Dear Perumale,

‘Koil Azhwar’. I had heard this term when much younger, and had not given too much of a thought to it. Then one day when adiyen started realising about the divinity of the 12 Sri Vaishnava azhwars, the aspect of the Koil/Kovil Azhwar came into deeper thought.

The term ‘azhwar/alwar’ in Sri Vaishnavite terms has been used to indicate the deep bhakti, those completely immersed in devotion. Thus apart from the 12 azhwars who were divine saintly poets, there are others who are also referred to as ‘azhwar’.

One such entity would be the ‘Koil Azhwar’. The Koil Azhwar is the name given to the holy place which enshrines the lord in Bhuloka. For example, the Tirupati mandapam would be called the Koil Azhwar. If one were to think of why it is called an azhwar, it would be reasonable to think how holy and deep in devotion an entity must be, in order to ‘shelter’ the lord!! The Koil Azhwar is also found in most Sri Vaishnavite homes – especially those with kutti thavazhara krishnar vigraham (crawling baby Krishna idol) and/or a Salagramam.

The first time adiyen heard this term was when my grandfather used to stand in front of the mandapam at home for hours together, reciting the Divya Prabandam and other slokas. The Koil Azhwar at home is a representative of the temple at a real Divya Kshetram, which houses the lord. Thus, the azhwar has to be treated in the same manner in which the priests take care of the house of the lord.

The Koil Azhwar is crafted in wood (dark teak wood is generally preferred). It is usually supported by four sculpted legs holding up a room representing the sanctum sanctorum.  There is a porch in front where an oonjal (swing) can be attached so that Sri Krishna can come out to swing on occasions.

There is a double door to this room. The one at adiyen’s place represents Jayan-Vijayan, the Dwara Palakas (temple guards of the entrance) who are usually found in any Sri Vaishnava temple. It is said that one should enter a temple only after asking the permission of Jayan-Vijayan!

At home, the doors of the Kovil Azhwar have to be opened early in the morning, after a ritual – clapping the hands and waking the lord before the doors are opened up for Him to give us a glance of His beauty. The various idols have to be adorned with flowers and other rituals performed. The lamps should also be lit.

Speaking of lamps, modern Kovil Azhwars have an electrical bulb fitted into the sanctum sanctorum for better view. This would be useful in places where the Pooja/Perumal rooms are not well lit. Adiyen has retained my grandfather’s Kovil Azhwar without adding any bulb, to retain the natural look. The reason why Archakas at temple light the camphor for the lord is because there was no electricity before, and this was the only way one could see the lord! In a lot of temples in Kerala, they have still chosen to give us a glimpse of the lord only through natural light.

Above the room is the gopuram (temple top with sulptures). Most of the Kovil Azhwars also have the Sri Vaishnava insignia represented on top, in front of the gopuram.

The Kovil Azhwar’s doors, just as is done at the temple, should be closed periodically to give the lord a rest. The doors at home are usually closed in the afternoon (after the food has been offered to Him), and in the night when the lord rests for the day. The doors are opened during the evenings when the lamps are lit again.

To the extent adiyen understands, the Kovil Azhwar at home is representative of a real temple. Few procedures are followed at home in order to inculcate the sense of holiness and depth of bhakti one experiences in a Divya Kshetra. But the Kovil Azhwar is not to be treated as less important than an actual abode of the lord, as the deity inside is as real as the one in the temple. And as the one in Sri Vaikuntam!

Adiyen’s apologies for any factual errors.

Srimathe Ramanujasya Charanau Sharanam Prapadye l

Srimathe Narayanaya Namah ll