Divya Desam – Lord Vishnu | One of the Divya Desam Vishnu Sthalam |
Region | Chola Naadu |
Chola Naadu | 4th Vishnu Sthalam |
HISTORY:
This
is a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and deity here is called as
Pundareekakshan. The name of the temple as Thiruvellarai was due to the fact
that it is on a hill at a height of about 100 feet of white stones. In Tamil
Thiru is a used as salutation to divine, royal or other leaders. Vellarai means
Vella (white) arai (hill) or white hill. So the name of the temple is temple on
white hill. Vellarai is in Trichy district. There is a reason for calling the
Lord here as Pundareekakshan. There was a yogi by name Pundareekan. He made a
garden in this place and worshipped the Lord with the Tulsi leaves he had grown
in the garden. The Lord was pleased with his Bhakti and worship and gave
darsanam to Pundareekan. From that time the Lord was known as Pundareekakshan.
The
temple has two entrances to the sanctum sanctorum or the Moolasthanam (place of
principal deity) of the deity. Normally only one door is open by turn. The
procedure is to use one door during the ‘Utharayana’ time (from middle of
January to middle of June of the English calendar) and the other during
‘Dakshinayana’ time (from mid June to Mid January). The doors are known as
Utharayana vaasal – door and Dakshinayana vaasal. It is the belief of the
people here that the 2 entrances or doors represent (1) entering of the life
and (2) coming out of the life. While going through either of the doors the
devotees are to feel the existence or the presence of the god or Paramaatman.
To remind this principle or make it understandable to the devotees the Lord of the
temple resembles to Surya Narayanan during Utharayan and as Govindan during
Dakshinayan. There are certain beliefs about Dakshinayan (6 months from middle
of Jul to middle of Jan of English calendar) when no auspicious activities like
marriage or setting up of home etc are supposed to be done. Similarly death
during this period is supposed to be inauspicious. In Utharayan period (6
months from mid Jan to mid Jul) it is good to perform all auspicious
activities. Death happening during this period is supposed to be very good. But
for doing auspicious activities during Dakshinayana period there is a way out
by offering worships to Surya Narayan before starting the intended activities.
Though
officially the temple is having 2 doors as mentioned above, there is supposed
to be a third door known as ‘Naazhi kettan vaasal’ meaning door for late
coming. The story behind is that once when the Lord came very late, his consort
asked him why he was s late. For that he replied that he tried to come through
the Naazhi kettan vaasal.
The
main deity or Moolavar is called as Pundarikashan but also known as
Thamaraikannan and Maayavan (at the end of Dakshinayan period) etc. He is also
called as "Thai Maatha Naayagan" meaning the leader of the Tamil
month Thai (Jam 15 to Feb 15). He is in standing position facing East
direction. The Lord here is supposed to represent the ‘Vedas’ which is supposed
to be white in colour. The temple gives sevai (service) to the deity along with
his consort called Thamarai (lotus) Selvi (beloved daughter, also identified as
goddess Lakshmi) periya (large – big) Pirattiyar, in nindra (standing) sevai
(worship). Since the king Sibi saw a boar which resulted in the construction of
this temple, the moolavar is Lord Vishnu in his Varaha (boar) incarnation.
In
the sanctum there is a separate sannidhi for the thayaar (literal meaning is
mother but here referred to the goddess – the universal mother) the consort of
the Moolavar of this temple. She is known as Shenbagavalli (also called Periya
Pirattiyar, Lakshmi Devi). The Utsava Moorthy (idol used in temple processions
and outside Poojas etc) of the goddess is known as Pangajavalli.
The
temple is having a big compound wall all around to it. The Pundarikasha temple
of Vellarai is having 7 temple ponds or Pushkarinis or Theerthams. These 7
Theerthams are also within the temple compound wall. The 7 Theerthams or
Pushkarinis are known by the names Divya Theertham, Kanda kshree Theertham,
Chakra Theertham, Chakra Theertham, Pushkala Theertham, Padma Theertham and
Varaha Manikarnika Theertham. There is a vimanam known as the Vimalakruthi
Vimanam in the temple.
There
are some Mangalasasanams (hymns or verses praising the Lord Vishnu or his
different incarnations and aspects) prepared and sung by some of the Alvars. Alvars
are Vaishnav Bhaktas (acharyas - staunch devotees of Lord Vishnu) and many of
them are so deeply devoted that they have nothing else in their minds except
the Lord and his wondrous deeds. Some of them have written prose and some
others hymns about the Lord and Goddess of various Vaishnav temples. One of
them known as Periyalwar had 11 hymns written another by name Thirumangai Alwar
had written 13 and Vedantha Desikar has written Hamsa Sandesam (message of the
swan) in which also some Mangalasasanams on Sri Pundarikaksha of this temple.
There
are 22 steps to be climbed to reach to the temple. The first 18 steps are
supposed to represent the 18 chapters of the Bhagavath Geetha and the next 4
steps are supposed to represent the four Vedas. This place is having the
Balipeetam (place where offerings are offered to the Bhootha ganas of the
deity). After offering the worship here cross the 5 steps representing ‘Pnacha
boothas’ (the booth thathwas of life namely fire, water, space – ether, air and
earth) to the two entrances. Take the appropriate entrance (Dakshinayan door)
during Dakshinayan period and Utharayan door during Utharayan period) to have
darsan (view) of the Lord Pundarikashan also known as Thamaraikannan, Maayavan
and Thai Maatha Naayagan of Vellarai.
Specialties of Thiruvellarai:
1.
Swami Engalazhwan, a great Vaishnav Acharya and a Disciple of Sri Ramanuja and
Thirukurukai Piran Pillan and teacher of Sree Bhashyam and Sri Nadaa thooram
Aalukku oppatra pungai Maalai was born here. Nadaathoramaal means Bhakthan –
devotee who was an epitome of Bhakthi (devotion to Lord) on the God. There is a
story related as to how the name "Nadaathoramaal" was given to
Engalazhwan. He used give milk everyday to Emperumaan (Lord Vishnu is addressed
as Emperumaan in respect). He was so devoted to the Lord that he used to blow
the milk with air from mouth to cool the milk if it happens to be hot so that
the Lord does not have any inconvenience.
2. Another
staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu Bhakthar Uyyakondaar was born here and he along
with Sri Ramanujar Acharya stayed in this place and explained about Vaishnavam
to spread Vaishnav cult.The temple is on a white rock hill of about 100 feet
high.
3. If
any sound is made in front of the big pillar of this temple, it replicates and
echoes within the temple. For this reason some of the paasurams (verses
praising the Lord) in Divya prabhandhams (holy scriptures) are recited 2 or 3
times so that it replicates, reverberates or echoes within the temple complex.
This is due to the fact that there are some rooms built around in stones which
cause the echoes or the feeling of repetition of the sounds made.
4. The Raja Gopuram (main entrance) of the temple is an incomplete
structure. While the construction of the Gopuram was going on there was a
mishap and the work was stopped. The work to complete the Gopuram was not taken
up again till today.
Lord
Vishnu is also Sriman Narayanan and Surya Narayan. By his rays he gives light,
security and heat for the life. Because of him it rains in the world; it is
because of him plants grow; his heat will destroy the adverse forces which
affect the lives; and his rays make life in the universe.
As
is the custom in Vaishnav temples, idol of his vehicle the Garudan (golden
eagle) can be found. He is known as Periya (big) Thiruvadi (sacred feet)
normally.
There are other images of Sibi chakravarthy, Bhoomi Piratti (representing
mother earth and second consort of the lord), Maarkandeya Maharishi, Lord
Brahma, Rudhran (Lord Shiva). All the idols and images of this temple namely
Sri Pundareekakshan, Bhoomi Piratti, Periya Piratti, Suriya and Chandiran and
Aadisheshan (the serpent king who is a constant companion of the Lord) all are
made in the form of human beings.
The
legend is related to the great Chakravarthy (emperor) Sibi. He is one immortal
ruler like Satya Harishchandra. Sibi Chakravarthy was known for his daan
(deserving gifts. He cut a portion of his thigh to save the life of a pigeon
from a Vulture. This great ruler once went to a forest to hunt with his
warriors. They made tents for camping in the forest. While taking rest in the
tent he saw a white boar crossing through the front side of his tent. He went
after the boar. At a particular point the boar went inside a hole and
disappeared. In spite of trying all possible means he could not find the boar
afterwards. Near to this place Saint Markandeya was under penance. The king
went to the saint and explained the incident to him and wanted to know the
meaning. The saint suggested to the king to do milk abhisheka to the hole. When
the abhisheka was going on the Lord Vishnu appeared before them and blessed
them and disappeared. Saint Markandeya suggested to the king Sibi to bring 3700
Vaishnavas (devotees of Lord Vishnu). The king went to North and brought 3700
devotees of the Lord and made them to settle down here and built a temple for
Lord Vishnu. During the process one of the Vaishnavaites died and the king was
very sad that the number is reduced. At that time the Lord Vishnu appeared as a
Vaishnavite and told the King to count him as one vaishnavite so the number is
the full 3700.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Pundarikakshan |
|
Ambal |
Sri Shenbagavalli |
|
Theertham |
Kusa, Manikarnika, Chakra, Pushkala, Varaha Gandha
and Padma Theertham |
BELIEF:
Devotees pray for child
boon.
The
Chariot festival is the most prominent festival of the temple, and for the
surrounding villages. It is celebrated during the Tamil month
of Chittirai (March–April) when devotees pull the chariot around the
streets of Tirvellarai. Verses from Nalayira Divya Prabandham are
recited by a group of temple priests amidst music
with nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion
instrument). The chariot festival is unique in the state as a community feast
is offered by several individuals and committees, a custom many centuries old.
The processional idols of Pundarikakshan and Pankajavalli are brought to the
temple car early in the morning amidst religious chanting. Ratharohanam,
the rituals associated with taking the idols to the temple car, is performed at
an auspicious time before commencing the procession.
HOW
TO REACH:
Tiruvellarai
temple is 20 km far from Trichy on Thurayur route. Bus facility to the temple
is frequently available from Tiruchi Chathiram bus stand.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Pundarikakshan
(Thamarai Kannan) Temple,
Tiruvellarai,
Tiruchy,
TamilNadu – 621009.
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