Nava Tirupathi- Bhumipalakar Temple in Thirupulingudi Is Where The Lord Saved The Earth

Add as a preferred source on Google

Nava Tirupathi, Bhumipalakar Temple, (Thirupulingudi): Where The Lord Saved The Earth!
Bhumipalakar Temple in Thirupulingudi or Tirupuliyangudi is the third of the Nava Tirupathi temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the fourth of the Navagraha temples(nine planets) in Vaishnavism associated with the planet Budha (Mercury).

There is no separate shrine for the planet and Lord Vishnu, here as Bhumipalakar represents the planet Budha. The temple is located on the Tiruchendur - Tirunelveli route on the banks of the Thamiraparani River, 22 km from Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu.

Nava Tirupathi: Bhumipalakar Temple (Thirupulingudi) Legends
As per a legend Bhudevi, one of the two consorts of Lord Vishnu angered by the Lord for spending more time with his other consort, Sridevi on the banks of the Thamiraparani river left Vaikuntan (Lord Vishnu's abode) and disappeared in the netherworld. Her disappearance spelt doom to the earth as it became steeped in darkness.

The earth further became parched for the want of water for the beings to survive. Alarmed by the turn of events, the gods beseeched Lord Vishnu to pacify Bhudevi so that the earth could flourish. Lord Vishnu approached Bhudevi and explained that both his consorts were equal to him.

Pacified by the Lord's words, Bhudevi returned to Vaikuntam and owing to her return the earth automatically flourished. Since the Lord was instrumental in the flourishing of the earth (bhumi), he came to be hailed as Bhumipalakar and Kaasini Vendhar in this temple.

The Lord relieves Indra of Brahmahathi Dosha and relieves Yajya Sarma of his curse.
As per another account, Indra mistakenly killed a sage who had assumed a form of a deer and was conversing with his wife who was also in the form of a deer in the Himalayas. On account of killing a sage, Indra became the object of Brahmahathi dosha. On the suggestion of Viyaza Bhagavan (Guru), Indra came to this place (Thirupulingudi), created a theertha (sacred water, which came to be called Indra theertha) bathed in its waters and worshipped Lord Bhumipalakar duly.

Elated on being rid of his dosha, Indra wanted to perform a Yajna on the banks of the sacred Indra theertha and commenced work in that direction. Just then a demon appeared there and caused various hindrances to Indra's Yajna. The troubled Indra sought the aid of Lord Bhumipalakar through prayers. The Lord, pleased with Indra's devotion, appeared there and struck the demon with his mace. Lo and behold, in the place of the demon, stood a Brahmin called Yajya Sarma.

Yajya Sarma, who was a Brahmin in his previous birth, then recounted the tale of being cursed to be born as a demon in his next birth for disrespecting the efforts of the Vasishta Putras when they resorted to performing a Yajya in his house. On repenting for his misdemeanour, the Vasishta Putras said that he would be relieved of his curse if Lord Vishnu as Bhumipalakar, struck him with his mace for causing hindrance to Indra's Yajya. Yajya Sarma thus left the place gaining relief from the curse and Indra pursued his Yajya without any hindrance and sought the grace of Lord Bhumipalakar.

Nava Tirupathi: Bhumipalakar Temple (Thirupulingudi) Significance
The presiding deity in the Bhumipalakar temple (Thirupulingudi) is Bhumipalakar. In the sanctum sanctorum, the Lord is seen reclining on the snake bed of Adisheha with his consorts Poomagal Nachiar (Sridevi) and Nilamagal Nachiar (Bhudevi) seated near his feet.

Hence there are no separate shrines for them. One can take darshan of the Lord's feet, by looking through a small window. Lord Brahma, seated on a lotus flower whose stalk rises forth from the navel of Lord Vishnu can also be seen in the sanctum sanctorum.

The Urchava murthy or the festival deity is reverentially called as Kaaisini Vendhar along with his consorts. Furthermore, Bhudevi also assumes the form of a festival deity with the name Pulingudivalli Thaayaar.

Lord Varuna, Niruthi and Indra are said to have offered worship in this shrine. The sacred waters here are Varuna theertham, Niruthi theertham and Indra theertham. The sacred tree here in this shrine is Palmyra (Karumpanai).

Bhumipalakar temple, one of the Nava Tirupathi temples, is also one of the 108 Divyadesamas or temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is extolled in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the Tamil canon by the Alwars saints (poet saints) from the 6th to 9th centuries CE. There is also a chapter known as 'Nava Tirupathi Mahatmeeyam' in the Brahmandapurana by Saint Veda Vyasa. 'Vaikunta Mahatmeeyam', a part of the ' Thamiraparani Sthalapurana' in Sanskrit also extols this temple.

The auspicious day to visit the Bhumipalakar temple (Thirupulingudi) is on Wednesday. The temple is open from 8am-12pm, 1pm-6 pm.
Let's thus seek the blessings of the Lord.