This Sri Bhakthavatsaa Perumal temple on the banks
of Holy river Thamirabarani, near Ammai Nathar Temple at Cheranmahadevim
Tirunelveli District, is with Medieval Chozhas, Pandyas and Vijayanagara
Nayakas contributions.
Moolavar : Sri
Bhakthavatsala Perumal
Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple is facing east with an entrance from
west side. Balipeedam, Garudan ( in standing posture ) are in front of / under mukha
mandapam. Moolavar Bhaktavatsala Perumal is in standing posture without Sridevi
and Bhudevi. Moolavar is about 7 feet tall with 4 hands. The upper hands are
holding shankha and Chakra and lower hands are in abhaya and kadi hastam. Utsavars
are in front of moolavar.
In praharam Bhudevi, Nagars ( outside ), Yoga Narasimhar,
and
Garudan ( in standing posture ).
Yoga Narasimhar
Bhudevi
Garuda
Narasimhar ( Damaged ) in one of the koshtam
ARCHITECTURE
The complex consists of two Temples of which main
temple is dedicated to Sri Bhaktavatsala Perumal and the small temple is
dedicated to Balakrishnar. The main temple is with two praharas. Some of the
pillars are with squatting lions / yazhi on the lotus peedam at the base. The
main temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha
mandapam and an open mukha mandapam. The temple is on a kapota bandha upanam
and the adhistanam is of complex in nature. The pilasters are acquisitively
carved. The Bhitti is not plain projected on Kostas with different style of
adhistanam.
The pranala, a yazhi comes out of the mouth of a yazhi fixed on the
sanctum sanctorum wall.
On the wall a bas-relief ( damaged ) of Maha Vishnu
as Narasimhar in sitting posture with adiseshan as umbrella over his head. The
Vimanam above prastaram is built with bricks, consists of two talas, greevam
and Sigaram. The Sigaram is of dravida style. Stucco images of Maha Vishnu’s
various forms / avatars are on the greevam.
The pillars are with sculptures of various Deities,
Donors, ladies etc.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
As per the Display board, the temple may be
constructed during Medieval Chozha’s or Pandyas period. Latter the temple was
reconstructed during Vijayanagara Nayaka’s period. As per the Chozha period
inscriptions this place was called as Seravan madevi chaturvēdimangalam a brahmadéya Village in
Mullinădu and Mulli nattu Brahmadeya alias Nigarili Chaturvedi
Mangalam. Maha Vishnu was called as Sri bhaktapriyattu ninraruliya Paramasvami.
The Pandya King Srivallabha
may be attributed to Jațăvarman Śrivallabha’s 2nd
reign year inscription ( SII, Volume –XIV No 199, AR No 539 of 1911 ) records a gift of sheep by
Śrivallabhan Raman of Mulli nādu for burning a lamp in the temple of god
Emberuman who was pleased to be stationed at Bhaktapriyam.
Srivallabha dēva’s 6th reign year,
and can palaeographically be attributed to the king of that name who flourished
in the 12th century CE, inscription ( SII Volume XIV - No. 212, A R.
No. 536 of 1911 ), damaged in the middle records, a gift of six anai achchu is
registered but the name of the donor is lost.
Jațāvarman Srivallabha’s 19+1st
reign year ( though there are no specific indications of this identity )
inscription ( SII- Volume XIV No. 244, A.R. No. 532 of 1911 ), records the gift
of money be a certain Atkondavilli, Attiyūrālvän and Uyyakkondan of Attiyür for
burning lamps in the temple of Sribhaktapriyattu ninraruliya Paramasvamin at
Seravan madevi chaturvēdimangalam a
brahmadéya in Mulli nădu.
The temple is under the control of Archaeological
Survey of India ( ASI ).
Ref:
1. South Indian Inscriptions, Volume - XIV.
LEGENDS
It is believed that the Devotees take bath to wash
their sins in the sapta rivers. In turn the sapta rivers comes to Thamirabarani
to get rid of their sins and cleanse themselves, which are accumulated from the
devotees.
The Devotees, take bath in Thamirabarani and
worships Bhaktavatsala Perumal to get rid of pithru dosha.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are
conducted on Vaikunta ekadasi and all important vaishnava auspicious days.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to
12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
Vijayaraghavan Bhattachariyar’s mobile number +919842934955
may be contacted for annadhanam and pooja details.
HOW TO REACH
The
temple is about 2 KM away from the Cheranmahadevi bus terminus, 19 KM from
Tirunelveli, 21 KM from Ambasamudram, and 82 KM from Nagarcoil
Nearest
Railway station is Cheranmahadevi.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
Note
Some of the photos are taken from the website. Thanks to the unknown photographers.
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
good artwork, keep shining.
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