15th September 2019.
The visit to this Vanamutti Perumal Temple was a part of Temples Visit, in and around Sirkazhi on 15th September. After Sri Parimala Ranganathar’s dharsan our next destination was to Kozhikuthi, one of the Vishnu temples on the banks of River Kaveri in a Village called Kozhikuthi a part of Sholampettai. It was told that Kodihathi Vimochana Puram was turned to Kozhikuthi. After Kanchipuram, Athi Varadhar’s vaibhavam, the Vanamutti Perumal also become popular and this temple attracts devotees from far off places.
Moolavar : Sri Vanamutti Perumal, Sri Srinivasa Perumal, Sri Bhakthapriyan, Sri Varadharajan.
Thayar : Sri Lakshmi.
Urchavars : Sri Sridevi, Bhoodevi Samedha Srinivasa Perumal.
Some of the important features of this temple are…
The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram and Temple tank called Vishwa pushkarani is in front. The newly re-constructed temple has sanctum sanctorum, arthamandapam and a muka mandapam. In Sanctum moolavar is made of Fig tree and the roots of the tree holds Lord Srinivasa Perumal’s feet and could not see. Moolavar is 14 feet high with four hands. The upper hands holds Conch and Chakra. The lower left hand holds a Gadha and right hand in Abhayahastham. The Thulasi beads, ornaments and Yajnopavita are carved very nicely. Sri Dhaya Lakshmi is on this chest and Bhoodevi is on his left.
Garudan, Dwajasthambam and balipedam are after the Rajagopuram under the muka mandapam. Chakrathalwar, Narthana Krishnar and Yoga Narasimhar are in arthamandapam. In the prakaram and mandapam Saptha Swara Vishwaroopa Anjaneyar, Visvaksenar, Ramanujar and Pippala Maharishi. Sri Varadharaja Perumal is on the sanctum sanctorum wall.
HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE
The Temple is believed to be built during Chozha Period ( Kulothunga Chozha –I ) with 7 prakaras. After Chozhas patron, no maintenance was carried out. The dilapidated temple was reconstructed to the present shape with single prakara in the recent years. There is no separate sannadhi for Thayar. The present temple is with sanctum sanctorum. The vimana is like umbrella, called Chandra Vimana. Niches or the Deva Koshtas are empty.
LEGEND
As per the legend this place was called as Kodihathi Bhava ( sin ) vomochana Puram. Pippala Maharishi, who was a king in his previous birth, was suffering from a skin decease. Lord Vishnu came in his dream and told that this was due to his previous birth king’s karma ( sin ). To get rid of the skin decease Vishnu directed him to the Sri Markasahayeswarar temple on the banks of river Kaveri. Lord Shiva showed him the north direction. ( Since Shiva showed the way – கோடி காட்டியதால் – this place was called as Kodihathi and hathi means a sin caused due to killing ). After some distance Lord Vishnu gave Vishwaroopa dharshan from a big fig tree and Pippala Maharishi got cured from skin decease.
After hearing the legend a Chozha King ( believed to be Kulothunga Chozha-I ) also came to this place where Pippala Maharishi had done the dhabas. The Chozha king also done dhabas, to get rid of the sin caused due to killing of many people in the wars ( hathi dhosha ). Lord Vishnu gave Vishwaroopa dharshan from the same fig tree. Chozha king has made this moolavar from the same fig wood through skilled sculptors. Since the Chozha King constructed this temple, this place was called as Sholampettai.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 07.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:
The following mobile numbers 9965727133 and 9940840940 may be contacted for further details.
Sri Varadharaja Bhattachariyar may also be contacted on his mobile 9787213226 for further details.
HOW TO REACH:
Kozhikuthi is a part of Sholampettai, on the Kallanai to Poompuhar road and the temple 1KM off the main road.
The Temple is about 6.2 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 26 KM from Sirkazhi.
Nearest Railway station is Mayiladuthurai.
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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