Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (April 2021) |
| Sri Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Tuticorin |
| Deity | Vaithamanidhi (Vishnu) Kumudavalli, Kolurvalli(Lakshmi) |
| Features |
|
| Location | |
| Location | Tirukkolur |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Country | India |
  Location in Tamil Nadu | |
| Geographic coordinates | 8°35′48″N 77°57′28″E / 8.59667°N 77.95778°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Dravidian architecture |
| Website | |
| http://navathirupathitemples.tnhrce.in/ | |
Sri Vaithamanidhi Permual Temple is one of the nine Nava Tirupathi,[1] 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 located 4 km from Alwarthirunagari. This is the eighth temple of Nava Tirupathi and is named for Mars (Sevvai). It is also called Kuberasthalam.[2] All nine of these temples are classified as "Divya Desams", the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.[3]
The Temple
The temple has two prakaram, or closed precincts. Vaithamanithi Perumal, the main deity, is in a reclining pose facing east, with a wooden tool used to measure wealth, Marakkal, as his pillow. He is looking at the palm of his left hand to watch over the location of the wealth.[2] It is believed that people who pray here are blessed with great wealth.[2]
Kubera, the lord of wealth, lost his prominence after being cursed by Lord Shiva, for Kubera's evil glance on Parvathi. When he repented for his sin and sought forgiveness from Shiva and Parvathi, they advised him to perform penance at Thirukkolur. After his penance, Vaithamanithi Perumal blessed him with his original position of wealth.[2]
It is the birthplace of Madhurakavi Alvar.[citation needed]
Festival
The Garuda Sevai utsavam festival in the months of Vaikasi (May-June) witnesses nine Garudasevai, a spectacular event in which festival image idols from the Nava Tirupathi shrines in the area are brought on Garuda vahana, a sacred vehicle. 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 paasurams (poems) dedicated to each of the nine Divyadesams are chanted in the respective shrines. This is the most important of the festivals in this area, and it draws thousands of visitors.[4][5]
References
- ^ 15 Vaishnava temples of Tamil Nadu. M. Rajagopalan
- ^ a b c d Adinathar Alwar Thiru Koil Sthala varalaru; Temple publication; Page 8,9
- ^ 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu. M. S. Ramesh, Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam.
- ^ Suriya (2015). Jothirlingam: The Indian Temple Guide. Partridge Publishing. p. 30. ISBN 9781482847864.
- ^ Anantharaman, Ambujam (2006). Temples of South India. East West Books (Madras). pp. 33–43. ISBN 978-81-88661-42-8.
External links
