Sri Arulala Perumal Temple / ஸ்ரீ அருளாள பெருமாள் கோவில், Munnur, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

28^th April 2019.

This Arulala Perumal Temples visit is a part of Shiva and Vishnu temples Visit on 28^th April 2019, between Marakkanam to Tindivanam, which includes 3 Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva temples.  After the darshan of Sri Adavalleeswarar, Mr. Ramesh and his team led us to the Vishnu temple at Munnur.

 

Moolavar    : Sri Arulala Perumal

Thayar       : Sri Perundevi

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces west with an entrance arch. Balipedam, Dwajasthambam, and Garudalwar are immediately after the entrance arch. The Garudalwar is with snake binding ( naga kattukal நாக கட்டுகள்) on 8 places of his body. In the sanctum, Moolavar Sri Arulala Perumal is in standing posture on a Padma peedam with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. Perumal, while the upper hands holds conch and chakra the lower hands are in abhaya and varada hastham. Urchavar  Sri Devaraja Perumal is with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. Perumal as Adhikesava Perumal is in north west corner of the artha mandapam. Adhiseshan is shown above his head.

In the praharam sannadhi for Sri Perundevi Thayar, Andal, Balayoga Narasimhar, Alwars, Anjaneyar, Sudharsanar, Vaishnavi ( in inscription it was mentioned as Vishnu Durgai It is worth to note the crown. The Bhattar showed Shiva Linga). The sannadhis have both Moola Vigraham and Urchava Vigraham. Narasimhar Vigraha's teeth are not shown, hence he is called Bala Narasimha. The same way Anjaneyar. Anjaneyar's head is shown without a crown and wearing a thulasi mala.

 

 Garudalwar with Ashtanaga bandham

Bala Narasimhar without teeth

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, and a Mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctroum is ona simple pada bandha adhistanam with 3 patta kumudam. The Bhitti starts with Vedhikai. The Koshtas are sala type. The pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters with square base & Naga bandham, Kalasam, thadi, Kudam, Lotus petals mandi, Palakai, Veera kandam and Pushba pothyal. The Prastaram consists of Valapi, Kapotam with Nasi kudus and Viyyala vari. The 3 tier Vesara Vimanam was constructed with bricks. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Sri Anandhachariyar, who lived in 1860 CE,  was responsible for finding the temple in ruins in the midst of a thorny forest ( Kalli Kadu). One day Perumal came in his dream and he was in the midst of the thorny forest without care from anybody. When he and some devotees searched the thorny forest and found out the top of the Vimana. When they cleared the thorny bushes, the temple was found in ruined condition. The temple and Vigrahas were completely destroyed during the Muslim invasion. The temple was renovated and Samprokshanam was performed during the 19^th century. In 2011 Kumbhabhishekam was performed.

It was told that Narasimhar was unearthed in the temple premises, where plantain trees are grown. 

There are 8 inscriptions in this temple. The inscriptions belong to the Chozhas, Pandyas, Chalukyas, Gajapathy, and Vijayanagara dynasties. The inscriptions are inscribed on the walls of the Sanctum, Artha mandapam, Maha mandapam, and Maha mandapa pillars.

As per the inscriptions, Perumal was called Arulala Perumal, Chithramezhi Vinnagar Emperuman, and Purushothama Peruman. The Thondai Nattu merchants formed a group with an emblem of Chithramezhi ( Plough) During Pallava's reign/ rule. These merchant groups spread throughout Tamil Nadu keeping Thittai kudi also known as Vidhyaranda Puram. Since Plough is connected to the earth, they worshiped Perumal along with Bhoodevi.  They constructed this temple for “Purushothama Perumal” also called “Chithramezhi Vinnagara Perumal” at Munnur Rajanarayana Chaturvedi Mangalam. They also gifted lands to this temple. Puri in Orissa State Jaganathar temple was called “Purushothamapuri”. This temple is an abimana kshetram for the Gajapathy kings who ruled Orissa. Hence this place was called “Purushothamapuri”. As per Dr U Ve. Anandha Padmanabbachariyar, this temple may be older than Paranthaka Chozhan ( 907 to 955 CE).

During Sadayavarman Virapandyan's 10th-year rule, inscriptions mention this temple as Purushothama Perumal Koil and Moolavar's name as Chitramezhi Vinnagara Perumal.  During his period Munnur, Pidagai, and Singavanenthal villages are gifted to this temple after removing the taxes.

Aampi Viran’s son Kabileswara Kumara Mahabathiran of Gajapathy King’s of  Orissa  ( 1464 CE) period a particular land was divided into 5 parts and the income from those parts are to be utilized for maintenance.

Vijayanagara King Narasinga Devaraya’s assistant/ officer Thimmarasar, appointed a headman ( இடையன் )  to light a perpetual lamp, and a portion of the income from land was gifted for this purpose.

In 2006 “Munnur Sri Arulala Perumal Seva Trust” was formed to carry out the renovations. Palalayam was done on 08^th February 2007. Mr A M Rajagopalan, an astrologer and author of Kumudam Jothidam participated actively in the renovations.  Yoga Narasimhar was unearthed from the temple premises on 19^th January 2009.  After the construction of sannadhis for Yoga Narasimhar, Andal, and Dwajasthambam, in 2010 CE, Maha Samprokshanam was performed on 24^th January 2011.

LEGENDS

This is a parihara sthalam for marriage obstacles, puthira dosha nivarthi sthalam. It is believed that by praying for continuous three Saturdays and lighting ghee lamps, Arulala Perumal will remove all the obstacles in one life. Every Swathi Nakshatra day special homams are performed for Narasimhar.    

At the time of sunrise, Sri Arulala Perumal with his consorts throws light equivalent to 1000 suns from surya mandala and blesses the devotees, hence Arulala Perumal faces the west direction.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Kesava Bhattacharya may be contacted on his mobile at 9597287284 and 8668077135 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

Munnur Village is about  3.1 KM off from Tindivanam to Marakkanam main Road. The Bus stop's name is Alankuppam.

Alankuppam bus top is 18.4 KM from Marakkanam, 19.3 KM from Tindivanam Railway Station, and 36 KM from Pondicherry through Brahmadesam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Alwars

 Adhiseshan

Sri Vaishnavi

 Shiva Lingam on the top of the crown

 Perundevi Thayar

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---