A Wandering Heritager: Arulmigu Sowmya Damodara Perumal Koil / அருள்மிகு சௌமிய தாமோதர பெருமாள் கோயில், Konnur, Villivakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Monday 14 November 2022

Arulmigu Sowmya Damodara Perumal Koil / அருள்மிகு சௌமிய தாமோதர பெருமாள் கோயில், Konnur, Villivakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

தாமோதரன் துதி

தாமோதரனைத் தனிமுதல்வனை ஞாலமிண்டவனை

ஆமோதரமிறய ஒருவர்க்கென்றே தொழுமவர்கள்

தாமொதரனுருவாகிய சிவற்கும் திசைமுகற்கும்

ஆமோதரமறிய எம்மானை என்னாழிவண்ணனையே

தாயார் துதி

அமுதினில் பிறந்து தானமுதாகி

யமுதனைத் தாமோதரனையே யடைந்தாய்

அமுதமாமோ தமதுதனை தந்து

அமுதவல்லி நீ அயுதமுங் காப்பாய்

The Visit to this Sowmya Damodara Perumal temple at Konnur, Villivakkam was a part of “Shiva and Mahavishnu’s Temples Visit in Aminjikarai, Arumbakkam, Ayanavaram and Konnur, Villivakkam” on 04^th September 2022. This temple is the last temple of this visit.

Moolavar : Sri Sowmya Damodara Perumal

Thayar : Sri Amirthavalli Thayar

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a 4 Pillar vasantha mandapam. The Rajagopuram is of three tiers with stucco images of Maha Vishnu’s 10 avatars. Balipeedam, kodimaram / Dwajasthambam and Garudan are after the Rajagopuram. Stucco images of Maha Vishnu with Sridevi and Bhudevi, Nammalwar and Ramanujar are on the top of the mukha mandapam. Jayan & Vijayan dwarapalakas are at the entrance of Sanctum Sanctorum. Moolavar Sri Sowmya Damodara Perumal is with Sridevi and Bhudevi. Perumal is holding Conch and Chakra in the upper hands, lower right hand is in abhaya hastam and left hand is in akavana hastam. Utsava murtis Sri Damodara Perumal, Baliperar, Nithya Utsavar, Sayana Utsavar, Chakkarathalwar are in front of moolavar. In kostam Vinayagar as Thumbikai alwar.

In praharam Chakrathalwar, 12 Alwar Sannidhis, Amirthavalli Thayar Sannidhi, Ramar Sannidhi, Kannan Sannidhi, and Hanuman is opposite to Ramar Sannidhi, a 4 Pillar mandapam, Paramapatha vassal ( Maha Vishnu’s 10 avatar bas-reliefs are on the door ) and Andal Sannidhi. Andal’s pasurams are inscribed on the wall, in front of Andal Sannidhi.

Alwar Sannidhis

ARCHITECTURE

The temple complex consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. Nammalwar and Ramanujar Sannidhis are in the mukha mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum, from adhistanam to prastaram, was built with stone. The Sanctum sanctorum is with three anga Vimanam. Brahmakantha pilaster with vettu pothyal is on the bhitti. The Prastaram consists of Valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. A 3 thala brick Dravida Vimana is on the Bhoomi Desam. Maha Vishnu’s Dashavatar stucco images are on the Vimanam, Vimanaam is called as Ananda Vimanam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the experts this temple is more than 700 years old and Shiva Temple also built during the same period.

Jeernodharana maha samprokshanam was conducted to Rajagopuram and Sannidhis Vimanas on 1996 and 31^st May 2004 after maintenance carried out.

Temple History

LEGENDS

This place was once a Vilva vanam ( forest ), hence called as Vilvavanam, this has corrupted to the present name of Villivakkam.

In another Legend, this place was named after the Asuras Villavan and Vatapi ie.. Vill+Va – Vilvakkam, which has got corrupted to the present name of Villivakkam.

As per Vilvaranya Puranam Sapta Rishis are Vasishtar, Kasyabar, Athiri, Jamathkini, Gauthamar, Vishwamitra and Baradwaj. Durvasa Maharishi was the son of Athiri. Villavan and Vathapi are the sons of Durvasa Maharishi and Surapadman’s sister Asumukhi. Durvasa wants to brought up his sons on the Gnana margam, which is not accepted by Asumukhi. Angered Durvasa left to the forest. Asumukhi ordered her sons to torture the Munis and Maharishis. So the brothers changed their forms as Shiva devotees, called the Rishis and Munis to have the feast. Villavan, the elder brother cooked his younger brother Vathapi and offer to the Rishis. After the rishis ate, Villavan called his brother. Vatapi comes out after tearing the stomach of the rishis. Thus they killed the Rishis and munis. Feared Munis and rishis, complained to Shri Shiva to save them from the Asuras. Shiva assured that Agathiyar will takes care of them.

Agathiya Maharishi passed on this way and came to know everything through his Gyandrishti. Agasthiyar took the feast offered by Villavan. Since Agasthiya Maharishi knows the plan of Villavan in advance, as soon as he ate, the Maharishi touched his stomach and said that all he ate to get digested. Villavan called Vatapi many times, he didn’t returned back. With the permission of Shri Shiva and Maha Vishnu, Muruga gave Agathiya a grass. After reciting a mantra, Agathiyar throws the grass on Villavan and killed. Since Agathiyar killed both Villavan and Vatapi, he was affected by Brahma hatya dosha / sin. Agathiyar Prayed to Lord Shiva to relieve him from the Brahma hatya dosha. Shri Shiva advised Agathiyar to come to this place and worshiped a Spatika Shiva Lingam, which was given by him and got relieved from the Brahma hatya dosha.

Devotees prays Sri Sowmya Damodara Perumal and Sri Amirthavalli Thayar for Child boon and to get removed the marriage obstacles.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas as per Thenkalai Vaikhanasa Agama, special poojas are conducted on chitra Pournami, Rama Navami, Chithirai Thiruvonam Nakshatra in the month Chithirai, 10 days Brahmotsavam in the month Vaikasi, Vasantha utsavam in the month Aani, Pavitra Utsavam, Krishna Jayanthi, Uriyadi utsavam in the month Aavani, Navaratri, Vijayadasami and Thirupavadai utsavam in the month Purattasi, Deepavali in the month Aippasi, Karthigai Deepam in the month Karthigai, Pagal Paththu, Ra paththu, Vaikunta Ekadasi in the month Margazhi, Sankranti, Thai velli Thayar thotta utsavam in the month Thai, Masimaham, Theppa utsavam and Dhavana utsavam in the month of Masi, Thirukalyana utsavam in the month Panguni. Apart from the above Alwars and Acharyas Thirunakshatram vaibhavam, Satrumurai, Tamil month beginning, Pournami SravaNam, Fridays Thayar procession ( Pancha Parva Utsavam , Oonjal Seva, are celebrated in a grand manner.