the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Vishnu

Uparisaravasu was the king of Sethi Kingdom and was the student of Devaguru Bhragaspathi. He got a chariot which floated in the sky from Lord Indra. Once he settled a dispute between the Rishi’s and Devas and favours it in the Deva's side. The Rishi’s got angry and cursed the king that his chariot would not fly in the sky. So as an effect to the curse, his chariot got stuck in this place and the king fell in front of the lord. Henceforth this place is called as Therazhundhoor (Ther means Chariot). Lord Narayana sent Garudan and helped him to fly back. As Lord helped the person loved by Deva’s who was a human he was called Devaadirajan from then on. Cow and calf belong to the Deva group, buffalo’s belong to Asura group and sheep's belong to Mankind. Lord Krishna thus saves all the living things. As Jeevathma becomes a tamed cow before Lord Krishna and he too behaves as a tamed cow in front of a pure heart, he is called as Aamaruviappan (ie) Aaa means cow (person who is as soft as a cow). Thus the Lord Aamaruviappan is said to inherit the qualities of Lord Krishna (ie) (he contains Lord Krishna’s Amsam). As an act of Unison, Lord Krishna (i.e) Lord Aamaruviappan is dressed up as Lord Rama and brought in Ceremony near the Vedapuriswarar temple (Lord Shiva's temple). Once, Lord Garudan was given a Vimanam and a Vairamudi by Devendra. He asked Garudan to distribute both to a Divyadesam which is very suitable. Lord Garudan gave Vairamudi to Thirunarayanapuram, Melkote near Mysore and the Vimanam at Therazhundur temple. Hence the Vimanam got the name of Garuda Vimanam. Lord Garudan stands with the Perumal in the Garbagraham which is a very rare occasion. Sage Agasthya wanted to wed Cauvery. When she refused, the sage locked her here. Cauvery escaped from this place only to be cursed by the Sage that the place where Cauvery goes be in trouble. Cauvery undertook penance here at Therazhundur to get liberated from the curse of Sage Agasthiya.

The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Sri Devaadi Rajan, found in a standing posture, facing towards the east direction. The presiding deity stands at a height of 10 feet, gives Dharshan along with Garuda, the bull mount of Lord Vishnu, in his left and Prahalada, the devotee of Lord Vishnu, and sage Markandeya Maharishi found to his right. he deity holds Gadhayudham, the weapon of Lord Vishnu, in his left hand and river goddess Cauvery is found kneeling at his lotus feet. The various mounts used for the deity at this temple are Adisesha, Surya Prabhai, Indra Vimanam, horse and elephant. The Goddess of this temple is Sengamalavalli Thayaar. And the mounts used for the goddess are Surya Prabhai, Yali, Swan, elephant and lion. The festival deity of this temple is Aamaruviappan (Lord Vishnu), and the other deities of this temple are Goddess Andal, azhwar saints, Lord Vasudeva, Lord Narasimha, Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, Lakshmanan, Lord Hanuman, Sri Vishwaksenar, the chief of Lord Vishnu’s army. The Vimanam (tower above the sanctum sanctorum) of the temple is called as Garuda Vimanam. The name of the vimanam has a story that the Garuda, the bull mount of Lord Vishnu, was presented a vimanam and a Vairamudi (crown) by Devendra (Lord Indra). And Devendra asked Garuda to place it in a suitable Divya Desam. Garuda placed Vairamudi to Thirunarayanapuram and the Vimanam to Therazhundur temple. Since then the Vimanam is called as Garuda Vimanam. The Pushkarani (temple tank) of Sri Devaadi Raja Perumal temple is called as Darshana Pushkarani. There’s a beautiful unjal Mandapam (Unjal – Joola – Swing) in this temple. The great Tamil Poet Kamban, who wrote Kamba Ramayanam, was born here only at Therazhundhoor. Inside the Rajagopuram, poet Kamban and his wives images are beautifully carved. The place where Kamban resided, on the Sannidhi Street, has now been turned into a beautiful new ‘Kamban Mandapam’. It is believed that this was the place where Sage Markandeya performed penance here to get Moksham. Manavala Maamunigal has done Mangalasasanam to this temple. Moolavar has golden Kiridam, Sahasranama necklace, Dasavathara Udhara Malai, Golden anklet, goddess Alarmel Mangai in his heart diamond Thiruman (sacred symbol of Vaishnavites). There are separate Sannadhis for Sri Vasudeva Sannadhi and Sri Narasimhar. There is also a Sannadhi for Lord Sri Ramar. In this Sannadhi, Sri Ramar (both Moolavar and Utsavar) are found in Nindra Thirukkolam facing east direction. Beside Lord Sri Ramar, Seetha Piratti, Lakshmanan and Hanumar are also giving Dharshan. Sri Vishwaksenar Sannadhi is separate in front of Sri Vasudeva Sannadhi. Sri Vishwaksenar is otherwise called as “Senai Mudaliar” (the chief of the army of the Perumal). Sri Alwars Sannadhi is on the Outer Praharam in front of Thaayar Sannadhi. Sri Andal Sannadhi is in the Outer Praharam where both Moolavar and Utsava Vigraham (Idol) are found. Thiruvadi Pooram and Margazhi – Koodara Valli are the special occasions for Sri Andal. Sri Hanuman Sannadhi is located Opposite to the Kodi maram. Lord Hanuman gives Dharshan in Nindra kolam facing his Thirumugham on the north direction. Prahalada who had seen an aggressive and angry Lord Vishnu killing Hiranyakashipu in his Narasimha Avatar undertook penance here wanting to see a softer, quieter version of the Lord. Legend has it that the Lord gave darshan to Prahalada here in his not so ‘angry form’. Utsavar Aamaruviappan stands with a very beautiful calf along with his two wives. Normally Lord Krishna Gives Dharshan only with two hands but in Thiruvazhunthoor – Sri Devaadi Raja Perumal Temple, he poses with four hands with Rukmini and Satyabama on his sides and cow and a calf nearby only in this temple.