Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple: Difference between revisions

| location          = [[Thirukkolur]]

'''Vaithamanidhi Permual Temple''' (also called '''Thirukolur''') is one of the nine [[Nava Tirupathi]], the [[Hindu]] temples dedicated to [[Vishnu]]. It is located on the [[Tiruchendur]]–[[Tirunelveli]] route in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]], on the southern bank of the [[Thamiraparani]] River, 4 km from [[Alwarthirunagiri|Alwarthirunagari]]. It is the eighth temple of Nava Tirupathi, and is named after [[Mars in astrology|Mars]] (Sevvai) and also called Kuberasthalam. Constructed in the [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian style of architecture]], the temple is glorified in the ''[[Divya Prabandha]]'', the early medieval [[Tamil literature|Tamil]] canon of the [[Alvars|Azhwar]] saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 ''[[Divyadesam]]'' dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Vaithamanidhi Perumal and his consort [[Lakshmi]] as Kolurvalli.

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The ''[[gopuram|rajagopuram]]'', the temple's gateway tower, is three-tiered in structure. The temple follows [[Thenkalai]] tradition of worship. Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the ten-day annual Vaikanda Ekadasi during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Margazhi'' (December - January) and the Nammazhwar birth celebrations with Garudasevai with all nine temple of Navatirupathi, being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

[[Kubera]], the lord of wealth, was once cursed by [[Shiva]] for his lustful glance towards [[Parvathi]]. Kubera soon realized his mistake and repented for his sin, seeking forgiveness from Shiva and Parvathi. They advised him to perform penance at Thirukkolur. After his penance, Vaithamanithi Perumal blessed him with great wealth again.<ref name="temple">{{cite book|title=Adinathar Alwar Thiru Koil Sthala varalaru|publisher= Temple publication|year=2012| page= 8,9}}</ref> As per another legend, a king named Ambarisa renounced his crown and became a hermit. He started doing penance in a forest. Sage [[Durvasa]] wanted to test his devotion and kicked him. Ambarisa was unmoved which angered Duravasa. He cursed Ambraisa. Ambarisa prayed to Vishnu to help. Pleased by his devotion, Vishnu appeared in the place and relieved him off his curse. Ambarisa built a big temple for Vishnu and called him Ambarisa Varadhar.<ref name=R>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|page=482}}</ref>

==Architecture==

[[File:Thirukkolur2.jpg|250px|left|thumb|Image of a hall inside the temple]]

The Temple has two ''[[prakaram]]'', or closed precincts. Vaithamanithi Perumal, the main deity, is in a reclining pose facing east. A ''Marakka'' is used as his pillow. He is looking at the palm of his left hand to watch over the location of the wealth.<ref name=" temple"/> It is believed that people who pray here are blessed with great wealth.<ref name="temple"/> The original structure is believed to have been refurbished by [[Rani Mangammal]] (1689– 1704 C.E).<ref name=R/> The temple is located in [[Tiruchendur]]-[[Tirunelveli]] route, [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]] in the banks of [[Thamiraparani]] river, in the South Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. The temple is constructed in [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian style of architecture]]. All the shrines of the temple are located in a rectangular granite structure. The temple has an imposing image of [[Vishnu]], a lotus stalk from the navel of the image emanates the image of [[Brahma]]. The feet of the deity can be viewed through the passage. The temple has two ''[[prakarams]]'' (closed precincts of a temple). The images of the festival images are located inside the sanctum.<ref name=M/>

The ''[[Garuda]] Sevai utsavam'' festival in the month of Vaisaki (May–June) witnesses nine ''[[Garuda]]sevai'', a spectacular event in which festival image idols from the Nava Tirupathi shrines in the area are brought on ''[[Garuda]] [[vahana]],'' a sacred vehicle of Lord Vishnu. An idol of [[Nammalvar]] is also brought here on an ''Anna Vahanam'' (palanquin) and his ''paasurams'' (verses) dedicated to each of these nine temples are recited. The ''[[utsavar]]'' (festival deity) of [[Nammalvar]] is taken in a palanquin to each of the nine temples through the paddy fields in the area. The verses dedicated to each of the nine [[Divyadesam]]s are chanted in their respective shrines. This is one of the most important festivals in this area, drawing thousands of visitors.<ref>{{cite book|title=Jothirlingam: The Indian Temple Guide|publisher=Partridge Publishing|year=2015|isbn=9781482847864|page=30|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CE55CgAAQBAJ&q=navathirupathi&pg=PT100|last=Suriya}}</ref><ref name=A>{{cite book|title=Temples of South India|first=Ambujam |last=Anantharaman|pages=33–43|publisher=East West Books (Madras)|year=2006|isbn=978-81-88661-42-8}}</ref>

The temple follows the traditions of the [[Thenkalai]] sect of Vaishnavite tradition and follows ''Pancharathra 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, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:00&nbsp;a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 12:00&nbsp;p.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00&nbsp;p.m., and ''Ardha Jamam'' at 8:00&nbsp;p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Vaithamanidhi and Kolurvalli. During the last step of worship, ''[[nagaswaram]]'' (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.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Vaithamanidhi Perumal temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/New.php?id=133|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=31 May 2014|year=2014}}</ref>

''[[Brahmanda Purana]]'' one of the eighteen sacred texts of Hinduism and written by [[Veda Vyasa]] contains a chapter called Navathirupathi Mahatmeeyam. The first part of the chapter refers to Srivaikuntam. ''Vaikunta Mahatmeeyam'' is another work in [[Sanskrit]] that glorifies the temple and is a part of ''Tamraparani Sthalapurana'' available only in palm manuscripts.<ref name=Meena>{{cite book|title=Temples in South India|last=V.|first=Meena|publisher=Harikumar Arts|location=Kanniyakumari|pages=8–9}}</ref> The temple is revered in ''[[Nalayira Divya Prabandham]]'', the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by [[Nammazhwar]]. The temple is classified as a ''[[Divyadesam]]'', one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. The temple is also classified as a [[Navatirupathi]], the nine temples revered by Nammazhwar located in the banks of [[Tamiraparani River|Tamiraparani]] river. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like ''108 Tirupathi Anthathi'' by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar. The temple also forms a series of Navagraha temples where each of the nine planetary deities of one of the temples of Navatirupathi. The temple is associated with the planet [[Angaraka]] (Mars). It is the birthplace of [[Madhurakavi Alvar]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Amazing posture at Srivaikuntam|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/11/15/stories/2002111501310400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030129161601/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/11/15/stories/2002111501310400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 January 2003|date=15 November 2001|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=25 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=M>{{cite book|title=15 Vaishnava Temples of Tamil Nadu|last=M.|first=Rajagopalan|pages=155–159|publisher=Govindaswamy Printers|location=Chennai, India|year=1993}}</ref> [[Chandra]], moon god, is believed to have been relieved off his curse by his prayers in this place.<ref name=R/>