,
is only as deep as the waist for the devotee who takes refuge in Bhagavan. So
there is no reason to be afraid of it.
He is accompanied by bronze images of Sridevi and Bhudevi.
Sridevi represents wealth and grace, and Bhudevi represents the Earth and
patience. Bhagavan stands between them as the protector of all the worlds.
Importance of Bronze and Stone
Stone idols are fixed and permanent, so they are used for the mulavar, which is never moved. Bronze idols are made by the lost wax method, and they can be carried in processions. Through the utsava murti, Bhagavan goes out to meet the people, and this is a beautiful idea in Hindu worship, that God comes to the devotee.
Why Hindus Make Sacred Images
In Hinduism, an idol is not just a stone or metal figure. The Agama shastras and the Pancharatra texts explain that the Divine, which is formless and beyond everything, agrees to take a form so that the devotee can worship with love. This form is called archa avatara, the form of Bhagavan that is available in the temple for all people. Every part of the idol, its posture, its hands and the objects it holds, is fixed by rules given in the shilpa shastras, the texts of sculpture. So the sculptor is not free to change anything by his own wish. He follows tradition, and this is why the meaning of an image remains same for centuries.
The idols of Nathan Kovil are not only art. They are teaching in visible form. Each hand, weapon and posture tells about protection, refuge, dharma and grace. A devotee who understands these meanings goes beyond seeing a sculpture, and receives darshan, the sacred sight of Bhagavan himself.