Thirukurungudi Malaimel Nambi Temple, Mahendragiri Hills - Sri Ramanin Padhayil

After visiting Sainted Lady Swayamprabha's cave in Kadayanallur, we all reached Thirukurungudi Nambi Temple located on the Mahendragiri Mountain. Tirukurungudi is one of the 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams situated on the banks of the River Nambiyaru. It is approachable by road. Distance is 45 KM from Tirunelveli, 15 KM from Nanguneri (Vanamamalai) and 10 KM from Valliyoor. This Divya desam is a group of 5 temples one of which, the Malaimel Nambi temple, is on a hill in the midst of a forest which can be reached only by jeeps waiting outside the main temple. Private vehicles can go up to the Forest checkpoint. Jeeps are waiting here also. We have seen many people walking also which could be a very nice experience and more comfortable than Jeep. Walking may take about 45 minutes.

Verse on Thirukurungudi Nambi by Swamy Nammalwar:

ENNANEYO ANNAIMIRKAL ! ENNAI MUNIVATHU NEER ?
NANKAL KOLAT THIRUKURUNGUDI NAMBIIYAI NAAN KANDA PIN
CANKINOTUM NEMIYOTUM, TAMARAYAK KANGALODUM
CENKANI VAY ONTRINODUM, CELKINRATU EN NENCAME.

Meaning: Alwar asks her mother, why she is vexed with her as she is lost in the beauty of the lord. Her mind has gone after the conch, discus, lotus like eyes and red lips.

There are five Nambis in this Kshetram. They are Ninra Nambi (Standing posture), Irundha Nambi (Sitting posture), Kidandha Nambi (Sleeping posture), Thiruparkadal Nambi and Thirumalai Nambi. Now we are going to see Thirumalai Nambi i.e. Malaimel Nambi located on the hills (Mahendragiri Mountain) 8 km from the main temple. In Tamil language the word "nambi" means personification of all virtuous and righteous qualities blended with beauty and grace.
























Two to two and half hours of trekking or 45 minutes of risk Jeep ride would take you to the hilltop Malaimel Nambi temple. Beware of monkey while reaching the temple through the forest. The temple located on top of Mahendragiri hill has just one main shrine for Nambi who is found in the standing posture and with four arms. Garuda is found facing towards the main shrine. This is a cute small temple.

Mahendragiri mountain near Tirukurungudi has abundant medicinal herbals. This mountain is mentioned in the First Chapter of Srimad Valmiki Ramayanam Sundara Kandam. Hanuman while going to Sri Lanka in search of Seetha set his feet here and then travelled by sky route. It is from the top of this hill on which he stood and jumped from to cross over the sea. There are many Siddha Purushas living in this mountain observing penance.

The temple is located near Nambi waterfalls and Nambi river. One should be fortunate to take bath in this river at least once in his/her lifetime. The water is crystal clear, clean and has herbal values. It is such a beautiful location that you can claim to have visited the heaven after visiting this place.

Significance of this place:

• God – Tirupparkadal Nambi, Azhagiya Nambi, Malaimel Nambi


• Goddess – Tirukkurungudi Valli and Andal


• Teerth (holy water) - Tirupparkadal


• Vimana - Panja Kedhaka Vimana


• 89th Divya Desham temple (out of 108 Divya Deshams)


• Nammalvar, Periyalvar, Tirumangai Alwar and Tirumazhisai Alwar have sung hymns on this site


• Lord Vishnu is found in five different postures


• Totally five different temples


• One temple atop hill - waterfalls and river nearby


• Also called as Vamana Kshetra


• Vishnu temple where Shiva related sculptures are also found


• Hundreds of sculptures and carvings across the entire temple


• The main temple spread across 18 acres


• Andal is found with four arms which is of rare sight


• The utsava idol of Narasimha with eight arms which is unique


• Most of the deities in the main temple are colourfully painted stucco images which are outstanding


• Tirumangai Alwar attained samadi here


• Bhairava, Nataraja and Shiva are found in this Vishnu temple


• There is a shrine for Maha Bali which is rare

This place is explained in Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 04. We did parayanam of all the slokas under 4th sarga in this Kshetra.

Sundara Kanda in Valimiki Ramayana portays the greatness of Thirukkurungudi. Hanuman, the representative of Lord Rama rested on the top of Mahendragiri mountain before travelling to Sri Lanka. He saw a beautiful city at the foot hills of Mahendragiri mountain which was none but this kshetra. It was glowing brightly in the night which made him to even think it could be the eternal Sri Vaikunta loka.

Verse from Kamba Ramayanam in the praise of Lord Hanuman:

Anjile ondru pettraan anjile ondrai taavi
anjile ondraar aana aariyarkkaaga egi
anjile ondru pettra anangai kandu
anjile ondrai vaittaan avan nammai alitthu kaappaan

Meaning: Though this appears cryptic, it is really simple, and is based on the Five Elements or Pancha Bhootaas. “Anjile ondru pettraan” refers to Hanuman being the son of Vaayu, one of the five elements. “anjile ondrai taavi” portrays his act of leaping across the skies— (Aakaasam, another of the five elements)— to reach Lanka, in search of Sita. “anjile ondraar aana Ariyaarkkaaga” Though the brothers Rama were only four at birth, Rama, in a display of His infinite love and mercy, adopted the lowly hunter Guha as His own brother, saying “Ninnodum iyvar aanom”. It is for this Magnificent Monarch Rama, that Maaruti crossed the ocean to Lanka. “Anjile ondru pettra Anangu” refers to Sita Devi, who is none other than the daughter of Bhoomi Piraatti (another of the Pancha Bhootas). “Anjile ondrai vaitthaan” commemorates Hanuman’s act of setting Lanka on fire (the fifth element).

There are totally five temples that are located in Tirukkurungudi - Tiruvattapparai, Tirumangai Alwar Tiruvarasu, Azhagiya Nambi, Tirupparkadal Nambi and Malaimel Nambi. After visiting Malaimel Nambi, we came down the hill to visit remaining temples.