Monday, 3 May 2021

Sri Vinnalantha Perumal Temple / ஸ்ரீ விண்ணளந்த பெரிய பெருமாள் கோயில், கொடுவாய், Koduvai, Tiruppur Dist, Tamil Nadu

The visit to this Vinnalantha Perumal temple at Koduvai was a part of the “Kongu Nadu Heritage Visit to Temples, Hero stones, Ayyanar and Jyeshta Devi Sculptures around Kangayam” in Tiruppur District. Koduvai was also called Koduvayur, Koduvayil, Kottaivayil, etc. It is believed that due to drought and heat many places in the Kongu region had turned to deserts. Due to that, the places obtained the names begin with “Kodu” ex. Kodumudi, Kodumanal, Kodumalai, Koduvai, etc,. This Perumal Temple is close to the Shiva Temple.


Moolavar  : Sri Vinnalantha Perumal
Thayar     : Sri Alamelumangai Nachiyar

Some of the salient features of this temple are...
The temple faces east with a 36-foot-high Deepasthambam. The entrance to the temple is with a mandapa. The stucco image of Maha Vishnu with Sridevi and Bhoodevi,  Mahalakshmi, and Lakshmi Narasimha are on the top of the mandapa. Balipeedam and Garudan are in the mukha mandapam. There are no murtis in the koshtam. Dwarapalakas Jayan and Vijayan are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. The Sanctum sanctorum is about 2 feet higher than the artha mandapam. Moolavar Maha Vishnu as Vinnalantha perumal is with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. Vinnalantha Perumal is with 4 hands. While the upper hand holds Conch and Chakra, the Lower left hand is holding a club and the right hand is in Abhaya hastam. The legs are facing the earth.

In praharam Manavala mamunigal, Ramanujar, Thirumangai Alwar, Nammalwar are in the artha mandapam. In the prakaram Anjaneyar, Maha Lakshmi ( in a separate temple like Sannidhi ), Alamelumangai Nachiyar, Vishwaksena, Lakshmi Narasimhar, Varahar, Hayagriva, Yoga Narasimhar  and Garudan. Lakshmi Narasimhar is in a peaceful mood, Mahalakshmi is sitting on the left lap of Narasimhar and holding with his right hand.


ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The Adhisthana is of simple Padabandha adhistanam with three patta kumudam. Sanctum sanctorum was built with stone up to prastaram. A Two-tier stucco Dasavathara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Vishnu’s Dasavathara  images are on the Vimanam.



HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that this temple was built before the 9th century and reconstructed with stone during the 10th Century Chozha period. Vattezhuthu inscriptions are found on the back side wall of the Moolavar. Latter period ie, 17, 18th Century inscriptions are found on the adhisthana. The temple is on the way to the Madurai trade route, it was damaged during the Muslim invasion by the Tipu Sultan.

This is one of the three famous Vishnu Temples of the Kongu region and the others are, Karuvalur Sri Veera Rajendra Vinnakara Perumal and Vijayamangalam Sri Karivaradharaja Perumal temple.

As per the Kongu Chozha Veera Rajendran’s 15th reign year ( 1222 CE ), inscription, the ardha mandapa with decorated doors and door frame was built by Veera Rajendra Uthama Narayanan.   

Mahamandaleswarar Sri Veera Nanjaraya Wodeyar period ( 1489 CE ) inscription records that, Pongalur kal Nattars assembled and reconstructed this Vinnalantha Perumal Temple and re-installed Perumal, which was damaged due to the invasion of foreign country Kings. Also gave back both wet and dry lands ( Nanjai & Punjai ) at Koduvai and Valuppur gifted to the temple as Thiruvidaiyattam previously and taxes in the form of Kanthayam, Kanikkai etc, to this temple.

Mahamandaleswarar Sri Veera Nanjaraya Wodeyar period ( 1489 CE ) inscription records that Koduvai Villagers gifted a land after reforming to enable to plow with ox at Velampoondi for the Annadhanam to Brahmin Desanthiris. They also arranged for Thanikar to manage this endowment.   

Kongu Chozha King Veera Chozhan Kalimoorkan’s 24th reign year inscription records that a well was excavated by Konattu Atkovan Kanguppai Mootha Achchar inside the temple, which is used to date for abhishekam and drinking purposes.

Mysore Wodeyar Sri Veera Nanjaraya Wodeyar’s period ( 1489 CE written as 1872.. ? ) inscription records that, the artha mandapam was re-constructed with stone by Nagalingapuram of Thondaimandala Velalar Pushbanatha Mudaliar’s son Veerabhadra Mudaliar, since the old mandapa was built with bricks & wood and damaged extensively.

As per the epigraphists Manivannan, Muralitharan, and Subramaniyan, the Veera Anjaneyar was installed by Vyasaraja Theerthar. There is a bell on the tail that holds the Sougandhika flower in hand and the other in vara hastha.
     


Vattezhuthu inscription on the back side wall of the Moolavar ( inscription is in damaged condition and details are not known
 ...சா
...த்தி
ப்பி வ
...று

LEGENDS
Lord Vinnalantha perumal is praised as கொடு என்று கேட்பதற்கு முன்னரே கொடுத்தருளும் கேசவன்”, since, devotee’s all the wishes are fulfilled. Hence this place is being called as “Koduvai – கொடுவாய்.

Devotees worship this Narasimhar, to excel in education, expand in the business, get relieved from Black magic/billi soonyam, to have a good relationship with husband and wife.  

It is also believed that those who pray Veera Anjaneyar on Moola nakshatra day will get relieved from Shani, Rahu, and Ketu doshas. Garudan is with 11 Snakes  on his body  and is controlled with his two hands. Hence it is believed that worshiping Garuda on panchami days will get relieved from Sarpa doshas and get a boon of marriage.

Usually, Vinnalantha Perumal ( means measuring the sky ) and Ulagalantha Perumal will be shown as Thiruvikrama avathara ie, keeping one leg on the ground and the other pointing towards the sky. The legend goes like this. The Asura King  Mahabali an ardent devotee of maha Vishnu, was the grand son of Bhakta Prahlada. He ruled the country peacefully with Shukracharya as a guru. With Guru’s guidance, he conquered the three logas/worlds and ruled. Shukracharya, told Mahabali, to hold permanently all the three logas, he has to perform 100 Ashwamedha yagnas. Mahabali did 99 Yagnas and is about to complete 100.

In the meantime, Indra who lost Indraloka prayed to Lord Maha Vishnu to get back his Indra Loka. So Maha Vishnu took the form of a Dwarf man called Vamana and went to the Yagna place. Usually, the person who conducts the yagna should give anything that the person asks. The Vamana asked Mahabali, a three-step of land. Ignoring his Guru Shukracharya's advice and knowing that Vamana is none other than Maha Vishnu, accepted to give him 3 steps of Land. The Vamana took the form of Thiruvikrama, measured the Earth in one step measured the sky in the second step, and asked Mahabali where to keep the Third step. Mahabali immediately showed his head to keep the third step. When Thiruvikrama placed his leg on Mahabali’s head, Mahabali went to Patala Loka. Maha Vishnu as a guard and Maha Lakshmi Mahabali's sister were there at Pathala Loka is a different story. Since Maha Vishnu measured the Sky in the second Step, Maha Vishnu is praised as “ ViNNalantha Perumal- விண்ணளந்த பெருமாள்”.          

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Fridays,  Vaikunta Ekadasi, Monthly Ekadashi, Uthiram nakshatra, Hanuman Jayanthi, Tamil and English New Year days  and all important Vaishnava functions. During Pradosham special poojas are done to Varahar, Hayagriva, and Yoga Narasimhar.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
The Bhattacharyya Senthamarai Kannan may be contacted on his mobile numbers +91 9842470636 and +91 9443567363 for further details.

HOW TO REACH
The temple is about 500 meters off from Main Road, close to Shiva temple on Tiruppur to Dharapuram.
The temple is 17 KM from Kangayam, 20 KM from Palladam, 24 KM from Tiruppur, 27 KM from Dharapuram, 56 KM from Coimbatore, and 459 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway Station is Tiruppur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE ( GPS Co-Ordination 10.9437809,77.4402936 ). 






--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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