Sri Kasthuri Ranganatha Perumal Temple / கஸ்தூரி ரங்கநாத பெருமாள் கோயில், Erode, Tamil Nadu. RI KASTHURI RANGANATHA PERUMAL TEMPLE, ERODE, TAMIL NADU – A PART OF KONGU TEMPLES.

06^th January 2019.

During my last visit to Sri Arudra Kapaleeswarar Temple, I could not see the Sri Kasturi Ranganatha Perumal Temple, since the temple was closed. So this time, after visiting Sri Mahimaleeswarar Temple, I visited this temple also before boarding the train to Chennai.

Moolavar : Sri Kasthuri  Ranganatha Perumal

Thayar    : Sri Kamalavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces south with a Deepasthambam / Garuda thoon. The 5-tier Rajagopuram is in front. Dwajasthambam, balipedam, and Garudalwar are in the mukha mandapam. The sanctum is in a rectangular shape to accommodate Sri Ranganatha Perumal's Sayana kolam on Adhiseshan. Dwarapalakas Jayan & Vijayan are on the east wall of the sanctum. Lord holds Brahma in the left hand, and Sridevi (near the head) and Bhoodevi (near the feet) are in front of Sri Ranganatha Perumal, facing each other. Perumal is placing his right hand on Durvasa Maharishi’s head. Since the sanctum is in a rectangular shape, the vimanam is also in a rectangular shape, like Rajagopuram. The muka mandapam top has the yazivari with a stucco image of Sri Ranganatha Perumal.

Thiruvenkadamudayan Sannadhi, Venugopala Swamy, Palliyarai are in the artha mandapam. In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Chakkarathalwar, Sri Kamalavalli Thayar (facing east), Sri Lakshmi Hayagriva, Dhanvantari, Vishwaksena, Ramanujar, Alwars, Andal, Sri Patham with a 4-pillared mandapam and Anjaneyar.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum is about 3 feet above the ground level. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. The entrance steps are on both sides of the Mukha mandapam. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

From the inscriptions on the adhistanam, the temple belongs to the 10^th Century. The Thirubuvana Chakravathi Veerapandyadevar gave Moovendrachola Chathurvedhimangalam to this temple Moolavar Pallikonda Nayanar. Another inscription mentions Perumal as Pallikondaruliya Perumal and Erode as Poonthurai Nattu Kanchithundathu Erode. 

The Chozha king Parantaka Chozha's inscription (When the Kongu region was under the direct control of the Chozhas) on the door jamb records Erode as "Erode" and Maha Vishnu as "Palli Konda Alwar". The Inscription reads as...

  ..ஸ்வஸ்தி ஸ்ரீ மதிரை கொண்ட கோப்பரகேசரி பந்மற்கு யாண்டு பதினஞ்சாவது ஈரோட்டில் பள்ளிகொண்ட ஆழ்வார் கோயிலில் எங்கள் வெண்ணெய்க்கு கூத்தர்.....

Another inscription mentions that the temple mandapas were renovated by Chinna Murari Naikar, son of Kondamalli Vengayya Naikar and Lakkapuram Muthukumara Gounder. An inscription tablet erected at the left entrance of the mandapam speaks about the paving of prakara, ie, the circumambulatory pathway with Cuddapah stone by Chinnathayammal, wife of Mandi  E Venkata Naikar (EeVeRa Periyar – the leader of Dravida Kazhagam and who was against  worshiping of Hindu Gods), Son of Thamma Naikar and her aunt Chennammal. The amount gifted was from their savings as “Siruvattu Panam,” which means the balance money of the purchase of groceries is saved for a long period.

LEGENDS

As per the Sthala Purana, Durvasa Maharishi went to Vaikund after a long delay. He was stopped by Vaikunta Dwarapalakas Jayan and Vijayan. Durvasa got angry and cursed them to be born on earth. When the Dwarapalakas requested that to show mercy on them to get rid of this curse. Durvasa gave them two choices. One born as friends in 5 births or two born as enemies in 3 births before returning to Vaikunda. The dwarapalakas Jayan & Vijayan chose option 2. So they were born as Hiranyaksha & Hiranyakashipu, Ravana & Kumbakarna, and Kamsa & Sisupala, and were killed by the Lord in each birth.  

As per another sthala purana, a pregnant woman offered Kasthuri (herbal medicine) for safe delivery to the Lord. From then on, Lord Ranganatha is called Kasthuri Ranganatha Perumal. This practice is not continued now.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The landline may be contacted for further details at 0424 2267578

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is just in front of Arudra Kapaleeswarar Temple.

About 3 km from Erode Railway Junction and 4 km from Erode Bus Stand.

A walkable distance from Periya Mariamman Temple.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Sri Patham with a 4-pillared mandapam

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---