Vanamamalai Perumal Temple
| Sri Vanamamalai Perumal Temple | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Sri Vanamamalai Perumal Temple Location in Tamil Nadu | |
| Name | |
| Other names | Vanamamalai |
| Proper name | Thiruvaramangai |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 8°37′N 77°56′E / 8.617°N 77.933°ECoordinates: 8°37′N 77°56′E / 8.617°N 77.933°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Tirunelveli |
| Location | Nanguneri |
| Culture | |
| Primary deity | Thothadrinathan(Vishnu) |
| Consort | Varamangai(Lakshmi) |
| Temple tank | Settru thamarai |
| Shrine | Nandhavarthana Vimanam |
| Poets | Nammalvar |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Dravidian architecture |
Vanamamalai Permual Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, in Vanamamalai (Nanguneri), Tamil Nadu, India on the banks of Thamiraparani river. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam shrines dedicated to Vishnu. Vishnu is worshipped here as Vanamalai Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Varamanagi.[1] The temple is believed to have been built by the Pandyas, with later contributions from Vijayanagar kings and Madurai Nayaks. The temple covers an area of 5 acres (20,000 m2) and has a five-tiered temple tower.
The temple is one of the eight Sywayambu Kshetrams, the eight temples associated with Vishnu, that manifested on its own. Vanamamalai is believed to have appeared to Adisesha and Garuda. Six daily rituals and a dozen yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the chariot festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Chittirai (March–April), is the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Vanamamalai Mutt.
Legend
The details about the presiding deity finds mention in Brhamananda Purana, Skanda Purana and Narasimha Purana. Sage Narada got the narration about the features of Thodatri and Sargunamangai from Shiva.[2] As per Hindu legend, Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu is believed to have born at this place as Srivaramangai (meaning lady) and hence the place came to be known as Varangunamangai. As per another legend, Adisesha ,the serpent performed penance at this place to seek the grace of Vishnu to lay on him. Vishnu was pleased by his devotion and rested on the serpent. Garuda, the eagle also performed penance and was granted a wish to be guarding Vaikunta, the residence of Vishnu.[3]
As per local legend, a childless king named Kaarya worshiped Vishnu at this place. Vishnu directed him to Nanguneri under the earth. The king dug up the earth to see blood oozing from the place. To stop the blood, the king was asked to perform ablution on the presiding deity with oil everyday. Blessed with children, the king constructed the temple.[2]
History
The temple has many inscriptions, the earliest of which is from 1236 CE. The inscription is from the period of Sundara Pandya I indicates an gift from him on the occasion of Adi Puram. Another inscription from 1275 from Kulasekara I indicates the details of tax collection in the region. The inscription on the Eastern Gopuram from the period of Sundara Pandya II in 1284 indicates gift of land to the temple. The gift of Vikrama Pandya III is inscribed on the northern wall in 1299. A gift of money to sculpt the image of Sadagopar in 1305 is found in the Eastern wall in the second precinct.[2][4] The presiding deity is called Devapiran as he is believed to have married Varamangai, the daughter of the pontiff of Vanamamalai Mutt. The temple is maintained and administered by the pontiff in modern times.[2]
Architecture
The temple has a large five-tiered gopuram (gateway tower) and a large temple compound having two prakarams (closed precincts of a temple).[5] There are various pillared halls in the temple.
Religious importance
The temple is considered one of the eight Sywayambu Kshetras of Vishnu where presiding deity is believed to have manifested on its own. Seven other temples in the line are Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, Bhu Varaha Swamy temple, and Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in South India and Saligrama, Naimisaranya, Pushkar and Badrinath Temple in North India.[6][7]
Festivals and religious practices
The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis based on Vaiksana Agama. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. 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 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Vanamamalai Perumal and Thayar. 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 temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple.[8] The major festival, the twelve-day Brahmotsavam is celebrated during the Tamil month of Thai (January - February).[8]
Vishnu is considered as alankara priyar (one who prefers decoration), and Shiva as abisheka priyar (one who prefers ablution). Vanamamlai temple is one of the few Vishnu temples where ablution is done for the presiding deity on a daily basis. At around 7 am everyday, ablution is performed on the presiding deity with milk, curd and other pooja items. The ghee used for ablution is poured in the oil well in the temple, which is considered sacred.[8] During the festival occasions, the festival idols are brought to the Vanamamalai Mutt located outside the premises of the temple.[2]
References
- ↑ M. S., Ramesh. 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu. Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam.
- 1 2 3 4 5 S., Prabhu (7 June 2012). "Headquarters of Vanamamalai Mutt". Retrieved 13 August 2016.
- ↑ R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001). An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam (1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 4955–6.
- ↑ Sewell, Robert (1882). Lists of the Antiquarian Remains in the Presidency of Madras, Volume 1. E.Keys. p. 315.
- ↑ Tourist Guide to South India .Various authors. Page 117.
- ↑ S., Prabhu (10 May 2012). "Symbolising religious unity". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ↑ S., Ramanujjan (2014). The Lord of Vengadam. PatridgeIndia. p. 54. ISBN 1482834626.
- 1 2 3 "Sri Thodatri Nathan Perumal temple". Dinamalar. 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
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