The visit to this Sri Thiruvenkatamudaiyan Temple at
Ariyakudi, near Karaikudi, was a part of the Shiva, Vishnu Temples of
Pudukkottai and Sivagangai Districts
Visit on 23rd & 24th September 2023. This temple is also known as “Then Tirupati –
தென் திருப்பதி”. This place was called Harikudi during the Pandya
period. The name Harikudi means village of the Lord, which in the course of time
became Ariyakudi.
Moolavar : Sri
Thiruvengadam Udayan, Tiruvenkatamudaiyan
Consort :
Sri Alarmel Mangai
Some of the salient features of this Temple are...
The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. The second-level Rajagopuram is of 2 tiers.
Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Garudan are after the 2nd-level rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas
are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar Sri Thiruvengadam Udayan is in a standing posture with abhaya and kadi hastam. The upper hands are holding the Shankha and Chakra. There are no images in the koshtams.
In praharam Thayar
Sri Alarmel Mangai, Andal, Vedantha Desikar, and Vishwaksena.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the Sanctum Sanctorum, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam, adhistanam with
jagathy, kumudam, and kapotam. The kostas are a sala type.
The prastaram
consists of valapi, kapotam with nasikudus. The nasikudus has the flower motifs.
The Yazhivari is above the kapotam. Makara thundam is shown beautifully.
The construction is
very similar to Vijayanagara architecture. Mandapa pillars have beautiful
sculptures. It consists of various Deities, animals, flower motifs, etc. A
dravida vimana is over the sanctum sanctorum.
The temple was built
with a big paraharam on all 4 sides with beautifully carved pillars. The
granite stones required for constructing the temple were sourced from nearby
hills.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
As per the Sivagangai Mavatta Tholliyal Kaiyedu,
Sanctum Sanctorum and Ardha mandapam were constructed about 168 Years ago by
AL. K. M. R Sevukan Chettiar. The temple
was expanded with a 50-foot-tall rayagopuram in 1916 CE at Rs 5.5
Lakhs.
This is the birth place of Sri Ramanuja Ayyangar,
one of the Sangeetha Kalanidhi. This place was praised as “அரியக்குடி நகர் அத்தனை பேர் அத்தனையும் வரிசைக்குடியாக வாழ்க” by the Asukavi Muthappa Chettiar.
This Thiruvengadam Udayan temple, alias “Then
Tirupati”, Samprokshanam was carried out after the thirupani of Thiruvengadam Udayan,
Alarmel Mangai Thayar, Andal, Chakravarthi Thirumagan (Ramar), Vedantha
Desikar, Vishwaksena, Ardha mandapam, Parivara mandapa praharam, Vimanam
Swarnabhishekam, Utsava mandapam, Leela mandapam on 21st April 1902.
The donors, Sevukan Chettiar and Sathappan Chettiar, whose statues are on the
mandapa pillars.
Again, Maha Kumbhabhishekam was performed on 16th
September 1999 and on 26th March 2018.
The temple is under the control of the Tamil Nadu HR
& CE Department.
Donor sculpture on the Pillars
LEGENDS
As per the legend, one of the Nattukottai Chettiar called Sevukan Chettiar used to accept money
meant for Tirupati Balaji Temple from the Devotees and deposit it in the Balaji Temple
at Tirumala. He used to walk all the way from Chettinad. On one such occasion,
due to age, he fell down on the way. Thiruvengada Perumal appeared before him
and advised him not to come to Tirumala; instead, he constructed a temple at Chettinad and
offered it there. Hence, this temple is called “Then Tirupati”. The spot
where the temple has to come up was indicated by Thiruvengada Perumal, with the
Thulasi plant and a Coconut shell. It was said that the Moolavar was unearthed
from the same place where the sanctum Sanctorum was constructed.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Poojas are conducted
as per the Vaikhanasa Agamam. Apart from usual festivals, special poojas and
celebrations are conducted at Tirupati are conducted here also.
One of the special
offerings is the coconut breaking. On the north side praharam wall Garuda statue
is installed on the wall. Devotees used to break the coconut on the wall.
Devotees pray to Sri Thiruvengadam Udayan and Sri
Alarmel Mangai for child boon, to remove the marriage obstacle, to get good
jobs, to get cured of incurable deceases, to get rid of black magic like
billi, soonyam, eval, etc.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to
12.30 hrs, and from 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The landline number +914565231299 may be contacted
for further details.
HOW TO
REACH
This Arulmigu Tiruvenkadamudaiyan Temple, Ariyakudi, is on the South Side of Karaikudi, about 4.5 km from Karaikudi Bus stand, 16 km from Devakottai, 20 km from Pillayarpatti, and 38 km from the district headquarters
Sivaganga.
The nearest Railway Station is Karaikudi.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM
SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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