108 Divyadesam- 78) Tirukurungudi

Details of Kshethram: Moolavar: Azhagiya Nambi / Malai Mel Nambi / Sri Vaishnava Nambi Thayaar: Kurungudi Nachiyar Vimanam: Panchakedhaka Vimanam Pushkarani: Tiruparkadal Theertham Travel: This kshetram is located 10 Kms from Nanguneri via Erawadi in Tirunelveli District.

Azhwar Pashuram: Tirumangaiazhwar: 25 Pashurams Periyaazhwar: 1 Pashuram Namazhwar: 13 Pashurams Tirumazhisai Azhwar : 1 Pashuram Total: 40 Pashurams Sthala Puranam: The Sthala Puranam of this kshethram is found in Varaha Puranam. It is known as Kaisika Maahathmiyam.

Kaisika Ekadesi is celebrated in the Tamil Month of Kaarthigai on the succeeding Ekadesi in the Sukla Paksham. 

This is named after the Kaisika Puranam which is the 48th Chapter in Sri Varaha Puranam. The message behind the day reinforces the fact that caste is not a hindrance in attaining the lotus feet of Sriman Narayana and true Bhakti alone is enough. This story happened in the Divyadesam of Thirukurungudi, one of the Nava Tirupathi in Thirunelveli. Nambaduvaan was born in low chandala kulam but was a devotee of Sriman Narayana. On every Ekadasi he observed Vratham without sleeping a full night, singing the glory of Lord and thinking about him. On one karthigai Ekadasi, Nambaduvaan left to Kurungudi Nambi temple to observe his fast and render some paasuram using various raagams on Sri Kurungudi Nambi.On his way, Nampaduvan was confronted by a Brahma Rakshas. This Rakshas who has been starved off food, tells Nampaaduvaan that he would devour him. Nampaduvan humbly requests that he has the duty of nama sankeerthanam. Nampaduvan pleads with the rakshas that he would return back after his vratham and darshan of Kurungudi Nambi. He promises that he would indeed return; he mentions the various sins that he would get if he were not to return. But for none of Nampaduvan’s promises, BrahmaRakshas was not satisfied. At last, Nambaduvaan promised that “Whoever thinks/says that Supreme Lord Sriman Narayanan is equivalent/on par with or inferior with other devathas, that paaapam would catch me!" After hearing this Brahma Rakshas was moved and impressed with such a strong promise and said now I believe in you, you can go now and soon return back. I will wait for you till your return” Nambaduvaan happily went to Sri Kurungudi temple, observed his jAkratha vratham and completing his vratham with the singular determination, he returns as stated back to BrahmaRakshas. Nampaduvan went and offered himself to the Rakshas. But his hunger had vanished and instead he was moved by the truthfulness of the Vishnu devotee. The Brahma Rakshas then told his story – he was a Brahmin who was cursed to become a Brahma Rakshas by his elders as he had not performed yajnas carefully. The Rakshas then asked Nampaduvan to give the reward of one of his prayers so that he can get liberation. Hearing the pleas of the BrahmaRakshas, Nambaduvan said that he never sang for any palam. But still, he will request Thirukurungudi Nambi to relieve the BrahmaRakshas of his sins. Nambi gives the palam of the last paasuram and relieves BrahmaRakshas of its sins. This story strongly reiterates that true Bhakti is enough to attain Him and the caste of a person is totally insignificant. It is believed that those who read or listen to ‘Kaisika Purana’ on that day, will be showered with Lord's abundant mercy! The story of Nampaduvan is narrated and acted in Vishnu Temples in South India on the Kaisika Ekadasi. Sri Parasara Bhattar chanted kaisika puranam before Lord Ranganatha and the same tradition is continuing to date with the descendants of Bhattar chanting the puranam on kaisika Dwadashi day at Srirangam each year. Kaisika Ekadasi is considered even more significant to Vaishnavas than Vaikunta Ekadasi, as it implies the stead-fasted Bhakti towards Sriman Narayana and His abundant mercy on His devotees.

This kshethram is one of the most important of all the Divyadesams. 

The following summarizes the importance of this kshethram:

1) It is said that Swami Bhagawad Ramanujacharya wanted uniformity in the way rituals were conducted throughout South India. To see to this, he is said to have traveled to Tiruvananthapuram to plead with the Nambudri priests to follow practices as per Pancharatra Agama Shastras. It is said that the Nambudri priests pleaded with Ananthapadhmanabha Swamy to allow their prevailing traditions that were being followed to continue throughout Kerala. It is said that in the middle of the night when 

Bhagawad Ramanujacharya was asleep, Kurungudi Nambi Swamy is said to have brought 

Bhagawad Ramanujacharya here to this kshethram. When 

Bhagawad Ramanujacharya awoke in the morning he is said to have had a conversation with the Lord. The Lord tells 

Bhagawad Ramanujacharya that he has accomplished what He could not achieve in all His births. The Lord asks to be initiated into Sri Vaishnavism by 

Bhagawad Ramanujacharya. 

Bhagawad Ramanujacharya

 is said to have performed Pancha-Samskaaram for the Lord here giving Him the name of Sri Vaishnava Nambi.

2) It is said that Namazhwar's parents had come to this kshethram to pray for the birth of a child. The Lord is said to have had a conversation with Namazhwar's parents asking them what kind of child they desired. The parents are said to have asked for a child who is just like the Lord Himself. As none in this universe is like the Lord, it is said that the Lord himself incarnated Himself as Namazhwar.

3) This is the kshethram where Tirumangaiazhwar attained Paramapadam. There is a shrine here for Tirumangaiazhwar.

4)

There is a mention of this kshethram in the Ramayana. It is said that Hanuman jumped from Mahendragiri Parvatham to fly till Sri Lanka in search of Devi Sita. Mahendragiri Parvatham is located here at this kshethram. This is also the site of the Malai Mel Nambi Temple.