Sowmya Narayana Perumal Temple, Thirukoshtiyur

01The mantra from the tower

Thirukoshtiyur Nambi lived here. Ramanuja walked from Srirangam to learn the meaning of the Narayana mantra from him, and was sent away again and again; the Sri Vaishnava accounts say eighteen times. At last Nambi taught him and bound him to secrecy. Ramanuja climbed the temple and called the people to hear it, saying that if he went to hell for it while they were saved, he would go gladly. Nambi, hearing this, embraced him and called him Emperumanar, our Lord’s own. A statue of Ramanuja stands where he spoke.

02Three storeys, five Alvars

The temple’s katha says the devas, eager to see Narasimha before he came, gathered here in assembly, goshti, and Bhagwan showed himself standing, seated and reclining. The Ashtanga vimana carries those forms on its storeys, with life-size Narasimha panels. Five Alvars sang Thirukoshtiyur: Periyalvar, Bhoothath Alvar, Pey Alvar, Thirumalisai Alvar and Thirumangai Alvar, thirty-nine pasurams in the usual count. The float festival in Masi, when lamps are set on the tank, is the great night here.

The life of this place