Divya Desam – Lord Vishnu | One of the Divya Desam Vishnu Sthalam |
Region | Chola Naadu |
Chola Naadu | 8th Vishnu Sthalam |
HISTORY:
Sri
Aaduthurai Perumal Temple is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas
of the late 8th century AD, with later contributions from Vijayanagar kings and
Madurai Nayaks. A brick wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines
and bodies of water. The central shrine has the image of Jakath Rakshaka
Perumal in standing posture. The shrine of the Padmasinivalli faces South. The
temple has a 3-tiered rajagopuram (gateway tower). There are separate shrines
for Ramanuja, Azhwars, Andal and Garuda. The vimana, the tower above the
sanctum, is called Suddha Satwa Vimana.
Actually
this divya desam is completely washed out by flood and the Lord Came in the
dream of Rani Mangammal, who was the Queen of Madurai and told her that the
temple was disappeared inside the earth. On hearing this, Rani Mangammal
ordered to take out the temple out of the earth and on her commandents only
this temple was rebuild and taken care. A chariot called Ambarisha Ratha,
renovated by Rani Mangammal, was in use till the 1940s, after which it was not
used. There is a statue of the queen in the temple.
In
this sthalam, all the devars along with Nandhagarishi was given the
prathyaksham of Sriman Narayanan. Since all of them gathered (koodi) all
together, this sthalam is called as “Thirukkoodaloor”.
After
coming to this sthalam only, the River Cauvery regained its speciality and
holyness. Koodal + oor = Koodaloor. Koodal means joining (merging) together at
the same place. Since, Cauvery is coming together in this Kshetram, this
Kshetram is also called as “Sangama Kshetram”. Sangamam means joined together.
As
per Hindu mythology, demon Hiranyaksha fought with mother earth and went
underground, called Patala. Vishnu was born as Varaha, an avatar in the form of
a boar to pierced underground. He split the earth into two parts and brought
the two back at Srimushnam. Thirumangai Azhwar quotes the incident and calls
the village as Pugunthaan Oor, meaning the place where Vishnu went inside the
earth. Since Vishnu protected the world here, he is called Jagath Rakshaka
Perumal (in Tamil as Vaiyam Katha Perumal). The gap seen in the sactum close to
the image of Jagath Rakshaka is believed to be the centre point of earth and
all devas came together to worship him. Since it brought all of them together,
an act referred in Tamil as koodal, the village is called Thirukoodalur.
As
per Hindu legend, King Ambarisha who immersed himself in the worship of Vishnu,
failed to strengthen his army and lost his kingdom. While doing worship, he
also did not observe the sage Durvasa who went along his way. The sage got
irritated and cursed the king. The king went to Vishnu for rescue, who sent his
discus to chase the sage. The sage surrendered to Vishnu and begged pardon. The
king Ambarishan is believed to have built the temple and hence the presiding
deity is also called Ambarisha Varadhar at this place.
Once
upon a time, all the Devas along with Nandhaga Rishi prayed for a dharshan to
Lord Vishnu at Thirukkoodaloor – Sri Aaduthurai Perumal Temple. Impressed with
their Poojas, the Lord appeared before them and gave a splendid Dharshan. Everybody
requested that the Lord kill the Asura Hiranyaaksha.
Lord
Vishnu was very happy with their Poojas and decided to kill the Asura
Hiranyakshaka. Lord Vishnu cut open the earth, killed the Asura and reappeared,
with Goddess Lakshmi, as Varaaha Moorthy (one of the 10 Avathaarams of Maha
Vishnu) at SriMushnam.
As
all of the Lords and Devas came together at Thirukkoodaloor – Sri Aaduthurai
Perumal Temple and prayed to the Lord requesting for protection, this place has
come to be called Koodalur (where people come together). The Lord who protected
the village from the Asura was named as JagathRakshgan meaning “One who
protects the World”.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Gopalan |
|
Ambal |
Sri Poongoval Nachiyar |
|
Theertham |
Krishna
Theertham |
BELIEF:
The devotees strongly believe
that the very discuss of permual would be a security to them if they surrender
at his lotus feet.
The
Brahmotsavam festival celebrated in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May–June) and
Vaikunta Ekadasi celebrated during the Tamil month of Margazhi
(December–January) are the major festivals celebrated in the temple. Srisukta
Homam, a religious practice, is performed in the temple with 108 lotus leaves
on full moon days.
HOW
TO REACH:
Sri
Aaduthurai Perumal Temple is situated in Tanjoor district, Tamil Nadu. 6 km
away from Ayyampettai, 7 miles away from Tiruvayyaaru – Kumbakkonam when going
in bus.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Aduthurai Perumal
Temple,
Thirukoodalur Ullikadai,
Papanasam,
SH 22, Thirukkoodalur,
Thanjavur,
Tamil Nadu - 614202.
LOCATION:
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