Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple
Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple | |
---|---|
Thiruvellarai | |
Tiruchirapalli | |
Deity | |
Features |
|
Location | |
Location | Cholas |
Specifications | |
Temple(s) | One |
Elevation | 136.79 m (449 ft) |
The Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple or Thiruvellarai Temple in
According to legends, the temple is said to have been built by Sibi Chakravarthy, king of Ayodhya in Treta Yuga 15 lakh years ago[citation needed]. This temple is older than Srirangam temple[citation needed]. The temple has three inscriptions in its two rock-cut caves, two dating from the period of Nandivarman II (732–796 CE) and the other to that of Dantivarman (796–847). It also has Pallava sculptural depictions of Narasimha and Varaha, two of the ten avatars of Vishnu.
A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and six of its seven bodies of water. The
Pundarikakshan is believed to have appeared and showered his divine grace to
History
Pundarikakshan Perumal temple is believed to have been built by the
A
In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the
Architecture
Pundarikakshan Perumal temple is located in Thiruvellarai, a village 27 km (17 mi) from Tiruchirappalli, on the Thuraiyur road. The shrine of Pundarikakshan is built on a 15 m (50 ft) tall artificial hill.
The rectangular walls around the temple enclose all the eight shrines and six of the seven water bodies associated with the temple. Besides the main shrine for Pundarikakshan and Pangayavalli, the temple has shrines for
The rajagopuram, the main gateway tower, is an unfinished structure.[6] An initiative to complete the estimated 22 m (72 ft) has been mooted by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board in 2017.[17] A swastika-shaped temple tank built during 800 CE is present in the south-western corner of the street around the temple. It has four stepped gateways, each having 51 steps. The tank is believed to have been built by Kamban Araiyan during the reign of Dantivarman. In modern times, it is maintained by the Department of Archaeology of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The temple complex covers an area of 2.62 ha (6.5 acres), while the tank covers an area of 0.1256 ha (0.310 acres) and many mandapas are dedicated to the Lord which cover a total 3.2 ha (8 acres).[1][18][19]
An archaeological study in 2010 revealed that the layout of the rock-cut caves in the temple is similar to that of other rock-cut temples such as the
Legend
The word Vellarai means white rock. Owing to the presence of white rocks in the region, the place is historically referred to as Thiru Vellara. As per Hindu legend, when Sibi Chakravarthi stayed there with his warriors, a white boar crossed his path. He chased it and the boar hid inside a hole. Markandeya, a sage, was doing penance there and the king narrated the incident to him. The sage asked the king to fill the hole with milk. While doing so, Hindu god Vishnu appeared before them. The sage asked the king to bring 3700 Vaishnavas from the north and build a temple on the site for Vishnu. As requested, the king took 3700 Vaishnavas and started building the temple. While doing so, one of the Vaishnavas was killed in transit and the king was concerned by the accident. Vishnu appeared incognito as Pundarikakshan, a Vaishnava, and requested to be counted among the 3700.[1][21][22] According to another legend Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, performed penance at the temple, and Vishnu appeared before her as Sengamalakannan. The presiding deity has since been called "Thamarai Kannan", meaning the one who has eyes resembling lotus; his consort is called "Pankajha-Valli". The Hindu god Shiva in form of Neelivaneswarar is believed to have worshipped Pundarikakshan to absolve himself from the sin of holding Brahma's severed head. Vishnu appeared to both Shiva and Brahma, adhering to their prayers.[1]
Religious significance
The temple is revered in
According to Hindu legend Ramanuja (1017–1137), the leading expounder of Vishishtadvaita philosophy, visited the temple. One of his disciples placed Ramanuja's sandals along with the image of Varadarajan. Ramanujar became furious at this, for which the disciple explained that for Ramanuja Varadarajar is god, but for him, Ramanuja is supreme.[27][28] Thiruvellarai is the birthplace of Uyyakondar, a disciple of Nathamuni. Swami Engalazhwan is believed to have taught Sri Bhasyam to Nadadhoor Ammal in the temple.[1][21][26] The Jiyar of the temple, the head of the temple, is named Pankaya Selvi Jiyar after the name of the Thayar of the temple.[29]
Festivals and religious practices
The temple priests perform the
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 Naalayira 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.[30][31]
Notes
Footnotes
- ^ The word Thiru or Tiru (Sri in Sanskrit) is a Tamil honorific prefix used before village names, temples and while addressing adult males in Tamil. While Tiruvellarai is quoted in some sources and Thiruvallarai is quoted in the census website, Thiruvellarai is the most commonly used name.
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l S., Venkatraman (February 2013). "Thiruvellarai". Thirukoyil. 02. 55. Hindu Religious And Endowment Board Tamil Nadu: 10–11. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ^ a b c T.S., Subramanian (24 August 2008). "Tamil inscriptions found near Tiruvellarai temple". The Hindu. Tiruchi. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ^ a b Archaeological Survey of India. Southern Circle 1903, p. 63
- ^ a b c Verma 2012, p. 94
- ^ a b c d T. 2002, pp. 110–111
- ^ a b c Madras (India : State) (1907). Madras district gazetteers, Volume 1. Superintendent, Government Press. p. 325.
- ^ T. 2002, p. 127
- ISBN 81-206-0574-8.
- ^ Archaeological Survey of India. Southern Circle 1903, p. 70
- ISBN 9780520061675.
- ^ Hultzsch, Eugen (1890). South-Indian inscriptions, Volumes 9–10. Superintendent, Gov't press. p. 298.
- ISSN 2231-5063. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
- ISBN 9788170992110.
- ^ "Mahasamprokshanam at Tiruvellarai on March16". The Hindu. Tiruchi. 11 March 2005. Archived from the original on 11 January 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ^ T. 2002, pp. 108–109
- ISBN 9789068317015.
- ^ "Rajagopuram". Mena Report. 7 February 2017. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018 – via HighBeam Research.
- ^ "Swastik Well, Tiruvellarai". Department of Archaeology, Government of Tamil Nadu. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ^ M., Balaganessin (17 May 2008). "Pallava-built tank plagued by vandalism at Tiruvellarai". The Hindu. Tiruchi. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ^ "Study uncovers interesting details of cave temple architecture". The Hindu. 27 October 2010. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ^ ISBN 81-206-0151-3.
- ^ a b "Mahasamprokshanam performed at Tiruvellarai temple". The Hindu. Tiruchi. 17 May 2005. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ^ Verma 2012, p. 75
- ISBN 9788170174011.
- ^ T. 2002, p. 91
- ^ a b c "Sri Pundarikakshan Perumal temple". Dinamalar. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
- ^ Ayyangar, C. R. Sreenivasa (1908). Life and teachings of Sri Ramanujacharya. R. Venkateshwar. p. 231.
tiruvellarai.
- ^ Govindāchārya, Aḷkoṇḍavilli (1906). The Life of Râmânujâchârya: The Exponent of the Viśistâdvaita Philosophy. S. Murthy. pp. 220–221.
- ^ R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001). An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam (1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 559–61.
- ^ "Hundreds pull temple car". The Hindu. Tiruchi. 9 April 2010. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ^ "Devotees pull temple car". The Hindu. Tiruchi. 19 March 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
Further reading
- Archaeological Survey of India. Southern Circle (1903). Epigraphy. Archaeological Survey of India.
- T., Padmaja (2002). Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: history, art, and traditions in Tamilnāḍu. New Delhi: Shakti Malik. ISBN 81-7017-398-1.
- Verma, Archana (2012). Temple imagery from early mediaeval peninsular India. Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 9781409430292.
External links