Sunday 3 March 2024

Sri Aandu Alakkum Ayan Perumal Temple / ஆதனூர் ஆண்டளக்கும் ஐயன் கோயில், Thiruadhanoor / Adhanur, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This Sri Aandu Alakkum Ayan Perumal Temple at Adhanur is the 12th Divya Desam of 108 Divya Desams and the 11th Divya Desam of Chozha Nadu. This place Adhanur is between Kollidam and River Kaveri. This place Adhanur is also called Bhargava Kshetram, since Maha Lakshmi incarnated as a daughter to Bhargava Maharishi.


Mangalasasanam was done by Thirumangai Alwar in Nalayira Divya Prabandham – 2674 ( 130 ). Even-though Thirumangai Alwar has not sung directly to this temple, but mentions in the Periya Thirumadal as ஆதனூர் ஆண்டளக்கும் ஐயன்’ 
 
முன்னவனை மூழிக் களத்து விளக்கினை,
அன்னவனை ஆதனூர் ஆண்டளக்கும் ஐயனை,
நென்னலை யின்றினை நாலையை, - நீர்நிலைமேல்…  
…. திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார் ( 2674 -130 )

In another place ..
இடரான வாக்கை யிருக்க முயலார்
மடவார் மயக்கின் மயங்கார் - கடவுளர்க்கு
நாதனூ ராதரியார் நானெனதென்னார
மலன் ஆதனூர் எந்தை யடியார்.
…. திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார்

Moolavar  : Sri Aandu Alakkum Ayan Perumal
Utsavar    : Sri Ranganathar / Azhagiya manavalan
Thayar     : Sri Barkavi / Sri Kamalavasini
Utsavar    : Sri Ranganayaki

Some of the salient features of this temple are ….
The temple is facing east with a three-tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Garudan are after the rajagopuram.  Dwarapalakas are on both sides of antarala. Utsavars and Alwars are in the antarala.

Moolavar is in reclining posture / bhujanga sayana kolam keeping a marakkal / measuring  jar as pillow. Moolavar's face is turned towards the east. The lower hands are holding palm leaves and a ezhuthani / a scribbling implement. Sridevi and Bhudevi are at his feet. Brahma is from moolavar’s nabi kamalam. Utsavars Sri Ranganathar and Ranganayaki are in front of moolavar. No images are found on the Kostams.

Shiva, Bhrigu Maharishi, Agni, Kamadhenu with her daughter Nandini, and Thirumangai Alwar with the sword are also in the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Two Moksha Pillars and Utsava murtis are in the ardha mandapam.

Thayar Sri Ranganayaki is in a separate sannidhi facing east. The Thayar is in sitting posture with abhaya varada hastam. Narasimhar, Ramar Thiruvadi and Sudarsana Anjaneyar are in the praharam. 

Moolavar is in a reclining posture / bhujanga sayana kolam and his head rests on a marakkal / measuring  jar as pillow. 
 Narasimhar

 Thayar sannidhi Lintel reliefs

ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is rectangular in shape to accommodate Maha Vishnu’s reclining posture. The sanctum sanctorum was built with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The adhistanam is of prati bandha adhistanam with jagathy, vrutha kumudam, and prati vari as madhalam and Mahara thundam are at the corners. The Bhitti starts with Vedika. The pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, plain mandi, palakai, and Pushpa pothyal. 

The Prastaram consists of valapi, and kapotam with nasi kudus. The Vimanam over the sanctum  Sanctorum prastaram is of 1 tala. ( Two talas including adi tala ). The Vimanam over the prastaram was built with bricks as salakara Vimanam. Stucco images of Maha Vishnu’s various forms are on the tala ( with consorts ) and greeva koshtams. The Vimanam is called as Pranava Vimanam.

Stucco image of Maha Vishnu surrounded by 7 Bhuta ganas on the Vimanam maha nasi is believed that it is growing year by year







HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple was built by the Chozha king Aditha Chozha. The temple received contributions from Vijayanagara / Thanjavur Nayakas and Maratha Kings.
 
The temple is being maintained by Ahobila Mutt and Rajagopuram was constructed by Bombay Tanks and Vessels Ltd, Sri Ramanuja Ayyangar, with the effort of, 44th pattam Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt. Maha samprokshanam was conducted on 31st August 1973.   

To Commemorate 45th Jeer of Ahobila mutt Srimad Azhagiya Singar Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Divya Pathusevaka Sri Vantakopa Sri Narayana Theertha Maha Desika’s sathabhishekam, this temple’s Maha samprokshanam was conducted on 12th July 2006.

One of the 20th-century inscriptions records the endowment of naivedyam during Ucchikala Pooja by Mani Ammal.

Security system with Inverter was installed on 30th December 2007 in connection with the Ahobila mutt 45th pattam Srimad Azhagiya Singar’s Sathabhishekam.

Maha samprokshanam was conducted after thirupani on 15th November 2021.







LEGENDS
As per the legend, when Thirumangai Alwar was doing thirupani of Srirangam Temple, he was left with a shortage of money to pay the labourers. When he prayed to Maha Vishnu, in the form of asariri, Maha Vishnu asked Thirumangai Alwar to come to the banks of Kollidam to get the money.  The next day, Thirumangai Alwar went to the Kollidam river bank. A merchant with a marakkal / measuring jar came and told that he was sent by Maha Vishnu. Thirumangai Alwar told the merchant, that he needed money, to pay the labourers. The merchant measured the sand and gave him and told him that it would appear as Gold to those who really worked. When Thirumangai Alwar gave the sand to the labourers, most of them complained, that he is giving only the sand and not the Gold. Thirumangai Alwar felt that he was cheated and chased the merchant. The merchant ran, stopped at this place, and told to Thirumangai Alwar that he only came as a Merchant. The quantity of sand given was inscribed on the Palm leaf and blessed Thirumangai Alwar.
 
Kamadhenu and Agni worshipped Maha Vishnu of this temple. Since Kamadhenu – ..( celestial Cow, which can give what ever the food asked ) was over pride of her power and elder to Maha Lakshmi. Maha Vishnu asked her to measure her wealth through the marakkal. It was not filled. When Mahalakshmi dropped a leaf of Tulasi, the Marakkal filled and overflowed. Kamadhenu felt ashamed and did a penance on Maha Vishnu to forgive her. Satisfied with her penance, Maha Vishnu pardoned her. Hence this place was called as Adhanur. This place is believed to be older than Srirangam, called Adi Rangeswaram, which is mentioned in Brahmanda Purana.

In another legend, Suryan ( aadhavan ) worshipped Sri Saranathan of this temple, hence this place is called as Adhanur.

In another legend, this place is also called Agni Saba Vimochana Sthalam. Agani was affected by a saba for attending the yagna conducted by Brahma, without his consort Saraswati. Saraswati cursed Brahma and those who participated in the yagna. Agni came to this temple and worshipped Sri Saranathan and got relieved from the saba.

There are two pillars called moksha pillars, in front of Moolavar. It is believed that, after circumambulation of the pillars and worship face and feet of Moolavar, will get moksha.

This also a Guru parihara sthalam.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas as per pancharatra, special poojas are conducted on Vaikunta Ekadasi, Brahmotsavam in the month of Vaikasi. Pancha Parvatha Thirumanjanam is being conducted monthly.



TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS
The Mobile numbers of Adhanur Balu +91 9659238848 and Kannappan Bhattacharya +919944630182 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH
This place Adhanur is very close to Narasingapuram, on the southern side of River Kollidam.
This place Adhanur is about 8 KM from Kabisthalam, 13 KM from Kumbakonam, and 38 KM from Thanjavur.
Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE









Vinayagar in the Kostam as Thumbikai Alwar

The Visit to this temple was a part of Divya Desam Temples Visit , near Thanjavur and Kumbakonam, organized by Culture Cuircuit.  Thanks to Mr Balakumaran 
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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