Sunday 27 October 2024

Thiruvelliyangudi Kola Villi Ramar Temple / திருவெள்ளியங்குடி கோலவில்லி ராமர் கோயில்/Divya Desam 17 - Sukhra Sthalam, Thiruvallangudi, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Thiruvelliyangudi Kola Villi Ramar Temple was a part of Rajendra Chozha War Trophy Trail, a Heritage walk organised by the Kumbakonam Vattara Varalatru Aayvu Sangam -  கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம் on 28th and 29th September 2024. This is 17th Divya Desam of 108 Divya Desam and a Sukra sthalam. 


This place was called as a Bhargava Kshetra during ancient times. This is the 17th Divya Desam of the 108 Divya Desams and mangalasasanam was done by Thirumangai Azhwar.

ஆய்ச்சியர் அழைப்ப வெண்ணெய் உண்டு ஒருகால்
        ஆல் இலை வளர்த்த எம் பெருமான்
பேய்ச்சியை முலை உண்டு இணை மருது இறுத்து
        பெருநிலம் அளந்தவன் கோயில்
காய்த்த நீள் கழுகும் கதலியும் தெங்கும்
        எங்கும் ஆம் பொழில்களின் நடுவே.
வாய்த்த நீர் பாயும் மண்ணியின் தென்பால்
        திருவெள்ளியங்குடி அதுவே.

ஆநிரை மேய்த்து அன்று அலைகடல் அடைத்திட்டு
        அரக்கர் தம் சிரங்களை உருட்டி.
கார் நிறை மேகம் இலந்தது ஓர் உருவக்
        கண்ணனார் கருதிய கோயில்
பூநிரைச் செருந்தி புன்னை முத்து அரும்பி
        போதும்பிடை வரி வண்டுமிண்டி
தேன் இரைத்து உண்டு அங்கு இன்இசை முரலும்
        திருவெள்ளியங்குடி அதுவே `
….. திருமொழி 4ஆம் பத்து, 10 ஆவது திருமொழி

Moolavar   : Sri Kolavilli Ramar
Utsavar     : Sri Shringara Sundaran
Consort     : Sri Maragadhavalli thayar

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Chaturbhuja Garudan are after the Rajagopuram and in front of Mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is in Sayana Kolam, keeping the head on the South Side, and Brahma is on Lotus from Moolavar’s Naval. Moolavar is without Shankha and chakra. (the legend behind this is given below). Sridevi and Bhudevi are near the feet. Utsavar Sri Ramar is with his Consorts and Andal. There are no images in the Koshtam.

Inner praharam Narasimhar, Viswaksenar, and Alwars. In the outer praharam Thayar and Andal.    



ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum antarala, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The Sanctum sanctorum is rectangular in shape to accommodate Moolavar’s Sayana posture. The Sanctum Sanctorum is on a lotus petals platform ( upanam ), and simple pada bandha adhistanam with Jagathy, Threepatta kumudam, and Pattikai. The Bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Vishnukantha plasters with kalasam, kudam, mandi palakai, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam. The superstructure Vimanam is of one tala with stucco images of Maha Vishnu’s various avatars/forms. The Vimanam is of Salakara style. The Vimanam is called Pushkalavarthaga Vimanam.

The temple was built with stone from Adhistanam to half of the Bhitti. And above that was built with bricks. The inner praharam and mandapas are Vavval nethi style built during Nayakas / Maratas.     







HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Even though it is believed that the temple existed in 4 Yugas, the original structure belongs to the 07th to 08th century, and later received contributions from Chozhas, Pandyas, Vijayanagaras, Nayakas, and Marathas.

Perumal and Thayar Sannidhis ardha mandapam walls are laid with Granite stone in July 2010.

Jeernodharana Maha samprokshanam was conducted on, 14th September 1980, 08th July 2001, and 23rd June 2016.  

The Vijayanagara King Krishnadevaraya Maharaya’s period Saka 1439 (1517 CE), a damaged inscription (ARE 100/1932) on the north wall of the central shrine records the eastern conquests of the king and the Śiva and Vishnu temples in the Chola- Mandalam to which he made a gift of certain taxes (cf. A-R. for 1924-25, Part U, рuв. 32).

Ref:
Annual Report on South Indian Inscriptions, year ending March 1932.




LEGENDS
Garuda is in standing posture holding Shankha and Chakra, which belongs to Maha Vishnu. The legend goes like this…  Mayan, father of Mandothari’s father Mayan, was a great Sculptor for Demons, like Viswakarma for Devas.  Mayan wished to construct a place for Sri Rama. Brahma advised Mayan to do penance of Maha Vishnu at Thiruvelliyangudi. Satisfied with the penance of Mayan, Maha Vishnu gave darshan, but Mayan expressed his desire for Rama’s darshan. Admiring the wish of the Mayan, Maha Vishnu gave his Shankha and Chakra to Garuda and gave darshan as Kolavilli Rama to the Mayan, holding a bow and arrow. 

In Vamana Avatar, After the Yagna, Sukracharyar, the Guru of Mahabali, obstructs the donation of 3 steps of land to the small Brahmin Boy, since he knew that the Brahmin boy was none other than Maha Vishnu came as Vamana. But Mahabali denied it and told his guru that he would be happy if he got killed by Maha Vishnu. Sukrachariyar took the form of a beetle and blocked the nozzle of the kamandala. Knowing this Maha Vishnu cleared the nozzle by inserting a grass, which hit the eyes of Sukrachariyar. After the episode, Sukrachariyar came to this temple and prayed to Maha Vishnu to get back his eyesight. Hence this place Thiruvelliyangudi is considered as Sukra Dhosha parihara Sthalam and also Rama is called Nethra Murthy. Also, devotees pray to get rid of eye-related ailments.

In another legend, when Rama was taking a rest keeping the head on Sita’s lap, Jayandan, the son of Indra took the form of a crow and misbehaved with Sita. In the process, blood of Sita spilled on Rama due to hitting by Jayandan. Angered Rama used his fingers as a bow and shot the crow with a grass as an arrow. The grass chased Jayandan. Couldn’t escape, Jayandan surrendered to Sita and begged to forgive him. Since Rama used his fingers as a bow, Rama is called Kolavilli Ramar ( Kola- posture and Vill is called a bow in Tamil ).

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas, like Rama Navami, Gokulashtami, Navarathri, Thirukarthigai, and Vaikunda Ekadasi are conducted in a grand manner.


TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
The Landline number of Ramamurthy Bhattar +914352943152 and the mobile numbers +919443396212 and +91 93457 94354 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH
This Sri Kolavilli Ramar temple at Thiruvalliyangudi is about 4.5 KM from Cholapuram Bus Stop, 5.8 KM from Thirupanandal, 7 KM from ThiruMangalagudi / Aduthurai, and 30 KM from Mayiladuthurai.
The nearest railway station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE   : CLICK HERE





--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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