Sri Karivaradharaja Perumal Temple /ஸ்ரீ கரிவரதராஜபெருமாள் கோவில், விஜயமங்கலம் / Vijayamangalam, Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Karivaradharaja Perumal temple, at Vijayamangalam, was a part of a Heritage visit to the temples, heritage sites, and Hero stones from Vijayamangalam to Avinashi, on 07^th August 2021. Even though this temple has more than 700 to 800 years old history, it is not very popular. Also, the temple is not maintained properly, prakara is full of creepers, bushes, and shrubs, and circumambulation is very difficult.

Vijayamangalam was the capital of Kuruppa Nadu.  Vijayamangalam is one of the 33 Villages of Kuruppa Nadu. And Kuruppa Nadu is one of the 24 divisions / Nadus of Kongu Mandalam. This was mentioned in the Kongu Mandala Sathagam as...

குருமந்தூர் கோசனஞ் செவியூரயி லூருடன் கூறுங்கு ளப்பலூருங்

கோணா வலங்கய முடச்சியூர் கலிங்கயங் கோலமுறும் ஆதியூரும்

பெருகுசிவ லூர்குன்னத் தூரழுக் கொளியுடன் பெருமைதரு தாளூன்றியும்

பீடுபெறு திங்களூர் மூதூர்நல் லூருடன் பேசுந்திருப்பூர் வாய்ப்பூர்

வருவிசய மங்கையு நிரம்பையுங் கூடலூர் மறுவறு சிறுகழிஞ்சி

மாசில்செங் கைப்பள்ளி மண்ணறைசீ னாபுரம் வன்மைசெறிபால் தொழுவுடன்

திருவுலவு வெள்ளரி வளிமுகுந் தைப்பதி சிறந்தகற் றாங்காணியுந்

தேர்ந்தகொடு மணலமுக் கயந்தக்க ளூரூற்று சேர்குழி குறிப்பிநாடே    

Moolavar  : Sri Karivaradharaja Perumal

Thayar     : Sri Maha Lakshmi 

Some of the salient features of this temple are...

The temple is facing east with a Deepasthambam/Garuda thoon. A mandapam is at the entrance of the temple. The temple is at a lower place than the outside. Balipeedam, Garudan, and a Thulasi madam are after the entrance Mandapam. The entrance to the sanctum sanctorum top is with a Gopura-like arch. In that stucco images of Ramar Lakshmana and Anjaneyar. In the sanctum, Moolavar Sri Karivaradharaja Perumal is with Sridevi and Bhudevi.  There is no murtis in the niches / Koshtams. Nagars are in place of dwarapalakas at the entrance of ardha mandapam.

Ganapathi as Thumbikai alwar is the front Mandapam. In the maha mandapam Veera Anjaneyar, Thirumangai Alwar, Sri Vishwaksena, Sri Nammalvar and Sri Ramanujar.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple Pada bandha adhisthana with an Upa Peeda. Kumuda is of Threepatta kumuda. The adhisthana consists of Upanam, Kambu, Jagathy, Threepatta Kumuda, Kandam, and Vethigai.

There are three Deva koshtas / niches. The Makara thoranas are without much ornamental work. The Pilasters have Padmam, bandham, Thadi, Palakai, and Podhigai. Padmam is in the Valabi instead of Bhutavari.

A Two tier Nagara Vimana is over the prastaram. From Adhisthana to Bhoomi Desam was constructed with stone. Yazhivari is in the Bhoomi desam.  The vimana has the Karna pathi and Salaipathi. Kumbh Panchara pillars are outside the antarala wall.

The entrance mandapa pillars have the bas-reliefs of Saiva deities like Vinayagar, Lord Shiva, Kannappa Nayanar worshiping Lord Shiva, etc,. The entrance mandapa is supported by eight Pillars and 2 pilasters.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Kongu Choazhas Veera Rajendra, Vikrama Chozha,   Pandya Kings Veerapandya, Sundara Pandya and Hoysala King Veera Ballalan / Viravallala-III. The earliest Inscription belongs to Veerarajendran ‘s 10^th region year ( 1207 – 1255 CE ) inscription. Hence the temple might have been constructed during the 12^th Century. As per the inscriptions, this temple was called “Chithramezhi Vinnagaremperuman Karumanickalwar” and the place was called “Visayamangalam”.  Considering the name of the Perumal and the majority of people donated to this temple, the temple might have been constructed by Chitramezhi Nattar ie... the Vellalar community. 

The Veerapandya’s 15^th reign year ( 1280 CE ) inscription records the gift of money by an individual. The amount of 25 Panas was deposited with Sabha of Karrayan Kani alias  Veera Chozha Chaturvedimangalam. The members of the sabha had agreed to measure certain events of oil to the above-said temple.

Veerapandya’s other inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by an individual, who was working with the temple.  The inscription of the 12^th reign year records the gift of money for burning a twilight lamp / Sandhi lamp.

Veera Rajendra’s 10^th reign year ( 1217 CE ) inscription records the endowment of Naivedyam / offering by Vellalan of Sathanthai clan  Siriyan Devan alias Mudikonda Chozhamarayan, for the same 29 achchu money was paid to the Pandaram / treasury. From this 4 Nazhi rice naivedyam was offered.

Sundara Pandya’s 23^rd reign year ( 1308 CE ) inscription records the gift of money for burning a sandhi lamp/twilight lamp by Periyadevan alias Vanarayan who hails from the Padaithalai clan of the Vellala Community.

Sundara Pandya’s 28^th reign year ( 1313 CE ) inscription records the gift of money of 10 Panas / one achchu by an individual from the Padaithlai clan of the Vellala Community.

Sundara Pandya’s 27^th reign year ( 1312 CE ) inscription records the endowment of burning a Sandhi Lamp/twilight lamp by a person Suriya Devan alias Kuvalatharaiyan from Pandya Country.

Sundara Pandya’s 28^th reign year ( 1313 CE ) inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhya lamp for which one achchu gold was gifted by Padaithalai Velalar Vichan Cheettan alias Thappilavasakaan.

Sundara Pandya’s 24^th reign year ( 1309 CE ) inscription records the endowment of burning Sandhya Deepam by Vijayamaangalam Kaikolan Kumaran Eduthan alias Singa Perumal.

The Hoysala King Veeraballalan ( 1327 CE ) inscription records the endowment of Thirupani and Thirunal essentials.

Sundara Pandyan 2^nd reign year ( 1287 CE  ) inscription records the endowment of burning a saandhiya Deepam by Kundrathur/Kunnathur Kollikula Chokkan’s wife and Udaiyan’s daughter Kuppandi, for which one achchu gold was gifted.

Veerapandyan’s 17^th reign year ( 1282 CE, inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhiya lamp by Kangaya nattu Paranjer Palli Velalar Avalakula Veera Kamindan Udaiyan’s wife and Vamadevar’s daughter Pillai Ammai, for which gave a gift of one number Sriyakki Pazhajalakai Achchu.

Vikrama Chozha-II’s 2^nd reign year ( 1257 CE ) inscription records the gift of a Door frame by  Padaithalai Velalar Nangan.

LEGENDS

As per the Purana, Maha Vishnu saved and gave Moksha to an elephant that was caught in the mouth of a crocodile. Hence Maha Vishnu in this temple is called Kari Varadaraja Perumal.

It is believed that worshiping Karivaradharaja Perumal and Thayar will get rid of all doshas. Since Nagars are at the entrance of the sanctum, this temple is a Rahu and Ketu Parihara Sthalam.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Vaikundta Ekadasi, Krishna Jayanthi, Hanuman Jayanthi, Amavasya days, and Puratasi Saturdays

CONTACT DETAILS 

Sri N T Narayanan may be contacted on his mobile number +91 9844841901, for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

Vijayamangalam is on the way from Erode, Salem to Coimbatore.

Town bus facility is available from Perundurai.

Vijayamangalam is 10 KM from Perundurai, 28 KM from Erode, 71 KM from Coimbatore, and 433 KM from Chennai.

The Nearest Railway Station is ( 7 KM ) Vijayamangalam and the Nearest Railway Junction is Erode.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Vinayagar & Lord Shiva ( ...?) -- Kannappa nayanar

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---