29th
June 2019.
The
Nine Vishnu temples on the banks of river Thamirabarani in 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. Perungulam Temple is associated with the Koorma
Avatar and the planet is Shani (Saturn).
கூடச்சென்றேன்
இனி என் கொடுக்கேன்? கோள்வளை நெஞ்சத் தொடக்கமெல்லாம்,
பாடற்றொழிய
இழந்து வைகல் பல்வளை யார்முன் பரிசழிந்தன்
மாடக்கொடிமதின்
தென் குளத்தை வண்குட பால் நின்ற மாயக்கூத்தன்
ஆடல்
பறவை உயர்த்த வெல்லோர் ஆழிவளவனை ஆதரித்தே
( நம்மாழ்வார்
திருவாய்மொழி )
Moolavar : Srinivasa Perumal and Sri Mayakoothar.
Thayar : Sri Kulanthai Valli and Sri Alarmel
Mangai
Some
of the salient features of this temple are…
The
temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram, and a mandapa is in front.
Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, and Garudan are immediately after the Rajagopuram. The
sanctum sanctorum consists of a sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam, and a
maha mandapam. Moolavar is in a standing posture. Thayar Kamaladevi is on Lord
Vishnu’s Chest. There are no idols in the
koshtas/niches.
Urchavars
are in artha mandapam and Alwars are in maha mandapam. In prakara sannadhi for
Nagars on a round platform, Sri Venkata Mudayan is with Sridevi and Bhudevi. There
is no separate sannadhi for Thayar. It was said that Sri Lakshmi resides on the
chest of moolavar. Urchavar Mayakoothan
is with Sri Devi, Bhudevi and Neela Devi.
HISTORY & ARCHITECTURE.
The
temple was built by the Pandyas and expanded by the Vijayanagar and Nayaks. The
sanctum adhisthana is with upana and a
simple pada bandha adhisthana. Mandapa
pillars are yazhi pillars and are worth seeing.
The Vimana is called as Ananda Nilayam.
After maintenance and painting, the temple
was consecrated on 09-12-1998.
A front mandapa pillar relief-- may be a donar ( Vijayanagara Nayak period )
LEGEND:
This
temple is a parihara sthalam of Shani Bhagwan. People used to offer prayers on Shani Peyarchi Day.
Thayar
Kamalavathi was born to Vedhasaran and Kumudhavalli, who are doing pooja to
Perumal. Kamalavalli said that she would
not marry any human being. So, she started her penance on Vishnu. Perumal
was pleased by Kamalavathi’s penance, appeared, and kept her
on his Chest. When Kumudhavalli was on her way to take a bath, a demon by the name of Achmasaran took her and kept her in the Himalayas. As per the request of Vedhasaran,
Perumal, with the help of Garuda, took
her back and killed the demon Achamasaran.
Hence, Garuda took Perumal on his back to this place, and he was given a
special status, seen along the
Urchavars.
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:
Venkatesa
Bhattar may be contacted on his mobile
94436 19222 and Muthukrishnan Bhattar on
his mobile 9994098664 for further details.
HOW TO REACH:
Perungulam
is about 15 km from Srivaikuntam, and
Srivaikuntam is on the way to Tiruchendur from Tirunelveli. All the buses will
stop at Srivaikuntam.
The 26
km from Thiruchendur, 46 km from Tirunelveli, and 195 km from Madurai.
The nearest
Railway station is Srivaikuntam (15 km) and Tirunelveli (46 km).
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Nagars
Temple Tank ( Perungulam )- even with little water, it looks beautiful
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
Excellent details. Thank you very much for all your very descriptive information. May the Almighty be with your family.
ReplyDeleteThanks ma for your encouraging comments
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