25th January 2020.
The visit to this Adhikesava Perumal Temple at
Thiruvattar(u) in Kanyakumari District was a part of Nanjil Nadu Heritage Walk
organized by Yaaooyaakay and Celebrate Kanchi in association with Tamil Nadu
Tourism and Development Department, Kanyakumari, scheduled on 24th
to 26th January 2020.
PC: Google map
The second day’s last visit was to this temple.
This is one of the 108 Divya Desam and one of the Malai Nadu ( Kerala ) Temple
dedicated to Lord Vishnu as Adhikesava Perumal. The river Paraliyar changes its
course as circle ( Vattam – வட்டம் ) in this place,
hence this place is called as
Thiruvattar adding Thiru ( holy ) prefix. ( please read the legend also ).
Mangalasasanam was done by Nammalwar.
வாட்டாற்றானடி வணங்கி மாஞலப் பிறப்பறுப்பான் கேட்டாயே
மட நெஞ்சே கேசவன் எம்பெருமானை பாட்டாய பலபாடி
பழவினைகள் பற்றறுத்து நாட்டாரோடு இயல்வொழிந்து
நாரணனை நண்ணினமே.
...........நம்மாழ்வார்
The Sangam literature Purananuru also mentions this place as Vattaru.
"கேளிலோர்க்குக் கேளாகுவன் கழுமிய வென்வேல் வேளே
வளநீர் வாட்டாற்று எழினி யாதன் கிணையேம் பெரும
கொழுந்தடிய சூடு என்கோ?"
.......... புறநானூறு.
Moolavar : Sri
Adhikesava Perumal.
Some of the salient features of this temple are....
The temple is on the elevated level/ hill and facing
west. It has entrances on east and west side. Devotees used to enter on both
side. The sanctum sanctorum is of rectangular shape, to accommodate Sri
Adhikesava’s reclining posture on Adhiseshan. Moolavar is about 22 feet long and is made of Kaduku
(mustard ), Chippi ( Lime powder ) and Sarkara ( jaggery ). So abhishekam is not
done to the moolavar. It was told that 16008 salagrama is in side the idol. Along with moolavar are, Sridevi, Bhudevi, Madhu & kaidabars, There
are three openings in the sanctum sanctorum. Head, body and foot are seen
through these openings. The sanctum
sanctorum has koshtas with out images.
In the mukha mandapam reliefs of various deities on
the wooden pillars. Ashtadikpalakas are on the ceiling. Balipeedam,
Dwajasthambam are in front of the mukha mandapam. Arjunan, Karnan, warriors, Gangalar, Rathi, Manmadhan, Bickshadanar are also in the mukha mandapam. Since the temple is under palalayam, Poojas are conducted to
Urchavars kept in the inner prakaram. In
the outer prakaram Dharmasatha and Vattakni nathar.
ARCHITECTURE
The sanctum sanctorum was built during 7th
to 8th Century by the Aay Kings. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple pada bandha adhistanam with tripatta kumudam. Bhuta ganas are in the valapi. The
temple has inner and outer prakaram built in kerala style. The outer prakaram
was built in 16th to 17th Century. It is awesome to see
the Pavai vilakku / females holding the lamp statues are on the pillars. The
pillars has various bas-reliefs which includes, vaishnava deities, birds, flower motifs, animals, erotic sculpture, etc,.
The Sanctum walls are with various paintings like,
Gajalakshmi, Narasimha, and Vishnu’s
various avatars. The balipeedam is little higher with Krishna / Kanna playing
the flute and the calf are drinking milk from other mothers. Believed that this temple was constructed similar to Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple, but not to that size ).
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
Even-though the temple is under the control of
HR& CE Department, the functions and poojas are done as per Thiruvithangur
Maharaja’s decisions. Venattu kings worshiped Lord Adhi Kesava Perumal as their
Kula Deivam. The poojas are not as per Tantrika agama. Brahmins are not allowed to carryout the poojas and poojas are done by the Pothimars.
The temple has Kulothunga Chozha-I’s inscription with his meikeerthi. A 11th Century inscription records the
paving of steps by Varadhapattar. The 17th Century inscription mentions only the year.
Apart from Chozha King's inscriptions, Veera Marthanda Varma (510 – 519 CE ), Veera Kerala Varma ( 519 – 550 CE ), Sempalathitha Varma ( 612- 646 CE ), Kulasekara Perumal ( 644-659 CE) and Unni Keralavarma ( 734 – 753 CE ) period inscriptions, once recorded are missing during renovations.
The Tamil inscription dated Kali 4705 records the renovation
of this temple. A Single stone mandapa
was built during Kollam year 778. Another mandapa was also built by Kulasekara Ravi Varma.
The 1794 CE
Inscription records that Marthandavarma, before going to war at Colachel, 908
gold coins, Silk Cloth and Sword kept under the feet of Adhikesava Perumal and prayed to get victory in the war.
The 1937 CE latest
inscription records Mahatma Gandhi's Visit. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was carried out on 5- 6th July 2022, after about 418 year.
Inscription
Due error in the Brahma’s Yajna, two demons called
Kesan and Kesi came out. They gave troubles to Devas and Sages. When they
complained to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu killed Kesan and kept Kesi as pillow.
The demon’s wife sought Ganga and Tamiraparani's help to destroy Lord Vishnu.
When the two rivers came in spate, Mother earth raised the level and the rivers
flowed like a garland ( Circle ) around him. Hence this place is being called as Vattaru.
When Kesi tried to escape from
Vishnu’s 12 hands, Vishnu held Kesi in between 12 Rudrakshas, which latter
turned to 12 Shiva Temples around Thiruvattar. Shiva Devotees used to run and
pray all the 12 temples on Maha Shivratri day. Since Lord Vishnu destroyed
Kesan, he is being called as Adhikesava
Perumal.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 05.00 hrs to
12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The landline +91 4652 241270 my be contacted fro
further details.
HOW TO
REACH:
The place Thiruvattar is 6 KM from Marthandam, 30 KM
from Nagercoil, 50 KM from Kanyakumari, 110 KM from Tirunelveli, 280 KM from
Madurai and 725 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway station is Nagercoil.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
Pillar reliefs
Pillar reliefs
Dwarapalakas at the mukha mandapam
Rathi and Manmathan
Ceiling panel
Sanctum wall painting
The bas relief of Adhikesava Perumal on one of the door.
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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