TRIVIKRAMATEMPLE, THIRUKKOVILUR, TOWN, KALLAKURICHI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU -COMPILED
Dear friends, Trivikrama temple alsoknown as Ulagalantha Perumal Temple is a well-celebrated Vishnu shrine in theThirukkovilur town, in the Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu. This is also a highly revered Divya Desam,a particularly holy abode of Vishnu that has been glorified by the Azhwarsaints, in their Divyaprabhandham compositions. Trivikrama is the giant form ofVamana. The Lord here is worshipped as Trivikrama, and his consort,is Poongothai Nachiyar. This is also taken as one of the Krishnaranya or PanchakannaKshetrams, the 5 shrines dedicated to Krishna, the famousincarnation of Vishnu. It is also acclaimed as the sacred place where the 3great Vaishnava Saints Poigaiazhwar, Bhoothathazhwar, and Peyazhwar attainedsalvation. Today my posting is about this temple. Having more relevantparticulars the postingis slightly lengthy. Hope a divine reading. Gopalakrishnan 18-9-2025 Legend Bhagavatha Purana narrates the legend in great detail. Mahabali was the grandson ofPrahlada, the great Vishnu devotee. Though a demon by birth, he wasgenerous and had many virtues in him. And by performing severe penances, heacquired tremendous power, subdued the heavens, and brought the celestial worldunder his control. In the process, he became quite arrogant, too. It was left to Lord Vishnu, the universal protector, to checkMahabali’s power and restore balance to the world. With this purpose in view,Vishnu took Avatar as Vamana, a dwarf or a young boy, and walked carrying awooden umbrella, to the place where Mahabali was conducting a grand sacrifice.Well-received by Mahabali, the bright youngster, requested the Asura-king for 3paces of land as measured by his little foot. Mahabali was surprised by hisrequest but readily agreed to give, what Vamana wanted, even overruling his GuruSukracharya’s warning. And lo and behold! Vishnu began growing insize and assumed the gigantic form of Trivikrama. With one step, he measuredthe heaven and with the other, the earth. With nothing to offer for the thirdstep that he promised, Mahabali offered his own head to the Lord, on which theLord placed his foot and pushed him down to the netherworld. Thus Vishnu restored the heavens to itsrightful owners, the celestials. But he also blessed the benevolent and honestMahabali and made him both immortal and the ruler of the netherworld. In giant form, Vamanais known as Trivikrama. The legend isassociated with Thrikkakara Templein Kerala, but also with this temple and Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram The 3 early Azhwars, Poigai, Bhootham, and Pey, known asMuthal Azhwargal, were said to have met at this place on one stormy night. TheLord, too, joined them then, bestowed them with his divine darshan, andultimately gave them salvation. According to anotheraccount, this temple was originally a Krishna shrine, wherethe deity was known as Gopalan.The temple name, Kovilur, refers to the original deityGopalan, indicating Krishna. As per Brahmanda Purana sage Mrikandu heard about Vamanaavatar of Vishnu and wanted to have a view of it. Brahma directed him to visitthe place and perform penance. The sage came to the place along with his wifeMithravathi to start the penance. The pair used to feed Brahmanas in their hermitage. To test theirdevotion, Vishnu appeared as a Brahmana and sought food from the pair. Sinceall food for the day were already given, Mithravathi was worried and prayed toVishnu. All the vessels were full with food and she was able to feedthe Brahman. Pleased by their devotion, Vishnu reappeared to them as Thrivikramaform. History It was originally under the rule of Malayaman Malayarayanchieftains and later switched hands toMiladudaiyar and again went back to Malayaman Malayarayan chieftains. BothMiladudaiyars and Malayaman Malayarayan chieftains had direct relationship withthe Medieval Cholas, with their princess Sembian Mahadevi daughter of Malavarayar marrying Gandaradityaand Vanavan Mahadevi marryingSundara Chola and gave birth to Rajaraja I, the illustrious Chola king.There are multiple inscriptions in the temple from Chola, Pandya, andVijayanagara Empire indicating donations to the temple. An inscription from Rajendra Chola II indicates that thetemple was called Thiruvidaikali Alvar temple. A chieftain by name RanakesariRaman reconstructed the whole sanctum with granite as the old structure builtof bricks developed cracks. He also built five pinnacles, the veranda and thehall in front of it. Another inscription during the regime of Rajadhiraja Cholain 1171 CE indicates the donation of seven kalanju (a measure used in oldentimes) by a lady for the conduct of festivals of Vaikasi and Aippasi and alsofor the recitation of Tiruvaymoli sung by Nammmalvar in the temple In summary- It is believed that the temple structure belongedoriginally to the medievalCholas, and that was expanded and improved by the Vijayanagara and Nayak kings,later. The temple was originally made of bricks, but during theperiod of Virarajendra Chola (1063–70), a granite structure was developed.Narasimha Varma constructed the other shrines also in granite. The templereceived benevolent contributions from most of the later Chola rulers likeRajadhiraja Chola (1018–1054), Rajendra Chola II (1051–1063) and other rulersof the region like Vikramapandiya, Koperujinga and Vijayanagara rulers likeSaluva Narasimha Deva Raya (1485–1491) and Sadasiva Raya (1542–1570) as seen fromthe inscriptions in the temple. The temple was expanded during the rule of theVijayanagar kings and Nayaks. The temple was the fortress to the British during the Carnatic wars.It was also attacked during the days of the period of Hyder Ali. Architecture The temple has 11-tiered Raja gopuram, the temple tower, is192 feet tall and remains the third tallest in Tamil Nadu after the one in SrirangamRanganathaswamy temple and Annamalaiyar temple The temple has been built in Dravidian or Chola style over anarea of five acres with Raja Gopuram reaching a height of 192 feet as alreadysaid. Raja Gopuram has eleven tiers. Gopuram on the sanctum is known as Srikara Vimanam.. AGarudastambha (pillar) forty feet high with a small altar for Garuda at the tophas been installed. The present structure built in granite is said to have beendeveloped by three generations of emperors of Chola dynasty. Records mentionthat the temple built with brick and mortar originally was degrading andtherefore replaced with stone work. The old temple is said to have been builtby Malayalam chieftains who had direct relationship with Cholas. Manyinscriptions from different timeline have been found here. A chieftain of Cholas, Ranakesari Raman is said to have builtthe Garbhagriha, Sukanasi and Mahamantapam in stone along with five Gopurams.King Vira Rajendra Chola developed the temple complex further, states anotherinscription. The temple was reinforced like a fort during the VijayanagarEmpire and served the British in this regard during Carnatic wars. Sanctum and deities Ulagalantha Perumal stands tall in the sanctum sanctorum,with his right leg raised. His imposing image is made of a special Tharu wood. Andunusually, he holds Shanka, the conch in his right hand, and Chakra, the discusin the left. His consort Mahalakshmi, demon Mahabali, devotee Prahlada,Guru Sukracharya, sage Mrikandu, and the 3 Azhwar saints, are all there in thesanctum, too. The processional deity Kovalan is also housed there. The image of Krishna is made ofsaligrama stone and is housed in a separate shrine. Sub deities Separate shrines are also there for his consort PoongothaiNachiyar, and deities like LakshmiNarayana, Lakshmi Narasimha,Varadaraja, Venugopala, Rama, Veera Anjaneya,Andal,Vishvaksena, Chakrathazhwar, etc.Krishna idol, made of the sacred Saligrama stone, can also be worshipped inthis temple. There are idols of Manavala Mamuni and Ramanuja around thesanctum. Also, as a unique feature, Goddess Durga, who is normallyfound only in Shiva temples, is housed here near the sanctum. Poojas The Temple follows the Thenkalai Sampradayam. Six daily rituals, and a dozen yearly festivals The templepriests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As atother Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavacommunity, from the Brahmin varna. The temple rituals are performed six times aday: Ushathkalam at 7 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m.,Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 10:00p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (foodoffering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Ulagalantha Perumal andPoongothai. There are several shops around the Temple selling poojaofferings. Theertham Chakra Theertham is the most prominent of the many waterbodies of this temple. Itscontents are believed to be the water that Brahma used to wash to feet of LordTrivikrama. Shankha Teertham is another prominent water body. Pennar River flowing close by and is said to be the aquifer for thewaterbodies Temple Festivals Many festivals are celebrated in this temple almostthroughout the year dedicated to various deities, and also to the Azhwar saintsand Acharyas, the Vaishnava preceptors. Panguni Brahmotsavam is agrand celebration observed with much devotion and enthusiasm during March-April when the chariotfestival is also conducted. Brahmotsavam festival performed during thePhalgunmaas (Tamil: Panguni) is a 15day celebration in Trivikraman temple. Mahalaya-amavasya-Benefitsof worshippingThirukkovilur Ulagalantha Perumal Shravanmaas (Tamil:Purattasi) is a festival season for devotees of Lord Vishnu. It is said that, Lord Vishnu willshower his grace and benevolence to devotees offering obeisance duringShravanmaas. It is a customary practice among devotees to take up SpiritualJourneys to various Teertha Kshetras and temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Other celebrations whichare observed throughout the year likeChaitra Navaratri, Sharannavaratri, Deepavali, Vaikunth Yekadashi,SreekrishnaJayanti and many more. Devotees seek thetemple for It is believed that worshipping the Lord can grant happy married life,progeny blessing, and relief from enmities. The grace of the Lordcan also bestow good positions and career progressions. It is also a beliefthat Chakrathazhwar, themighty disc weapon of the Lord, can destroy the adverse effects of evil spells,witchcraft, etc. Vishnu appearing toAlwars As per Hindu legend, Vishnu appeared to the mutal Alvars(first three Alvars) at Thirukkoilur. It was day time, but it darkened andstarted raining heavily. The wandering Poigai Alvar found out a small hide out,which has a space for one person to lie down. Bhootath Alvar arrived therelooking for a hiding place and Poigai accommodated him, with both sittingtogether. In the meanwhile, Pey Alvar also came to the same place as all thethree preferred to stand because of lack of space. The darkness became denseand inside the small room, they were not able to see each other. In themeanwhile, they felt a fourthperson also forced his way among them. The three Alvars realised fromthe light of the lightning that the fourth one had a charming face that wassublime and divine. The trio could immediately realize that it was Vishnu whowas huddling among them. Poigai wished to see Vishnu's face continuously butcould view only from the simmering light of the lightning. With a view tomaintain the continuity of light, he instantly composed hundred songs wishingthe earth to be a big pot full of ghee like an ocean where the Sun could be theburning wick. Deeming in the world as lamp; the full sea as ghee, thefierce-rayed sun as a luminous wick, I have twined a garland of speech for thefeet of Him who wields the red flaming discus so that there may be freedom fromthe ocean of misery. The song is also interpreted as the Alvar praying to god toremove the darkness and ask for his unlimited knowledge and power. BhoothathAlvar also sang 100 songs imagining to light the lamp constantly through ardentlove for Him. Pey Alvar sang another 100 songs where he described theenchanting charm of the divine face and the association of Narayana equippedwith chakra and sankha, and his divine consort goddess Lakshmi. The temple plays a specialpart in Sri Vaishnavism as it is where the first three Alvars sang the firstthree Thiruvandadhis compiled in Naalayira Divya Prabandam, the Vaishnava canon. Thirumangai Alvar, another Alvarsaint also revered the deity in his verses compiled in Naalayira DivyaPrabandam. What is the importanceof Ulagalandha Perumal Temple? This one of the 108Divyadesam temples in India. Nalayira Divya Prabandham extols the virtues of SriTrivikraman temple in a hymn. Religious significance This temple is one of thePancha Krishna kshethram and Krishna showers his blessings with Rukmini andSathyabama. This temple is one of the Panchakanna (Krishnaranya)Kshetrams. Kannan refers to Krishna, the avatar of Vishnu, while pancha meansfive and Kshetrams refers to holy places. Four of the five temples are situatedin Chola Nadu, in modern times, in the region surrounding Kumbakonam andNagapattinam and one of them in Nadu Nadu. Krishna is not the presiding deity in any of the temples. Theprocessional deity, Krishna, led to the derivation of the names of theseplaces. There are five similar temples located in North India, calledPancha-dvarakas. How to reach the Thirukkovilurtemple By Air-The nearest airportis Pondicherry, about 75kilometers from the temple, while the Chennai airport is about 180 kilometersaway. By Rail-The temple can bereached comfortably fromVillupuram junction, by road. By Road-People can travelto Thirukkovilur throughbuses and private transports, available in plenty. Location Ulagalandha Perumal or SriTrivikraman Perumal Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is located about an hour’s drive fromVillupuram (48 km) and about 82 km from Puducherry and about 200 km from thecapital city Chennai in Tamil Nadu. Administration The temple is maintained and administered by the HinduReligious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Temple Timings: 6 AM to 12 Noon and 4 PM to 8 PM Address and ContactNumber: Thirukoilur-Asanur Road, Thirukoilure, Tirukkoyilur,Villupuram - 605757, Tamil Nadu Phone numbers -94862 79990, 96262 09622 and 99448 87107 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1207954532.3305632.1758194855985%40mail.yahoo.com.
