This place, Cheranmahadevi, is on the banks of the River Thamirabarani and was named after the
Queen of a Chera King. During the Chozha period, this place was a Brahmadeya Village
also called Nigarili Chaturvedi Mangalam, gifted to Brahmins who are well-versed
in the 4 Vedas.
Moolavar : Sri Vedanarayana Perumal
Utsavar
: Sri Ramar, Sita, Lakshman, and
Hanuman
Thayar : Sri Vedavalli Thayar
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a mottai gopuram and mandapam. Ramar with Hanuman
and Ramar sculptures are on the pillars of the entrance mandapam. Balipeedam,
Dwajasthambam, and Garudan are in front of the temple. Dwarapalakas are at the
entrance of the ardha mandapam. Moolavar Sri Narayanar is in three postures on
three levels: Standing, sitting, and reclining postures. All three
Moolavars and Consorts are made of stucco, painted with herbal extracts.
In
praharam, Alwars, Viswaksenar, Adi Narayana Perumal. There is no separate sannidhi
for Thayar.
PC: Website
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple is with Ashtanga Vimanam to accommodate Maha Vishnu’s Standing posture on the ground
floor, Sitting posture on the 2nd level, and reclining posture on the third level. The
temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and mukha
mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy,
three patta Kumudam, and pattikai. The Bhitti starts with Vedika. The Pilasters
are brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai,
and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus and
viyyalavari. The regular vimanam starts from the 1st tala. The sigaram
is of vesara style with a single kalasam.
The
mukha mandapa ceiling lintels/beams have the sculptures of epic Ramayan
episodes.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
As
per Chozha period inscriptions, this place was called Mulli nattu Brahmadeya
alias Nigarili Chaturvedi Mangalam, and Shiva was called Nigarizhi Chozha
Vinnagar Udayar. Latter Pandya period inscriptions records this place as
Cheramadevi chaturvedi mangalam – சேரமாதேவி சதுர்வேதி மங்கலம் and Maha Vishnu as, Vana
Thuvarapathi aazhvaar – வன துவரபதி ஆழ்வார்.
Rajaraja
Chozha-I’s, 24th reign year inscription records this place as
Cheraman mahadevi Chaturvedimangalam- சேரமான் மகாதேவி சதுவேதிமங்கலம். The same kings another
Vattezhuthu inscription records this place as Nigarili Chozha
chaturvedimangalam– நிகரிலிச் சோழ சதுர்வேதி மங்கலம்.
The
Rajendra Chozha’s 3rd reign year (1012–1044 CE) inscription
records an endowment of burning a perpetual lamp, and arrangements are made for the supply of ghee.
The Pandya King Sundara
Chōlapandya 14th reign year inscription (SII XIV-No. 152, A.R. No. 712 of 1916) is damaged at several places,
records a gift of land made by the sabha of Nigariliśōla chaturvēdimangalam for
providing certain offerings to the image of god Uyyakkoņdālvår in the temple of
Nigarilisõla Vinnagar.
The
Pandya King Jațāvarman Sundara Chōlapāndya’s 15th
reign year inscription (SII XIV-No. 153, A.R. No. 700 of 1916), records
a gift of pieces of land by a certain Parāntakan Niraiñjān alias Diśai
Ayirattaiññürruva Dasamad?...... viran for the maintenance of a watchman (tirumeykäppu) for the temple of Nigarilisõla Vinnagar Alvar. The donor appears
to have belonged to trading guilds, indicated by the name Disai
Ayirattaiññürruvan borne by him.
The King's name is not known, and 22+ 1st reign year (SII XIV-No. 256, A.R. No. 709 of 1916), the inscription is incomplete, and it stops after the
mention of the name of the village.
Ref:
1. South
Indian Inscriptions Volume – XIV.
2. நெல்லை கட்டபொம்மன் மாவட்டம் கையேடு, Published by Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department.
LEGENDS
Even though
this temple is dedicated to Maha Vishnu as Vedanarayana Perumal, the Utsavars
are Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana. Hence, this temple is called as Ramasamy temple.
Also, it is believed that Rama worshipped the Maha Vishnu of this temple.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikunta Ekadasi, Ramar
Jayanthi, and all important Vaishnavite auspicious days.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to
19.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
Bhattar Parthasarathy’s mobile number +919952582506 may be contacted for
further details.
HOW
TO REACH
This
Ramasamy Temple is about 2 km from the Cheranmahadevi bus stand. 17 km from
Tirunelveli Junction, 19 km from Ambasamudram, and 48 km from Tenkasi.
The nearest
Railway Station is Cheranmahadevi.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Rama with Hanuman and --- Rama
Rama -- Arjuna's dabas
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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