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{{Short description|Hindu temple in Thanjavur}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Thiru Aadanoor Temple
| image = Adhanoor (4).jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates = {{coord|10|58|35|N|79|18|48|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Thanjavur district|Thanjavur]]
| location = Aadanoor, [[Kumbakonam]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Andalakkum Aiyan Perumal ([[Vishnu]])<br>Ranganayaki ([[Lakshmi]])
| facade_direction =
| temple_tank = Surya
| tower = Pranava
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Contains special characters|Indic}}The '''Thiru Aadanoor''' or the '''Andalakkum Aiyan Perumal Temple''' is a [[Hindu]] temple dedicated to [[Vishnu]] located in Aadanoor, [[Thanjavur district]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. Constructed in [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian style of architecture]], 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=An NGO does its bit for god - and humanity|url=|url-access=|publisher=Hindustan Times|location=New Delhi|date=29 April 2007}}</ref><ref>''Hindu Pilgrimage: A Journey Through the Holy Places of Hindus All Over India''. Sunita Pant Bansal.</ref> Vishnu is worshipped as Andalakkum Aiyan and his consort is worshipped as [[Ranganayaki]], a form of [[Lakshmi]].

The temple has a small shrine with [[Vimanam (tower)|Vimanam]] and 3-tier raja[[gopuram]]. The temple was built by [[Aditya I|Aditya Chola]]. The temple is located in [[Olaipadi]], a small village, 7 km away from [[Kumbakonam]] and 2 km from [[Swamimalai]]. The temple tank is located north of the temple. The deities are similar to the [[Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam)|Sri Ranganathaswamy temple of Srirangam]] with the chief deity [[Vishnu]] in a reclining, half-sleeping posture.

Andalakkum Aiyarn is believed to have appeared for an affluent devotee trying to save Rangantha. The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar. The major festival of the temple, the [[Brahmotsavam]] is celebrated during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Vaikasi'' (May - June).

==Legend==
[[File:Adhanoor (7).jpg|250px|thumb|Gopuram of the temple|left]]
According to the temple's [[Sthala purana|regional legend]], there was an affluent devotee who also wished to partake in religious endeavour of serving [[Ranganatha]]. Some of those who worked under him exploited his [[bhakti]] to their advantage and swindled all his money, making him penniless. Pleased with his devotion, Vishnu appeared in his dream and promised to help him out of the situation. He instructed the devotee to bring along a [[Tamil units of measurement|marakkal]] and his workers, who cheated him, to the bank of the [[Kollidam]], where he promised to pay the workers their dues. The deity, in the guise of an old man, gave each of them a measure of sand from the bank of [[Kollidam]] according to the work done by them. Much to their surprise, it turned into precious stones for those who toiled and it stayed the same for those who shirked work. The workers who did not get anything were enraged and started chasing the old man. At this juncture, [[Vishnu|the deity]] appeared in his original form and made the workers realize their mistakes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/religion/article3686248.ece |title=In a state of neglect |publisher=The Hindu |date=2012-07-26 |access-date=2013-11-10}}</ref> It is also believed that the presiding deity appeared for [[Kamadhenu]], the holy cow and also for [[Thirumangai Azhwar|Thirumangai Alvar]], the saint poet of 8th century.<ref>{{cite book|title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated|publisher=Asian Educational Services|page=533|last=Ayyar|first=P. V. Jagadisa|isbn=9788120601512|location=New Delhi|year=1982|ref=Ayyar}}</ref>

As per another legend, the celestial deities [[Indra]] and [[Agni]] worshiped Vishnu at this place. Indra once insulted the sage [[Bhrigu]] when he placed the divine garland offered to him on his elephant [[Airavata]]. Bhrigu cursed him to lose all the powers. Indra did severe penance in the place to regain the powers. [[Agni]], the fire god, was affected with Brahmahatha Dosha, a curse inflicted on account of burning the head of [[Brahma]] handed over by [[Shiva]]. He was propitiated off his curse by offering worship at this temple.<ref name=R>{{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=444–6}}</ref>

==Architecture==
Aadanoor temple is located in Adanoor located {{convert|8|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from [[Kumbakonam]] in [[Thanjavur district]] in the [[South India]]n state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. It is located close to [[Swamimalai]]. The temple has a three-tiered raja[[gopuram]], the temple tower and all the shrines are enclosed by rectangular enclosure. The sanctum is located axial to the gopuram and is approached through sacrificial altar and temple mast. There are sculptures of [[Kamadhenu]], the divine cow and her daughter Nandini. The temple is believed to be similar to the [[Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam)|Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple]] in all its form having seven enclosures, but were destroyed with time. The vimana, the shrine over the sanctum is called Pranava Vimana, where image of Vishnu is visible up to knee. As per the legend in Srirangam temple, it is believed that the world will get destroyed when the feet of the image emerges. [[Hanuman]], the [[vanara]] deity, is said to have visited the temple on his way to [[Lanka]]. [[Rama]] is believed to have visited the place hearing about Hanuman's visit and the foot marks are sculpted to indicate the legend. The image of Hanuman in the place is known as Virasudarshana Anjaneya.<ref name=R/>

==Festivals and religious practices==
[[File:Adhanoor (1).jpg|250px|thumb|The vimana of the temple]]
The temple follows Pancharatra Agama and the worship practices are carried out by hereditary priests. This temple is under full control of [[Ahobila mutt]] and follows the [[Vadakalai]] tradition. The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|puja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] community, from the [[Brahmin]] class. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: ''Ushathkalam'' at 7 a.m., ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 12:00 p.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 5:00 p.m., ''Irandamkalam'' at 6:00 p.m. and ''Ardha Jamam'' at 7:30 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Andalakkum Aiyarn and Bhargavi Thayar. During the last step of worship, ''[[nagaswaram|nadasvaram]]'' (pipe instrument) and ''[[tavil]]'' (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the ''[[Vedas]]'' (sacred text) 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. The major festival of the temple, the [[Brahmotsavam]] is celebrated during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Vaikasi'' (May - June). [[Vaikunta Ekadasi|Vaikuntha Ekadashi]] celebrated during the Tamil month of ''Margali'' (December–January) is the other major festival celebrated in the temple.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Andalakkum Aiyan temple|publisher=Dinamalar|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=345|access-date=2 November 2019}}</ref>

==Religious importance==

The temple is revered in ''[[Nalayira Divya Prabandham]]'', the 7th–9th century [[Sri Vaishnavism|Sri Vaishnava]] canon, by [[Kulasekhara Alvar]] in one hymn. The temple is classified as a ''[[Divyadesam|Divya Desam]]'', one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. [[Thirumangai Alvar]] has sung in praise of the deity in this temple with one pasuram, numbered at 3815. It is believed that once the temple was buried under earth. At the same time, a Kashmiri Princess was afflicted on account of a spell from a magician. Vishnu appeared in the dreams of the king and asked him to renovate the submerged temple. The king is believed to have followed the orders, resulting in the princess getting propitiated. The worship in the temple is thus believed to offer solace to people afflicted by witchcraft.<ref name=R/>

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Adhanur temple}}

{{Hindu temples in Thanjavur District}}
{{Famous Vishnu temples}}

[[Category:Divya Desams| ]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Thanjavur district]]

Thiru Aadanoor Temple - Revision history

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