Thiru Vekka.

Sonna Vannam Seitha Perumal..

I wonder from where the alwars and bhaktas coin such names for the Lord. Many many interesting instances where the Lord delivers His devotee prompt such awesome pure tamil names..

The kshetra we are talking about is Thiru Vekka. And the Lord Yathothakari. The name translates into pure tamil as "Sonna vannam seitha Perumal". The Lord who did as instructed. Funny.

The legend behind the temple goes as follows. We have already come across the Vegavathi River which runs as a rivulet near by. This was where the Lord laid down to prevent Saraswati from washing away Brahma's yagna. So Perumal Prathyaksham for Brahma and Saraswati.

The moolavar is in sayana thirukolam(lying down) and the sayanam is Bhujanga sayam. Saraswati and Brahma are seen offering their respects to the Lord. Swami Pratyaksham for Thirumazhisai alwar, Boothaalwar and Kanikannan.

The speciality of this temple is that the Lord reclines in the right to left direction instead of the usual. The story goes like this :

It was a period of kings and empires. Kanchi was always a seat of power. This was also where Swami Thirumizhisai alwar had taken up. He prayed to the Lord at Thriu Vekka every morn and went about his duties. He had a very devoted disciple Kanikannan. Now Kanikannan was trained in poetry and songs. He wrote various songs on the Lord and His devotee : Thirumizhisai.

The King hearing of his singing prowess summoned him to court.He asked Kanikannan to compose a song and sing it. But Kanikannan staunchly refused saying that hewould not sing else other than the Lord and his master. Angered, the king banished Kanikannan from the city of Kanchipuram from daybreak on the morrow.

Kanikannan took leave of his master and the Lord and proceeded to exit Kanchi. Thirumizhisai alwar, not bearing to be separated from his disciple, packed his belongings too. He then turns to the Lord and says,

"Kanikkannan pogindran Kamarupoongachi Manivanna,

Nee kidakka venda,

Senna Polavanan nannum pogindren

Un painaga payaiy suruttikol."

meaning,

" My disciple is leaving, Manivanna of the beautiful Kanchi,

Why are you lying down?(rhetorically)

The poet I am, I am also leaving

Fold up the snake that forms your bed (and come with me)"

The Lord not wanting to stay without His devotee humbly packed the serpent under his arm and walked behind the Alwar. The city seeing the strange procession : Kanikkannnan, Alwar and Perumal with His bed were astonished and sad that the Lord was leaving. They immediately packed up their stuff and walked away with these four.(K,A,L and snake).

Kanchi became a ghost town in a day. The King realising his mistakes ran to the Alwar and asked him for forgiveness. Alwar pointed him towards Kanikkannan who readily accepted the apology. So All'w ell that ends well!!

But stay! The Lord and His serpent??? What of them? Now that everything is over and "ellarum rasi agitathunala" Alwar turns around and says,

"Kanikkannan Pookozithan Kamarupoongachi manivanna,

Nee nadaka Venda,

sennna polavan nannum pookozinthen,

Un pai nagappayay viruthukoll."

meaning,

"Kanikkanan has consented to come back, Manivanna,

You dont have to walk away,

Me the poet, have also decided not to move,

Roll out our bed, the snake."

The Lord afraid of irking the alwar if He took too long to resume position rushed to His place and rolled out the snake and reclined. but in His haste, He forgot the direction and lay down right to left. "Acho. Pavam"

Both these pasurams are my favorite and they are just beautiful. I shall somehow try to get the rendition online. Maybe recite it myself :)) . No. I wont.!! Rest assured.

I think you might have no doubts regarding the stunning name of the Lord here!! I love this temple and have a lot of personal experiences that have brought Him closer to me. Shall not bore with those. But shall be back with the trivia associated with this temple. Soon.

Au Revoir