Sunday 4 August 2019

SRI VAIKUNTANATHAN PERUMAL TEMPLE AT SRIVAIKUNTAM, THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU – 108 DIVYA DESAM

29th June 2019.
The Nine Vishnu temples on the banks of river Thamirabarani in Thoothukudi district are called as  Nava Tirupati. Nammalwar  has sung  pasurams on Lord Vishnu of these temples. Hence these 9 Vishnu temples are  classified under 108 Divya Desams. These nine Vishnu temples are associated with the Vishnu’s ten incarnations  and the  planets.  Srivaikuntam Temple is associated with Rama Avathara and the planet Suryan ( Sun ).

புளிங்குடி கிடந்து வரகுணமங்கை இருந்து வைகுந்தத்துள் நின்று
தெளிந்த என் சிந்தை அகங்கழியாதே என்னை ஆள்வாய் எனக்கு அருளி,
நலிந்த சீர் உ;லகம் மூன்றுடன் வியப்ப நாங்கள் கூத்தாடி (நின்(று) ஆர்ப்ப,
பலிங்கு நீர் முகிலின் பவளம் போல் கனிவாய் சிவப்ப நீ காண வாராயே.
( நம்மாழ்வார் திருவாய்மொழி )

Moolavar  : Sri Vaikuntanathan Perumal / Sri Kallapiran
Thayar     : Sri Vaikuntavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temple is facing east with a 9 tier Rajagopuram. A Nayak period Mandapa with a 4 pillar mandapa is in front of the Rajagopuram. Balipedam and Dwajasthambam are in a mandapam before 2nd stage  5 tier Rajagopuram. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, arthamandapam and mahamandapam. The sanctum walls do not have separate Koshtas, but reliefs of Vishnu’s various avatharas with Sri Devi and Bhudevi. The Vimana is called as Chandra Vimana. In the prakaram Anjaneyar, Sri Vaikunta Nayaki, Choranatha Nayaki, Thiruvenkadamudaiyan Sannadhi on the right and Ramar Sannadhi on the left of Dwajasthambam. Paramapatha vassal Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers on the north side.

The Thiruvenkatamudaiyan muka mandapa is supported with yazhi pillars with sculptures. There are various sculptors on the adhisthana too.

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE:
It is believed that the temple was built during Chandra kula Pandya kings period and latter expanded by the Vijayanagaras and Madurai Nayaks. The sanctum adhisthana is of kabothabandha adhisthana. The koshtas are formed by the Pilasters protruding outside  and kumba panchara is in between two koshtas. The prastharam has Kabotha with karnakoodu and reliefs of deities. The Vimana is called as Chandra Vimana. Dwajasthambam was installed during Veerappa Nayakkar. Mandapam was built by Santhana Sabapathy.
  
LEGEND:
There is pinch mark on the cheek of urchavar. As per the legend  the sculptor was very much happy over the Perumal’s beautiful face, so the sculptor pinched Perumal’s cheeks. An another legend, During Pandya period, a cow was showering milk at a particular place. When the place was excavated  and found the old sanctum of the temple. Then the present sanctum was built  on the same place.

Perumal is also called as Kallapiran ( A Thief ). The story behind this goes like this... Kaladhoosukan was the son of a  famous merchant called Virakupthan.  He used to steel  material, gold, money, etc., from the rich people. Of that he used to give 50% to the temple and the balance 50% he gives to poor. One day he stole from the treasury of the Pandya King. In the process his friends were caught. When the king came to know that Kaladhoosukan   was their leader and ordered to arrest. Kaladhoosukan prayed Perumal and promised to give away the 100% share to the temple. So Perumal took the form of Kaladhoosukan and went to the palace. On seeing Perumal’s beautiful and innocent face  the King asked him who he is ?. Perumal explained that the wealth of the treasury belongs to the people and is being  misused by the king and the people around him. It is the Kings duty  to follow the dharma. So the King is not following the dharma, Perumal taught a lesson through Kaladhoosukan.  Since the Perumal saved the thief – Kallan, Perumal is called as Kallapiran.
Birugu Chakravarthi and Indiran worshiped Lord Sri Vaikuntathan Perumal.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.30 Hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:
Ramesh Bhattar or Srinivasa Bhattar or Vaikuntanathan Bhattar may be contacted on the mobiles 9865628681 and 99521 62359 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:
Srivaikundam is on the way to Thiruchendur from Tirunelveli. All the buses will stop near the temple.
34 KM from Thiruchendur, 30 KM from Tirunelveli and 194 KM from Madurai.
Nearest Railway station is Srivaikuntam and Tirunelveli.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE









 Thiruvenkatamudaiyan muka mandapa - Sculptures 
 Thiruvenkatamudaiyan muka mandapa - sculptures
 Thiruvenkatamudaiyan muka mandapa - Yazhi's back  design
Thiruvenkatamudaiyan muka mandapa - Pillar sculptures - like Dwarabalaka
 Thiruvenkatamudaiyan muka mandapa Yazhi pillars
Thiruvenkatamudaiyan muka mandapa- Pothyal - a monkey sculpture  
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

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