By Smt. Rajalakshmi Raghavan
About the temple
To taste the sweetness of life (Payasam) we must first taste the sweetness of the Lord here & the kshethrams greatness. Soul purpose of this shareeram is to think and talk and sing and immerse ourselves into the epitome kalyana gunas of Sriman Narayanan as celebrated by aZhwars & aAcharyas.
ThirupullAni is a beautiful coastal Divya Desam that is intimately connected with Ramayana. King Dasaratha seeking progeny, prayed to Lord Sri Adi JagannAtha perumAl at this Divya Desam. His prayers fructified through the birth of Sri Rama and his brothers.
It is near this Divya Desam that VibeeshanA did sharanAgathi at the lotus feet of Lord Rama. In fact ThirupullANi is also known as the “SaranAgathi kshethram”. Another important note is when everyone in the camp expressed doubts about Vibeeshana’s motivation except Sri Hanuman, Lord Rama’s categorical statement of intent:
“Sakrit eva prapannaaya tavaaham asmi iti yaachate Abhayam sarva bhootebhyo dadaami, etat vratam mama”
ThirupullANi is the Divya Desam that is associated with this message of hope & reassurance.
Here in this Divya Desam the main deity is Aadi Jagannatha Perumal with Bhudevi, and Sri Devi. Lord Rama is very well-known as ‘Dharba Sayana Rama,’ the one who reclined on the darba grass. The Bodhi tree (the Arasa Maram) in this shrine is believed to be of several centuries old & the kshethram is one of the 108 divya desams.
Normally, the Lord appears in sayana sleeping pose only on the serpent bed. However, in this kshetram he is lying – “anai”: on “pull”: grass in Tamil language. And Thiru means Lord. Thus the word Thiru- pull- anai: Thirupullani.
There are two sacred tanks in this temple known as the Hema Chakra Thirtham, and Adhi Sethu Rathnakara Thirtham.
The temple is revered in Periya Thirumozhi (1768-1787) & Periya Thirumadal (2674) – 21 phrase of Thirumangai Azhwar (“புல்லாணித் தென்னன்”) in Nalayira Divya Prabandham. This temple is also referred in Valmiki Ramayana and in Kambaramayanam.
Celebrations at this Kshetram
This kshethram is famous for its annual festival celebrated in the month of September as Darbha Ashtami. Sethu Karai or Shore is close to Thirupullani at a distance of four km. This is the place from where Lord Rama constructed sethu (bridge) to Lanka with the help of Hanuman & the large troop of monkeys. Every year Theerthavari Utsavam is held at this place in memory of Lord Rama’s onward march to Lanka that was planned from the Sethu Sea shore and in celebration of his subsequent victory over Ravana. Kalyana Jagannatha Perumal, the Utsava deity and Pattabhisheka Rama of Thirupullani divya desam make a joint once in a year 4 km trip to the Sethu Sea shore. Kalyana Jagannathan and Pattabhisheka Rama make an early start to the day with a 7am alankara to get them ready for the day long procession to the southern sea shore.
History behind the Paal Paayasam
It is said that King Dasaratha worshipped “Adhi Jagannathar” in this temple and offered Him Paal Payasam (Milk Kheer) and was blessed with four sons. So, Thirupullani kshethram is famed for Paal Payasam. The taste of Paal Payasam at this kshethram is unmatched. This prasadham is available here everyday from morning 10.am to noon. Do visit this temple and consume the sweetness of the deity & the prasadam.
Ingredients
- 1 litre of milk
- ½ kg of nattu sarkarai/brown sugar/jaggery
- ½ kg of raw rice
- 3 cups of water
- 3-4 pieces of cardamom
- 15 pieces of cashews and raisins
- 1 tablespoon of ghee
Instructions
You get the authentic taste of the dish when it is done in Kal Chatti or heavy bottomed brass vessel. Heat the vessel, pour 3 cups of water & bring it to boil. Wash the raw rice, add to the water & cook until it gets very mushy. Now add the milk and allow it to boil until thick, stirring frequently. Finally add jaggery powder, powdered cardamom & mix well. Cook well till it gets thick. Switch off the stove. Add ghee fried cashews & raisins on top of the paal payasam.
Thirupullani paalpayasam is ready to be offered to Lord Rama.
Mostly our festivals are closely associated with specific deities & celebrated with unique prasadams, like Krishna Janmashtami with Aval Payasam, ThiruAAdi pooram with aKkaradisil, Nrusimha Jayanthi with Paanaham. So, it would be apt if we prepare this & offer on Sri Ramanavami day.
No responses yet