VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Vaikuntanathan Perumal Temple, Srivaikuntam, Thoothukudi, District, Tamil Nadu.

Sunday 4 August 2019

Sri Vaikuntanathan Perumal Temple, Srivaikuntam, Thoothukudi, District, Tamil Nadu.

29^th June 2019.

The Nine Vishnu temples on the banks of river Thamirabarani in Thoothukudi district are called as Nava Tirupati. Nammalwar has sung pasurams on Lord Vishnu of these temples. Hence these 9 Vishnu temples are classified under 108 Divya Desams. These nine Vishnu temples are associated with the Vishnu’s ten incarnations and the planets. Srivaikuntam Temple is associated with Rama Avatar and the planet Suryan ( Sun ).

புளிங்குடி கிடந்து வரகுணமங்கை இருந்து வைகுந்தத்துள் நின்று

தெளிந்த என் சிந்தை அகங்கழியாதே என்னை ஆள்வாய் எனக்கு அருளி,

நலிந்த சீர் உ;லகம் மூன்றுடன் வியப்ப நாங்கள் கூத்தாடி (நின்(று) ஆர்ப்ப,

பலிங்கு நீர் முகிலின் பவளம் போல் கனிவாய் சிவப்ப நீ காண வாராயே.

( நம்மாழ்வார் திருவாய்மொழி )

Moolavar : Sri Vaikuntanathan Perumal / Sri Kallapiran

Thayar : Sri Vaikuntavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with a 9 tier Rajagopuram. A Nayak period Mandapa with a 4 pillar mandapa is in front of the Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Dwajasthambam are in a mandapam before 2^nd stage 5 tier Rajagopuram. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam and maha mandapam. The sanctum walls do not have separate Koshtas, but reliefs of Vishnu’s various avatars with SriDevi and Bhudevi. The Vimana is called as Chandra Vimana. In the prakaram Anjaneyar, Sri Vaikunta Nayaki, Choranatha Nayaki, Thiruvenkatamudaiyaan Sannadhi on the right and Ramar Sannidhi on the left of Dwajasthambam. Paramapatha vassal Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers on the north side.

The Thiruvenkatamudaiyaan mukha mandapa is supported with yazhi pillars with sculptures. There are various sculptors on the adhisthana too.

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE:

It is believed that the temple was built during Chandra kula Pandya kings period and latter expanded by the Vijayanagaras and Madurai Nayaks. The sanctum adhisthana is of kapothabandha adhisthana. The koshtas are formed by the Pilasters protruding outside and kumba panchara is in between two koshtas. The prastaram has Kapotha with nasikoodu and reliefs of deities. The Vimana is called as Chandra Vimana. Dwajasthambam was installed during Veerappa Nayakkar. Mandapam was built by Santhana Sabapathy.

LEGENDS

There is pinch mark on the cheek of urchavar. As per the legend the sculptor was very much happy over the Perumal’s beautiful face, so the sculptor pinched Perumal’s cheeks. An another legend, During Pandya period, a cow was showering milk at a particular place. When the place was excavated and found the old sanctum of the temple. Then the present sanctum was built on the same place.

Perumal is also called as Kallapiran ( A Thief ). The story behind this goes like this...

Kaladhoosukan was the son of a famous merchant called Virakupthan. He used to steel material, gold, money, etc., from the rich people. Of that he used to give 50% to the temple and the balance 50% he gives to poor. One day he stole from the treasury of the Pandya King. In the process his friends were caught. When the king came to know that Kaladhoosukan was their leader and ordered to arrest. Kaladhoosukan prayed Perumal and promised to give away the 100% share to the temple.

So Perumal took the form of Kaladhoosukan and went to the palace. On seeing Perumal’s beautiful and innocent face the King asked him who he is ?. Perumal explained that the wealth of the treasury belongs to the people and is being misused by the king and the people around him. It is the Kings duty to follow the dharma. So the King is not following the dharma, Perumal taught a lesson through Kaladhoosukan. Since the Perumal saved the thief – Kallan, Perumal is called as Kallapiran.

Birugu Chakravarthy and Indiran worshiped Lord Sri Vaikuntathan Perumal.