Thirumanimadam Narayana Perumal Temple: Meaning of the Murtis
Thirumanimadam Temple, also known as Narayana Perumal Temple
or Badrinarayana Perumal Temple, is dedicated to Bhagavan Vishnu. It is in
Thirunangur, a village near Sirkazhi in Tamil Nadu. The temple is built in
Dravidian style and is one of the 108 Divya Desams. The Alvar saints praised it
in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, which was composed between the 6th and 9th
centuries CE. Here Bhagavan Vishnu is worshipped as Narayana and his consort
Lakshmi as Pundarikavalli.
The Mulavar: Nanda Vilakku Perumal
The main deity is called Nanda Vilakku Perumal or Narayana
Perumal. The name Nanda Vilakku means the lamp that never goes off, and this
shows Bhagavan as the eternal light of knowledge. He is in a seated posture
with one leg folded and the other hanging down. He has four arms. Two hands
hold the Prayoga Chakra and the Shankha. The other two show Abhaya Hasta and
Varada Hasta.
Each of these has a meaning. The Chakra stands for time,
dharma and the power to destroy evil. The Shankha stands for Om, the first
sound, from which the whole creation came. Abhaya Hasta tells the devotee not
to fear. Varada Hasta shows that Bhagavan gives blessings to those who come
with faith. So even without words, the murti teaches the devotee.
Pundarikavalli Thayar
Pundarikavalli Thayar has her own separate shrine, and she
is seated in the usual Lakshmi form. The word Pundarika means lotus. In Hindu
tradition the lotus is a symbol of purity, because it grows in mud but stays
clean. Lakshmi is the source of prosperity, and in Vaishnava belief she is also
the one who recommends the devotee to Bhagavan. This is why devotees pray to
Thayar first and then to Perumal.
Utsavar, Sridevi and Bhudevi
The utsavar is called Alankathu Ariyan. It is a bronze
image, exactly like the mulavar, and it is seated in the same way. It is
accompanied by bronzes of Sridevi and Bhudevi. The mulavar is fixed in the
sanctum and is never moved. The utsavar is taken out in procession during
festivals. This is how the Agamas explain it, so that Bhagavan can be seen by
all people, even those who cannot enter the sanctum. Sridevi represents wealth
and grace, and Bhudevi represents the Earth and patience. Together they show that
Bhagavan takes care of both the material and the spiritual needs of the world.
Murti in Hindu Scriptures
For Hindus, a murti is not just a statue or an art work. The
Agama Shastras and the Shilpa Shastras give strict rules for making an image.
These rules cover proportions, posture, ornaments and the position of the
hands. The Vishnudharmottara Purana also speaks about the art of image making
and painting. When the murti is made correctly and Prana Pratishtha is done, it
is believed that Bhagavan accepts to be present in that form. The devotee can
then see, touch through offerings and worship the Divine directly.
The Bhagavad Gita says that Bhagavan accepts even a leaf, a
flower, a fruit or water when offered with devotion. The murti gives the
devotee a place to offer this love.
Importance and Message
Hindu sculpture and painting are not made for decoration. They are a way of teaching philosophy to everyone, educated or not. The bronzes of South India were usually made by the lost wax method, and the artists worked with prayer and discipline. Every part of the image, the seated posture, the hands and the companions, carries a lesson about dharma, fearlessness, devotion and grace. When a devotee stands before the murtis of Thirumanimadam, he or she is reading a scripture in stone and bronze.