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 is facing east with a Temple tank with neerazhi mandapa, 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 ad 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 a Upanam and Pada bandha adhistanam. The temple was reconstructed with stone up to half level of Bhitti. The first tala was constructed without stucco images. The tala and greeva koshtas has the 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 as Thirumangai Alwar or Thirumangai mannan. The Villager used to welcome Thirumangai Alwar from the beginning of the Village, whenever he used to Visit the Village with Coconut and send off will 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 the adhisthanam ( The stones are 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 Surya dynasty. Fearing early death, Thundumaran sought help of “Maruthuva Maharishi”, the son of 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 long life.

This Diva Desam is also called as 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 as Varadhar. Since this temple's Perumal is this temple is elder than Tirupati Srinivasa Perumal, called as 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 in white Colour, so  this place is called as 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 opened 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 land line +91 4364 266534 and mobile +91 9489856554 for poojas

The Temple may be contacted on the land line +91 4364 266566 and mobile number +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---