Perarulalan Perumal Temple: Story of the Golden Cow at Thirunangur
Thiru Sempon Sei Kovil, also called Perarulalan Perumal
Temple, is a holy place for Bhagavan Vishnu devotees. It is situated in
Thirunangur village, near Sirkazhi, in Tamil Nadu. The temple is built in
Dravidian style and it is praised in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the old
Tamil hymns sung by the Alvar saints between 6th and 9th century CE. This
temple is one among the 108 Divya Desams, the sacred abodes of Vishnu
recognised by the Alvars. Here Perumal is worshipped as Perarulalan and his
consort as Alli Mamalar Nachiyar.
Thiru Sempon Sei Kovil Story
The story goes to the Ramayana period. After Bhagavan Rama killed Ravana in the great war, he got brahmahatya dosham, because Ravana was born in a brahmin family, though he did many wrong deeds. When Rama was returning to Ayodhya, on the way he stopped near the ashram of a sage in this place.
The
sage told him the way to remove this dosham. As per his advice, a cow made
fully of gold, called hema-go, was prepared, and Rama stayed inside that golden
cow for four days doing penance. On fifth day he came out, did the required
rituals and then gave away that same golden cow as dana, charity, to brahmins.
Because of this making (sei) and giving of golden (sempon) cow, this place got
the name Sempon Sei Kovil. It is also said Perumal here is called Sempon
Arangar, since he was worshipped by Rama himself, same way as Aranganathar was
worshipped before being brought to Srirangam.
Importance and Symbolism
This temple is one among eleven Divya Desams of Thirunangur,
and it is closely connected with Thirumangai Alvar, who has sung many pasurams
in praise of Perarulalan. Devotees believe that worshipping in this temple
gives same punniyam, merit, as worshipping together at Srirangam, Tirupati and
Kanchipuram. It is also said that sages Rudra and Dhrudanetra Muni got darshan
of Perumal in this same sthala. People who pray here with true devotion are
believed to be relieved from poverty and get good job and money progress.
A Short Note on the Temple
The moolavar here is Perarulalan and utsavar is called Semponnarangan, along with Herambar. Thayar is worshipped as Alli Mamalar Nachiyar, also known as Sweta Pushpavalli. Theertham of the temple is called Hema Pushkarini or Kanaka Theertham, again connecting to the golden cow story. Pooja here follows Pancharatra agama. Main festival is Aipasi Brahmotsavam, done in October-November on Swati star day, birth star of Perumal. In Thai month, on the day after Amavasya, this Perumal joins the famous Garuda Sevai utsavam along with other ten Nangur Perumals, where all eleven deities come in procession on Garuda vahanam, a very unique and grand event for this region.