Nidanayurveda at 02:13, 15 November 2025

2025-11-15T02:13:03Z

New page

{{Short description|Hindu temple in Tiruvarur}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple
| image = Thirukannamangai2.JPG
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates = {{coord|10|47|58|N|79|35|13|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Tiruvarur district|Tiruvarur]]
| location = Thirukkannamangai,<br/>[[Kodavasal]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Perumpurakkadal<br/>([[Vishnu]]), Kannamangai Nayagi<br/>([[Lakshmi]]), Bakthavathsalan<br/>([[Vishnu]]), Abhishekavalli
| facade_direction =
| temple_tank = Darshana
| tower = Utpala
| festivals= Brahmothsavam Chithrai Month
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}

The '''Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple''' is a temple dedicated to [[Hindus|Hindu]] god [[Vishnu]], located in Thirukannamangai, a village in [[Tiruvarur district]] in the South Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. Constructed in []], the temple is glorified in the ''[[Divya Prabandha|Nalayira Divya Prabandham]]'', the early medieval [[Tamil literature|Tamil]] canon of the [[Alvars|Alvar]] saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is counted as one among the 108 [[Divya Desams]] dedicated to Vishnu. Vishnu is worshipped as Bhaktavatsala Perumal and his consort [[Lakshmi]] as Kannamangai Nayagi.

The temple is believed to be of significant antiquity and is believed to be initiated by the [[Medieval Cholas]] of the late 9th century CE, with later contributions at different times from [[Thanjavur Nayak kingdom|Thanjavur Nayaks]]. The temple has three inscriptions dating from the [[Chola dynasty|Chola period]]. The temple has a five-tiered ''rajagopuram'' (gateway tower) and enshrined within a granite wall. The complex contains all the shrines and the temple tank is located outside the main entrance of the temple.

Bhaktavatsala Perumal is believed to have appeared to marry his consort [[Lakshmi]] in the place. The temple observes six daily rituals and three yearly festivals. The chariot festival, celebrated during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Chittirai'' (March–April), is the most prominent festival of the temple. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
[[File:Thirukannamangai5.JPG|250px|thumb|left|Image of the entrance arch]]
As per Hindu legend, [[Varuna]], the guardian deity of the west and sage Romasa are believed to have worshipped Vishnu at this place. The beehive in the temple is believed to be [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] worshipping Vishnu and in modern times, has special rituals performed for it.<ref>{{cite book|title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated|publisher=Asian Educational Services|page=535|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&q=govindaraja+perumal+temple&pg=PA242|last=Ayyar|first=P. V. Jagadisa|isbn=9788120601512|location=New Delhi|year=1982}}</ref> [[Shiva]] is believed to guard the four corners of the temple. As per another legend, when the [[Kshira Sagara|Ocean of Milk]] was [[Samudra Manthana|churned]] by [[asura]]s and devas, various objects emerged from it. At the end of it, [[Lakshmi]], the goddess of prosperity, emerged, and was too shy to look at Vishnu. She went on to Thirukannamangai to perform penance seeking the hands of Vishnu for marriage. The festival deity of the temple is called Perum Purak katal as he is believed to have left his place to marry her. Local legend marks the places as Lakshmi Vanam, the forest where Lakshmi performed her penance. The temple tank is believed to have originated from the water drops in Brahma's cache when he worshipped [[Vamana]], an [[avatar]] of Vishnu.<ref name=Vijaya/> The temple finds mention in ''[[Skanda Purana]]'' and ''[[Brahmanda Purana]]''.<ref name=Rao>{{cite book|title=Temples of Tamil Nadu|publisher=Vasan Publications|last=Rao|first=A.V. Shankara Narayana|isbn=9788184681123|year=2012|pages=216-8}}</ref>

==Architecture==
The temple<ref>''Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu''. Sura books.</ref> has a 5-tier ''raja[[gopuram]]'' and a vast temple complex. The prime deity, Bhaktavatsalar has an imposing image. The temple tank is situated right opposite to the temple and is considered one of the largest temple tanks in the state. This shrine is also referred to as ''Saptamrita Kshetram'' (seven celebrated elements of nature), referring to seven of its elements such as ''[[Vimanam (tower)|Vimanam]]'', ''[[Mandap]]am'', ''aaranyam'', ''[[theertham|tirtham]]'', ''[[kshetram]]'', river and town.<ref name=Vijaya/> The main entrance of the temple faces the East and at the entrance of the temple, there is a four pillared open hall. The temple has a {{convert|90|ft|m|abbr=on}} tall [[gopuram|rajagopuram]] (temple tower) and is enclosed by rectangular walls around it. There is a smaller temple tower on the western side. The walls of the temple is surrounded by large streets, through which the temple chariot passes along during festivals. A rare image of [[Buddha]], image of Vaikunta Natha and Vishnu mounted on his eagle mount Garuda are the major images in the temple. There is a pillared hall leading to the shrine of Kannamangai Thayar shrine that has pillars with Nayak architectural representation.<ref name=Vijaya/>

==Festivals and religious practices==
The temple follows the traditions of the [[Thenkalai|Tenkalai]] sect of Vaishnavite tradition and follows ''vaikanasa aagama''. The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavaite]] community, from the Brahmin varna. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 12:00 p.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m., and ''Ardha Jamam'' at 8:30 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Bhaktavatsala Perumal and Kannamangai Thayar. During the last step of worship, ''[[nagaswaram|nadasvaram]]'' (pipe instrument) and ''[[tavil]]'' (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the ''[[Vedas]]'' (sacred texts) and ''Nalayira Divya Prabandam'' are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the [[Iconography of Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu#Dvajasthamba and Pali Peedam|temple mast]]. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple.<ref name="dinamalar"/>

During the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Chittirai'', Brahmotsavam, a 10-day festival is celebrated and the festival deity is taken in procession around the streets of the temple in different mounts each day. The other festivals associated with Vishnu temples like [[Krishna Janmashtami|Krishna Jayanti]], Saturdays of Tamil month Puratasi, [[Navratri|Navaratri]], [[Vaikunta Ekadasi|Vaikuntha Ekadashi]] and [[Vijayadashami|Vijayadasami]] are celebrated during the respective days.<ref name=Vijaya/>

==Religious importance==
[[File:Thirukannamangai1.JPG|250px|left|thumb|Image of the temple tank]]
Tirukannamangai is mentioned in ''Padma Purana'', one of the 18 sacred scriptures of Hinduism. The temple is revered in ''[[Nalayira Divya Prabandham]]'', the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by [[Thirumangai alvar]].<ref name=Vijaya>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|ref=R|pages=463–4}}</ref> The Alvar has sung praise, imagining himself as a lady and Bhaktavatsala as his lover. The temple is classified as a ''[[Divyadesam|Divya Desam]]'', one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Bhaktavatchala Perumal Temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=335|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=18 May 2016|year=2011}}</ref> Many [[acharyas]] have also written songs on the various forms of Bhaktavatsala in this Temple.<ref name=Vijaya/> Tirukanna Mankaiyantan, the disciple of [[Nathamuni]] was born here during the 10th century. Thivyakavi Pillai Peruman has revered the presiding deity in his works of ''Notriyettu Tirupathi Kovai'' and Paravai Ramanujar in his works of ''Notriyettu Tirupati Tirupugal''. One of the three Sangeetha Mumurthi, namely [[Muthuswami Dikshitar]], has sung praise of the deity in his verses.<ref name=Vijaya/>

{| class="toccolours" style="clear:right; float:right; background:#ffffff; margin: 0 0 0.5em 1em; width:300"
|-
!style="background:#A8BDEC" align="center" colspan="2"|'''Pancha Kannan Temples'''
|-
|align="center"| [[Loganatha Perumal Temple]]||[[Thirukannangudi]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Gajendra Varadha Temple]]||[[Kabisthalam]]
|-
|align="center"| [[Neelamegha Perumal Temple]] ||[[Thirukannapuram]]
|-
|align="center"| Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple ||[[Thirukannamangai]]
|-
|align="center"| [[Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Tirukoyilur|Ulagalantha Perumal Temple]] ||[[Tirukkoyilur|Thirukkovilur]]
|}

This temple is one of the Panchakanna (Krishnaranya) Kshetrams. Kannan refers to [[Krishna]], the [[avatar]] of Vishnu, while ''pancha'' means five and ''Kshetrams'' refers to holy places. Four of the five temples are situated in [[Chola Nadu]], in modern times, in the region surrounding [[Kumbakonam]] and [[Nagapattinam]] and one of them in Nadu Nadu. Krishna is not the presiding deity in any of the temples. The processional deity, Krishna, led to the derivation of the names of these places. There are five similar temples located in North India, called Pancha-dvarakas.<ref>{{cite book |last=T. |first=Padmaja |title=Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: history, art, and traditions in Tamil Nadu |year=2002 |publisher=Shakti Malik |location=New Delhi |isbn=81-7017-398-1|pages=93–94 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pzgaS1wRnl8C&q=pancha+kannan&pg=PA93}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Divya Desams]]
* [[Mangalasasanam by Divyadesam]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Famous Vishnu temples}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Kannamangai baktavatchala perumal temple1.jpg
Kannamangai baktavatchala perumal temple3.jpg
Kannamangai baktavatchala perumal temple4.jpg
Kannamangai baktavatchala perumal temple5.jpg
Kannamangai baktavatchala perumal temple6.jpg
Kannamangai baktavatchala perumal temple7.jpg
Kannamangai baktavatchala perumal temple8.jpg
</gallery>

[[Category:Divya Desams| ]]
[[Category:Vishnu temples in Tiruvarur district]]

Bhaktavatsala Perumal temple, Tirukannamangai - Revision history

Nidanayurveda at 02:13, 15 November 2025