One of the ancient Vaishnava temples of South India, Alagarkoil, is located at the foot hill of Thirumaliruncholai. In ancient literature it is known as “ Thirumaliruncholai” as well as “Thirumalirunkundram”. It has been referred to in early literary treatises such as Paripadal and Silappadikaram. They were earlier to the date of the first three Vaishnava Alwars who probably lived during the sixth century A.D. Two great centers of Vaiashnavism in Tamilnadu, Tiruvenkadam(Tirupati) and Alagarkoil, are mentioned in literature as the northern and southern centers respectively. Hence, Periyalwar calls Alagarkoil as “thenthirumaliruncholai”. It is located 24 kms north of Madurai, the capital city of the Pandya country. The Tamil epic Silappadikaram mentions that Thirumalirunkundram is situated on the active trade route leading from the Chola country through Tiruchy and Thanjavur towards the southern region. The pilgrims from the northern part of Tamilnadu may reach Alagarkoil through Tiruchy via Melur. They have to turn towards west from Melur to reach Alagarkoil. Those who come from Dindigal could reach this place through Nattham (towards east).
This sacred place, praised by the ancient literary works as well as by the Vaishnava Alwars and Achariyas, was also celebrated by the minor literary genre of the later times. It seems to have had an important role in the life of the Alwars and Achariyas such as Periyalwar, Andal, Nammalwar, Ramanujar and Kurattalwar. This site is referred to as the abode of Vishnu and as well as a beautiful hill full of sacred groves. This sacred spot which has many names like Malirunkundram, Thirumalirunkundram, Thirumaliruncholaimalai and Thenthirumaliruncholai is well known to our ancestors. The puranic episodes, elucidating myths about this spot, speak volumes on it and call it with different names such as “Virushapatri, Rishabari, Idabhagiri, Vidaimalai, Simhadri, Kesavadri, Shavanaatri, Vaasavidhyanamalai, Uddhiyanasailam and Parvadasireshta”. This hill has a vibrant look like a bull unlike the other hills which look like serene cow. Hence, it is called by the name Rishabaadri. It has a circumference of 45 miles and a height of 900 feet.
The local Sthalapurana mentions that the god of death, Yamadharma, praised and worshipped the lord of this place and named it as Rishabaadri. As the place is more charming than the city of Kubera, it got a title Alagapuri. As this hill appears in black, green and blue colors,with full of trees and creepers, it is named as Irunkundram and Niilamalai. The sacred Vishnu temple is located at the southern foot of this pleasing and radiant hill. The god of this place, Vishnu, is known by various names such as Alagan, Alagar, Thirumaliruncholainindran, Sundarattoludiyan, Sundaran, Thrumalirunjolai Alwar, Thirumaliruncholai nindra Paramaswamigal, Sundaraja Perumal and Kallalagar. His abode here is called as “Somachandavimana”. The Sthalapurana of this sacred place mentions certain trees such as Aalamaram (Kirutayugam), Arasamaram (Tiretayugam), Vilvam (Dwaparayugam), and Sothimaram (Kaliyugam) as sthala viruksas (sacred groves) of this site. Sacred spring of this place is Silambaru otherwise known as Nubhuragangai.
This Vishnu temple (Alagarkoil) attained a foremost position in the Vaishnava tradition of the Tamil country and an inextinguishable place in the minds and lives of the people of Tamilnadu.
