Sri Ulagalantha Perumal Temple / Thiruvikrama Perumal Temple, Thirukovilur, Kallakurichi District ( Ex -Villupuram District ), Tamil Nadu.

May 2019.

This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desam Temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu’s Vamana Avathara – as Thiruvikrama at Thirukovilur, on the Southern bank of Thenpennai river. This is one of the three Divyadesams, where Ulagalantha Perumal is a Presiding deity. (The other two places are Kanchipuram and Sirkazhi.) This is also one of the Panchakanna (Krishnaranya) Kshetrams (The other places are in and around Kumbakonam and Nagapattinam).

Mangalasasanam was done by Poigai Alwar, Bhoothathalvar, Peyalwar and Thirumangai Alwar.

அன்றாயர்கு லக்கொடி யோடணிமா

மலர்மங்கையொ டன்பளவி, அவுணர்க்

கென்றானு மிரக்கமி லாதவனுக்குக்

குறையுமிட மாவது, இரும்பொழில்சூழ்

நன்றாயபு னல்நறை யூர்த்திருவா

லிகுடந்தை தடந்திகழ் கோவல்நகர்,

நின்றானிருந் தான்கிடந் தான்நடந்தாற்

கிடம்மாமலை யாவது நீர்மலையே. 

..... திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார் ( 1078 )

தமருள்ளம் தஞ்சை தலையரங்கம் தண்கால்,

தமருள்ளும் தண்பொருப்பு வேலை, - தமருள்ளும்

மாமல்லை கோவல் மதிட்குடந்தை யென்பரே,

ஏவல்ல எந்தைக் கிடம்

….. பூதத்தாழ்வார் ( 2251 )

வேங்கடமும் விண்ணகரும் வெகாவும், அகாத

பூங்கிடங்கில் நீள்கோவல் பொன்னகரும், - நான்கிடத்தும்

நின்றா னிருந்தான் கிடந்தான் நடந்தானே,

என்றால் கெடுமாம் இடர்.

…. பொய்கைஆழ்வார் ( 2158 )

Moolavar  : Sri Thiruvikrama Perumal / Ulagalantha Perumal

Thayar     : Sri Poongothai, Pushpavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with an 11-tier, 192-foot tall Rajagopuram, one of the tallest Rajagopurams next to Srivilliputhur and Srirangam Ranganathar Temple. There are 6 nos of taller 4 Pillar Mandapas and a 16 Pillar mandapam in front of Rajagopuram.

Thiruvikrama Perumal holds the shankha on the right hand and Chakra on the left hand (different from the usual posture), and the right leg is raised, ready to keep the step on the third place posture, in Koshtam Perumal's various postures. In the prakara sannadhi for Venugopala, Krishna (made of Salagram), Lakshmi Narayana, Lakshmi Raghava, Lakshmi Narasimha, Sri Rama, Vira Anjaneya, Sri Andal, Alwars Thirukachi Nambigal, Emperumanar, Koorathalwar, Shukracharya, the Guru of Asuras. Thayar Sri Poongothai Nachiyar is in a separate temple like sannadhi. It was said that the Vishnu Durgai is special here since Durgai is swayambhu and is normally seen at Shiva temples.

ARCHITECTURE

The Temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam.  The Vimana over the Sanctum is called Sri Hara Vimana. It is believed that the moolavar Ulagalantha Perumal is made of “Tharu wood”.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Even though this temple was mentioned in Sangam literature (3^rd Century BC to 3^rd century CE), when and by whom the temple was built are not known. The Original temple was built with brick, and the same was replaced  with a stone temple by Virarajendra Chozha (1063–70 CE) period, Rajendra Chozha-I, Chieftain Ranakesari Raman. The available inscriptions belong to Chozha Kings Rajadhiraja (1018-1054 CE), Rajendra Chozha-II (1051-1063 CE), Pandya Kings Vikrama Pandya, Pallava King Koperunsinga, Vijayanagara Kings Narasimha Devaraya (1485-1491 CE), and Sadasiva Raya (1542-1570 CE). The inscriptions speak about the construction of sannadhis, grants in terms of Lands, Gold, Kasus (Money), Cows, and Sheep,  given to the temple for poojas, the Lighting of perpetual lamps, the recitation of Vedas, and festivals. It is interesting to note that the common public, which includes women, also donated liberally. The temple was expanded during the Vijayanagara and Nayak periods. During the Carnatic wars, the temple was used as a bunker by the British and was attacked by Hyder Ali.

LEGENDS

There are many legends associated with this temple. It is believed that the Sangam period poet Avvaiyar arranged marriages for two Chieftains. Also, Kapilar found two suitable grooms for King Pari’s daughters, Angavai and Sangavai, and set himself on fire. Parasurama and Agasthiyar worshiped Lord Thiruvikrama of this temple.

As per Bhagavata Purana, Mahabali (Grand son of Pragalath) took the forcible control of Indraloka. To give back to Indira, Vishnu took the avatar of Vamana (Dwarf Brahmin) and asked him for three feet of Land. Mahabali agreed to give, in spite of Guru Shukracharya's warning not to give. The Vishnu – the Vamana took the Vishwaroop and measured the Land and sky in two steps.  When Vishnu asked for the third place, Mahabali showed his head. Vishnu kept his foot on Mahabali’s head and blessed him with immortality.

In another legend, it was a dark night, and it was raining outside. Poigai Alwar first finds a place to hide out and lie down. After some time, there comes Bhoothathalvar. Both sit together. Then came Peyalwar. He too was accommodated and all three stands. In the Lighting, the three Alwars sensed that there was a 4^th person also standing along with them. Poigai Alwar wished to see Perumal continuously and composed a song in which he mentions the earth is a big pot of lamps burning with ghee, which gives light as the sun. Vishnu gave darshan to all the three Alwars. It was believed that all three Alwars attained mukti in this place.

Another legend is associated with Mrugandu Rishi. When Vishnu came to their Ashram, at Thirukovilur, in the form of a hungry Brahmin. When Mrugandu Rishi asked his wife to arrange food. Since she couldn’t arrange it and pray to Vishnu, the vessel was filled with food. When they came out to offer to the Brahmin, Vishnu appeared before them with shankha and Chakra. Mrugandu Rishi requested Vishnu to show him the Vamana avathara and stay at Thirukovilur.

POOJAS AND FESTIVALS

Apart from regular poojas, Masi Magam, Sri Rama Navami, Visaka Garuda Seva, Nammalwar Satumurai, the Adi festival in Andal, Sri Jayanthi in Avani, the 10-day Manavala Mamunigal festival, Vaikunta Ekadesi, and the 15-day Brahmotsavam in Panguni are celebrated in a grand manner.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 06.30 hrs and 12.30 hrs and between 16.00 hrs and 20.15 hrs.

CONTACT:

The mobile number 948627990 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is about 500 meters from the bus stop

Thirukovilur is about   36 km from Thiruvannamalai, 48 km from Villupuram, and 206 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway station is Thirukovilur Railway Station, and the bigger one is Villupuram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---