The
Visit to this Sri Sowrirajara Perumal Temple at Thirukannapuram, near Nagapattinam
was a part of the “Visit to Shiva, Murugan, Divya Desams, Buddha, and Jain
Temples around Nagapattinam” on 4th September 2024.
This
temple is one of the Pancha Krishna Kshetram ( Kabisthalam, Thirukovilur,
Thirukannapuram, Thirukannamangai, and Thirukannagudi ), Saptapunya Sthalam,
and Ashtakshara Siddhi Sthalam.
This
temple is also called as Sri Neelamega Perumal Temple. This temple is one of
the 108 Divya Desams ( 17th Divya Desam ), and manangalasasanam was
done by Periyalwar, Andal, Kulasekara Alwar, Nammalvar, and Thirumangai Alvar.
உன்னையும் ஒக்கலையில் கொண்டு தம் இல் மருவி
உன்னொடு தங்கள் கருத்தான செய்துவரும்
கன்னியரும் மகிழக் கண்டவர் கண்குளிரக்
கற்றவர் தெற்றிவரப் பெற்ற எனக்கு அருளி
மன்னு குறுங்குடியாய் வெள்ளறை யாய்
மதிள்சூழ் சோலை மலைக்கரசே கண்ணபுரத் அமுதே
என்னவலம் களைவாய் ஆடுக செங்கீரை
ஏழுலகும் முடையாய் ஆடுக ஆடுகவே.
……………பெரியாழ்வார்
காட்டில் வேங்கடம் கண்ண புரநகர்
வாட்டமின்றி மகிழ்ந்துறை வாமனன்
ஓட்டரா வந்து என் கைப்பற்றி தன்னோடும்
கூட்டுமாகில் நீ கூடிடு கூடலே
……………ஆண்டாள்
மன்னுபுகழ் கௌசலைதன் மணிவயிறு வாய்த்தவனே
தென்னிலங்கை கோன்முடிகள் சிந்துவித்தாய் செம்பொன்சேர்
கன்னிநன்மா மதிள்புடைசூழ் கண்ணபுரத்தென் கருமணியே
என்னுடைய இன்னமுதே இராகவனே தாலேலோ 719
…………….குலசேகராழ்வார்
சிலையிலங்கு பொன்னாழி திண்படைதண் டொண்சங்கம் என்கின் றாளால்,
மலையிலங்கு தோள்நான்கே மற்றவனுக் கெற்றேகாண் என்கின் றாளால்,
முலையிலங்கு பூம்பயலை முன்போட அன்போடி யிருக்கின் றாளால், கலையிலங்கு மொழியாளர் கண்ணபுரத்தம்மானைக் கண்டாள் கொல்லோ.
……………திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார்
மாலை நண்ணித் தொழுதெழுமினோ வினைகெட
காலைமலை கமலமலரிட்டுநீர்
வேலை மோதும் மதிள்சூழ் திருக்கண்ணபுரத்து
ஆலின்மேலாலமர்ந்தான் அடியிணைகளே. 3880
…………….நம்மாழ்வார்
Moolavar : Sri Neelamega Perumal with Sridevi and
Bhudevi
Utsavar : Sri Sowriraja Perumal,
Sridevi, Bhudevi, Padmini, and Andal
Thayar : Sri Thirukannapura Nayagi
Some
of the salient features of this temple are…..
The
temple faces east with a 6-tier Rajagopuram. The Nithya Pushkarani/temple tank
is in front of the Temple. An Anjaneyar Sannidhi is on the banks of the Temple
tank facing south. Balipeedam and Dwajasthambam are after the 6-tier
Rajagopuram. The Second level Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers. The Garudan Sannidhi
is in front of Mukha mandapam after the 2nd level Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas
are at the entrance of the ardha mandapam. Moolavar Sri Neelamega Perumal is 6
feet tall with Sridevi and Bhudevi. Moolavar is in standing posture, holding
Shankha and Chakra in the upper hands and lower right hand is in dhana hastam
and the left hand is kadi hastam. Thandaka Maharishi and Garudan in Anjali hastam
are also in the Sanctum Sanctorum. Utsavar Sri Sowriraja Perumal with Sridevi,
Bhudevi, Padmini, and Andal.
In
praharam, Alwars, Kannapura Thayar Sannidhi, Krishnar Sannidhi, Andal, Sri
Manyam Sowrirajan Sannidhi, and Navagrahas with 12 Rasis.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, Antarala, Ardha mandapam, maha mandapam
and Mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pratibandha adhistanam with
jagathi, kumudam and pattikai. The Bhitti starts with vedikai andPilasters are
of Bushnu kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, mandi, palakai, and pothyal. The
prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasikudus.
The
Vimanam above the prastaram was built with bricks in veasara style. Maha
Vishnu’s various forms are on the tala and greeva koshtams. The Vimanam is
called Utpalavathaka Vimanam.
The
front mandapas are vavvalnethi mandapas built during the Maratas period.
Pranala
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
Since
the 6th to 9th Century Alwars has sung Divya Prabandham
on the Presiding Deity, the temple existed before that and was constructed as a
stone temple during the Chozha period and further extended during Thanjavur
Nayakas. Fragment Chozha period 11th to 12th Century inscriptions
are found on the walls ( damaged and Painted ).
This is an
incomplete inscription ( SII-12, no 148 and AR No 530 of 1922 ) of the east wall
of the 2nd Prahara record of Peruñjingadēva dated in the 5th
year and is called a mūlasādhanam' of
the chief. It records a sale of land in Sembiyan Kurudai- yadi, situated in
Panaiyür-nādu, a subdivision of Kulõttungaśōla-valanādu Udaiyan Tiruñānasambandan
Alagiyan Rājadivākara-Müvēndiravēļān of Viliyür in Avür-kūrram, a subdivision
of Nittavinoda-valanādu by Araiyan Purridańkondān Dēvapperumāļ, the headman of
Kurudaiyādi in Tañjāvūr-kürram, a subdivision of Pandikulāśani-valanādu. As the
record is incomplete further details as to the purpose of the transaction are
not clear. The details of the date given in the inscription are not regular.
Rajaraja-I’s
3rd reign year inscription ( SII Volume -13, No. 65, A.R. No. 494 of
1922), on a pillar of the North Verandah, records an endowment of 2 plots of
land by a certain Alchchânrăn Mun- year. nürruvapperuman alias Sõlavēl Enādi, a
resident of Tirukkannapuram (also called Śrīkrishnapuram), a dēvadāna and
brahmadēya in Marugar-nādu, after purchasing them from a private individual and
the sabha of the village.
REF:
South
Indian Inscriptions Volume -12, No 148.
South
Indian inscriptions Volume -13, No 65.
Maha
Samprokshanam was conducted on 06th September 1963. Maha Samprokshanam was conducted 03rd,
May 1968. Palalayam was started on 10th September 1992, The Palayam
was carried out on 06th September 2024.
LEGENDS
As
per the legend, the priest Rangabhattan, an ardent devotee, used to decorate
the presiding deity with a garland offered by a Courtesan. The Courtesan used
to wear the garland herself and then give it to the priest. One day.
Rangabhattan gave the Garland to the King, which was adorned by the Presiding
deity. The King happened to see a hair in the garland. When enquired the priest,
he said that it was the presiding Maha Vishnu’s hair. The King thought that the
priest is lying and checked himself as the Presiding Deity. The King found that
the presiding deity was with Sowri. Hence Maha Vishnu of this temple is called Sri
Sowriraja Perumal.
Nithya
Pushkarani…
This is one of the Saptapunyas. As per Padma Purana, taking a bath every day
is auspicious in this Pushkarani, unlike taking a bath on Uthrayana day and the
next day in the Holy Rivers like, Ganga, Yamuna, Kaveri, Godavari, Krishnaveni,
Tamirabarani etc,. Since it cleans the devotees every day, the Pushkarani is
called Nithya Pushkarani. Taking a bath in this Nothya Pushkarani and
worshipping Sowriraja Perumal will get a boon of childbirth and the best place
to do Pithru dosha pariharam.
As
per the Purana, Indra, to get rid of Brahmahathi dosha, installed the
Navagrahas with 12 Rasis, did Aswametha Yagna, and worshipped Sri Sowriraja
Perumal. It is believed that worshipping Navagrahas and 12 Rasis will excel in
Higher Education, maths, Public Speaking, and Arts, etc.
It
is believed that Vikadaksha was killed through the Perumal Prayoga Chakra.
Muniyodharan
Pongal…
]Muniyadharayar, the official under Chozha king was
an ardent devotee of Sri Sowriraja Perumal. His duty was to collect the Taxes
and deposit in the treasury. One of the draught conditions in the country, he
spend the tax collected money to this temple. When the King came to know this
he put him in the jail. Muniyadharaiyar prayed to Sri Sowriraja Perumal.
Perumal went into the dream of the King and asked to release Muniyadharaiyar
from Jail. After returning from Jail, He offered the Pongal to Perumal, which
was prepared by his lover “Virahathobhogam” and ate after offering. The next
day the Priest found, pongal ghee trickling from the mouth of Perumal. From
then onwards Muniyadharaiyar, established an endowment /katalai / sandhi to
offer Pongal in the ardha jama pooja. The Pongal will be prepared with 5 Nazhi
rice, 3 Nazhi Moongdal with skin, and 2 Nazhi Ghee. This Pongal is called as
Muniyodharan Pongal. This endowment is followed daily during Ardha Jama Pooja.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from 7 kala regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Amavasya days,
Pournami days, Navaratri, New Year, etc.
Mahotsavam
will be conducted in the month of Masi and Brahmotsavam will be conducted in
the month of Vaikasi,
Periya Thiruvadi
Ramar Pattabhishekam
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 21.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The
Office landline number 04366 270557 may be contacted for further details.
HOW
TO REACH
This
place Thirukannapuram is about 1 KM off from Nagapattinam to Kumbakonam Road via
Thittachery, and Nannilam. (Transport facility is rare from the main road).
The
Temple is about 12 KM from Nannilam, 30 KM from Nagapattinam, and 41 KM from
Kumbakonam.
Nearest
Railway station is
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
A Sculpture on the Rajagopuram side wall
Arch in the Village
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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