Annan Perumal Temple / Annan Koil / அண்ணன் பெருமாள் கோயில், Thiruvellakulam, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

15^th September 2019.

கண்ணார்கடல்போல் திருமேனிகாரியாய்!

நண்ணார்முனை வென்றிகொள்வார் மன்னுநாங்கூர்

திண்ணார்மதிள்சூழ் திருவெள்ளக்குளத்துள்

அண்ணா! அடியேனிடரைக்களைவாயே

திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார் – நாலாம்பத்து – ஏழாம் திருமொழி

பூவார் திருமாமகள் புல்கிய மார்பா !

நாவார் புகழ் வேதியர் மன்னிய நாங்கூர்த்

தேவா! திருவெள்ளக்குளத்து உறைவானே!

ஆவா! அடியான் இவன் என்று அருளாயே.

….. திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார்- பெரியதிருமொழி 4-7-9

This temple Annan Perumal temple is one of the 108 Divya Desam sthalam and 39^th sthalam of  108 Divya Desam in Chozha Nadu. The mangalasasanam was done by Thirumangai Alwar.

Moolavar : Sri Annan Perumal  and Urchavar Srinivasa Perumal

Thayar    : Sri Alarmel Mangai Nachiyar & Urchavar Padmavathi Thayar

Some of the important features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a Temple tank with neerazhi mandapa and Swetha pushkarani. Sri Vijaya Anjaneyar sannidhi is in front of the 3 tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Garudalwar are in the mukha mandapam. Moolavar Sri Annan Perumal is in Standing posture with Sridevi and Bhoodevi.  Urchavars Sri Srinivasa Perumal and Padmavathi Thayar also known as Poovar Thirumagal. Alwars are in the mandapam.

In prakaram sannadhi for Sri Alarmel Mangai Thayar and Kumudavalli Nachiyar.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple  complex consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and a mukha mandapam.The Sanctum Sanctorum is on an Upanam and Pada bandha adhistanam. The temple was reconstructed with stone up to the half level of Bhitti. The first tala was constructed without stucco images. The tala and greeva koshtas have stucco images of Maha Vishnu's various postures. The sigram is of vesara style. The Vimanam is called as Swetha Vimanam. 

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS

Kumudhavalli Nachiyar belongs to this place. The Kaliyan or Kalikanti a Military commander, Chieftain, and a robber turned Saint and Alwar Married Kumudhavalli Nachiyar and was called Thirumangai Alwar or Thirumangai mannan. The Villagers used to welcome Thirumangai Alwar from the beginning of the Village, whenever he visited the Village Coconut and send would also be given during his departure.

It was believed that the temple was built by early Chozhas and maintained by the latter Chozhas. The mandapam was built during Vijayanagaras / Nayaks. Chozha period inscriptions are found on the adhisthanam ( The stones were misplaced during renovations ) and Vijayanagara period inscriptions are found on the pranala. 

fragment inscriptions 

   Yaali PraNaaLa - யாளி ப்ரணாளா - with inscriptions - The inscription reads as  திருவேங்கட நாத பிள்ளை தன்மம்.

  Yaali PraNaaLa - யாளி ப்ரணாளா - with inscriptions. The inscription reads as தாண்டவ மூர்த்தி பிள்ளை தன்மம்

LEGENDS

Swethan was the son of King Thundu Maran, of the Surya dynasty. Fearing early death, Thundumaran sought the help of “Maruthuva Maharishi”, the son of the Sun god. He directed Swethan to do dhyana and chant “Mrityunjaya Manthiram”, under a bilva / Vilva tree on the banks of Swetha Pushkarani.  Lord Vishnu appeared before him and blessed him with a long life.

This Diva Desam is also called South Tirupati. The devotees who couldn’t go to Tirupati can offer to this Annan Perumal.  Since Annan Perumal saved the life of Swethan, Perumal is called Varadhar. Since this temple's Perumal this temple is older than Tirupati Srinivasa Perumal, called Annan Perumal.

This place Thiruvellakulam may be split as Thiru+Vellam+Kulam. Vellam and Kulam signifies water. Vellam can also be taken as Vellai ( white ), since Adhi Vishnu, Rama, and Balarama are white Colour, so this place is called Thiruvellakulam. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas conducted, as per Pancharathra agama, special poojas are conducted on Thirumangai Alwar’s mangalasasana Utsavam ( New Moon Day in the month of Thai- Thirumangai Alwar Utsavar will be brought from Thiruvali – Thirunagari ) and Garuda seva.

During Garuda Seva, all the 11 temple’s Utsavars on Garuda Vahanam and Thirumangai Alwar with his consort Kumudavalli Nachiyar, on Hamsa Vahanam are taken to Sri Narayana Perumal’s temple also called as manimaada Koil. After the Garuda Seva, Thirumangai Alwar with his wife Kumudavalli Nachiar will be taken to all the 11 divya desam temples of Thirunangur. The 11 Diva desams are 1. Sri Narayana Perumal (Manimaadakkoil),2. Sri Kudamaadu koothar (Arimeya Vinnagaram), 3. Sri Semponarangar (Semponsei Koil), 4. Sri Pallikonda Perumaal (Thiruttetriambalam ), 5. Sri Annan Perumaal (Thiruvellakkulam), 6. Sri Purushothama Perumaal (Vanpurusothamam),  7. Sri Varadarajan (Thirumanikoodam), 8. Sri Vaikuntha Nathar (Vaikuntha Vinnagaram),  9. Sri Madhava Perumaal (Thirudevanaar thogai), 10.Sri Partha Sarathy (Thiruparthan Palli) and 11. Sri Gopalan ( Thirukavalampaadi )    

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Temple website: http://sriannanperumal.org/Puranam.html

E-mail address: contact@sriannanperumal.org

Madhava Bhattar may be contacted on this landline at +91 4364 266534 and mobile at +91 9489856554 for poojas

The Temple may be contacted on the landline line at +91 4364 266566 and mobile number at +91 9444013814 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

About 8 KM from Sirkazhi on Sirkazhi to Karaikal NH45A,  High way. After reaching 7 KM there is an arch on the left side and the temple is about 1 KM off the main road.

Nearest Railway station is Sirkazhi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---