29th
June 2019.
The
Nine Vishnu temples on the banks of the river Thamirabarani in the Thoothukudi district
are called 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 Vishnu’s ten incarnations and the planets. Srivaikuntam Temple is associated with Rama
Avatar and the planet Suryan (Sun).
( Photo taken in 2019 )
( Photo taken 2024 )
Mangalasasanam of this temple was done by
Nammalvar. He praises Maha Vishnu and this place Srivaikuntam in Thiruvaimozhi
of Nalayira Divya Prabandham. In that, he mentions Maha Vishnu's three postures of Puliyangudi, Varagunamangai, and Srivaikuntam and gives darshan to him.
புளிங்குடி
கிடந்து வரகுணமங்கை இருந்து வைகுந்தத்துள் நின்று
தெளிந்த
என் சிந்தை அகங்கழியாதே என்னை ஆள்வாய் எனக்கு அருளி,
நலிந்த
சீர் உலகம் மூன்றுடன் வியப்ப நாங்கள் கூத்தாடி (நின்(று) ஆர்ப்ப,
பலிங்கு
நீர் முகிலின் பவளம் போல் கனிவாய் சிவப்ப நீ காண வாராயே.
.... நம்மாழ்வார் திருவாய்மொழி
Moolavar : Sri Vaikuntanathan Perumal
Utsavar : Sri
Kallapiran
Thayar : Sri Vaikuntavalli, Vaikunta Nachiyar
Some
of the salient features of this temple are…
The
temple faces 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 2nd stage 5 tier Rajagopuram. Moolavar Sri Vaikuntanathar is in standing posture with Maha Lakshmi on his chest. Utsavar Sri Kallapiran is with Sri Devi and Bhudevi. The sanctum walls do not have separate Koshtas,
but reliefs of Vishnu’s various avatars with Sridevi and Bhudevi.
In praharam Anjaneyar, Narasimhar, Sri Vaikunta Nachirar,
Chora Nachiyar, Thiruvenkatamudaiyaan Sannidhi on the right and Ramar
Sannidhi on the left of Dwajasthambam. Paramapatha Vassal Rajagopuram has 3
tiers on the north side.
ARCHITECTURE
The Temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum is on a kapota bandha adhisthana. The koshtas are formed by the Pilasters protruding outside, and the kumba pancharas are between the two koshtas. The prastaram has valapi and Kapota with nasikoodu and reliefs of deities. The Vimana is called Chandra Vimana.
The Thiruvenkatamudaiyaan mukha mandapa is supported by yazhi pillars with sculptures. Various sculptors are also on the adhisthana. The Sculptures on the four pillars are given below.
Thiruvenkatamudaiyan muka mandapa - Sculptures
Thiruvenkatamudaiyan muka mandapa - sculptures
Thiruvenkatamudaiyan muka mandapa - Yazhi's back design
Thiruvenkatamudaiyan muka mandapa Yazhi pillars
Thiruvenkatamudaiyan muka mandapa- Pothyal - a monkey sculpture
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It
is believed that the temple was built during the Chandra Kula Pandya king's period
and later expanded by the Vijayanagaras and Madurai Nayaks. Dwajasthambam was
installed during the Veerappa Nayakkar. Mandapam was built by Santhana Sabapathy.
Vijayanagara King Sadasivaraya's inscription on the mandapam wall records the gift of lands for burning a lamp at this temple. To meet the continuous expenses for poojas, the income from the six Villages. The six villages are Ariyakulam, Kodikkulam, Kuththukaval, Bhudhaneri, Pottukalam, Sri Ramakulam, and Allikudi. A Village was set up to settle 108 Brahmin families.
விஜயநகரப் பேரரசின் சதாசிவ ராயனின் கோயிலின் மண்டப சுவரில் உள்ள கல்வெட்டு விளக்கெரிய வயல்களை மானியமாக விடப்பட்டதைக் குறிக்கின்றன.
கோயிலின் தொடர் செலவுகளுக்காக ஆறு கிராமங்களில் இருந்து வரும் வருவாய்
வழங்கப்பட்டது. அரியகுளம், கொடிக்குளம், குத்துகாவல், புதனேரி,
பொட்டுகலம், ஸ்ரீராமாகுளம், அலிக்குடி ஆகிய கிராமங்கள் கோயிலின் தினசரி பூசைகளுக்காக கோயிலுக்கு
மானியமாக விடப்பட்டன. வேதங்கள் மற்றும் அகமங்களை நன்கு அறிந்த 108 பிராமணக் குடும்பங்களை குடியமர்த்த ஒரு அக்ரகாரம் நிறுவப்பட்டது.
This
place was called Thiruvazhuthi (vala) nattu Srivaikuntam, and Maha Vishnu is called Kallapiran.
Thiribhuvana
Chakravarti Konerimai Kondan’s period inscription (No 741, AR No 177 of 1895)
records the gift of 5 Ma Land as irayili after deducting the taxes at Vallanadu alias Jayangonda Pandyanallur to
Srivaishnavas of Kallapiran Temple Tirupati. This was gifted as per the direct
order of the King through a palm-leaf written message.
The
Komaravarman alias Thirubhuvanachakravati Thirunelveli Perumal Sri Virapandiyan’s
2+17th year reign inscription ( No 742, AR No 78 of 1895 ) records
that the Vaikasi festival was stopped. To continue the festival from Sathayam to
the king's birth star of Thiruvathirai, the Ucha Kala Pooja was named after
the king Virapandiyan Sandhi. For the poojas and naivedyam, land was gifted as
thiruvidaiyattam.
Ref
South
Indian Inscriptions 14 and 41.
LEGENDS
There
is a pinch mark on the cheek of the utsavar. As per the legend, the sculptor was very happy with Perumal’s beautiful face so the sculptor pinched Perumal’s cheeks. Another
legend is that during the Pandya period, a cow was showering milk at a particular place.
When the place was excavated,
the old sanctum of the temple was found. Then the present sanctum was built in 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 steel, gold, money, etc., from
the rich people. Of that, he used to give 50% to the temple and the balance 50%
he gave to the 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, he
ordered him to be arrested. Kaladhoosukan prayed to 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
was. Perumal explained that the wealth of the treasury belongs to the people
and is being misused by the king and the
people around him. The King must 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 Kallapiran.
Birugu
Chakravarthy and Indiran worshiped Lord Sri Vaikuntathan Perumal.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The
temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.30 Hrs and 17.00 hrs to
20.00 Hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Ramesh
Bhattar Srinivasa Bhattar or Vaikuntanathan Bhattar may be contacted on the
mobiles 9865628681 and 99521 62359 for further details.
HOW TO REACH:
Srivaikundam
is on the way to Tiruchendur from Tirunelveli. All the buses will stop near
the temple.
34
km from Thiruchendur, 30 km from Tirunelveli, and 194 km from Madurai.
The nearest
Railway station is Srivaikuntam and Tirunelveli.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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