THIRUMANGAI ALWAR - INCARNATION of LORD's SAARANGAM (Divine bow)
Thirumanagai was son of army general of Chola kings. He was from fourth (lower) caste, actual name neelan ( dark like Neelamegha syama). By God’s grace Neelan grew very strong & intelligent. He learnt horse riding, elephant riding and also Tamil & Sanskrit. After knowing his qualities, Chola king made Neelan as Dalapathi. This opportunity at such a young age as THIRUMANGAI MANNAN lead him to vices. He was deeply caught in seeking sensual pleasures. His parents were helpless and they prayed to Lord Srimannarayana. One day Devamadhu by name SUMANGALAI happened to meet KAPAILA MUNI. She laughed at the ugly face of muni and coarse voice of his disciple. The muni cursed her and she took birth as KUMUDAVALLI to a local merchant in THIRUMANGAI. This girl was very pretty and beautiful and got attracted to our THIRUMANGAI MANNAN. When they met, he was so much captivated by her glance, he fell head over heels and pleaded her to marry him.

01 Poigai Alwar
02 Boothat Alwar
03 Pey Alwar
04 Bhakthisar Alwar
05 Namm Alwar
06 Madhurakavi Alw
07 Kulasekhara Alwar
08 Periya Alwar
09 Andal
10 Tondaridippodi Alw
11 Tiruppann Alwar
12 Tirumangai Alwar
 

ALWAR TURNING INTO DEVOTEE OF LORD
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KUMUDAVALLI accepted with two conditions (1) He should be devoted to Lord VISHNU and wear THIRUMANIKKAPU over his forehead and (2) He must feed 1000 Vaishnava BHAKTAS every day. Our MANNAN intoxicated by her looks AGREED for every thing she said and they got married.

Later HE truly became a devotee of SRIMANNARAYANA and was getting tremendous satisfaction from feeding the VAISHNAVA BHAKTAS. Soon the entire treasury cash and jewelry was over in feeding and he could not pay the regular duty to the king also. The king got angry and sent his soldiers. But with the skills of THIRUMANGAI ALWAR they are no match and went back defeated. The king himself declared war and fought a battle with him. In the battle THIRUMANGAI was facing the Chola king. The king argued this man was disgraceful and did not pay taxes. With that word the alwar was moved and told him, that he won many battles for the king and also the tax money was utilized for VAISHNAVA BHAKTAS for a noble purpose. Then he threw away his sword paying respect to king and surrendered. The king ordered the ALWAR should pay entire taxes within three days, until then he will be kept prison inside the temple.

AT THIS POINT THE ALWAR HAS NONE BUT PERUMAL to his rescue. He prayed to LORD and the LORD appeared in dream to ALWAR and disclosed a treasure on the banks of river VEDAVATHI near KANCHI and the ALWAR can use for repaying to king. The ALWAR and few soldiers went to the place and brought the NIDHI. The ALWAR paid all debts and the king was shy that he insulted the BHAKTI of THIRUMANGAI ALWAR. The king offered back all the wealth and restored his freedom and also gave him the kingdom. KUMUDAVALLI also was happy with her husband.

 
HOWEVER as they continued the kainkaryam the entire wealth disappeared in not time. Now THIRUMANGAI ALWAR resorted to highway robbery and continued the kainkaryam. One day Lord SRIMANNARAYANA and SRIDEVI disguised as rich young couple having lot of jewels and diamonds came on the highway and our ALWAR attacked them. He ordered the couple to surrender entire wealth, otherwise showed knife. The Lord and His consort removed all jewels and put them in bundle and surrendered. NOW ALWAR COULD NOT LIFT THE BUNDLE and it was miracle and heavy. The ALWAR asked SRIYAHPATHI what is the manthram (spell). The LORD took mercy and preached him THIRU MANTHRAM (Om namo NARAYANAYA)> Hearing this from Lord himself the ALWAR glowed with divine brightness and all his sins disappeared. He went back home and narrated to KUMUDAVALLI, who in turn told him about the SAPAM by Kapila muni. The alwar later poured number of pasurams and visited many divyadesams. He also built a prakaram aroud SRIRANGAM temple
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