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Abodes of Vishnu

57. Arulmigu Maragathavalli Thayar sameda Vijaya Raghava Perumal Temple,Thiruputkuzhi

Mulavar   Vijayaraghava Perumal
Utsavar    
Thayar   Maragadhavalli
Kshethram    
Pose & Direction   Sitting pose facing East
Theertham   Jadaayu Theertham
Vimanam   Vijayakoti Vimanam
Sthala Vruksham    
Paadiyavar   Thirumangaialwar
Travel Base   Kanchipuram
Nearest Railway Station   Kanchipuram

Location

Thiruputkuzhi is a small temple town in Tamilnadu, India. It is situated about 12 Kms west of Kanchipuram and half a kilometer from Balu Chetti Chathiram which lies on the Chennai - Vellore highway. The Temple is located 12 kms west of Kanchipuram on the Madras - Bangalore Highway, near Balu Chetty Chathiram (about 75kms from Madras). Select Buses between Chennai and Vellore stop at Balu Chetty Chathiram. Several local buses available from Kanchipuram. Buses between Chennai and Vellore stop at Balu Chetty Chathiram. Several local buses are available.

History

Legend says that Sri Rama left all of his properties and went to the forest as ordered by his father. While in the forest, Sita spots a golden deer and requests Rama to catch it for her. The deer however is a demon sent by Ravana to lure Rama and Lakshmana, so that he could carry away Sita. With Rama and Lakshmana out in search of the deer, Ravana abducts Sita and takes her along with him to Lanka. On the way to Lanka,Jatayu the vulture stops Ravana and fights with him to release Sita, but Ravana cuts Jatayu's wings and he falls down to the earth. When Rama and Lakshmana go there in search of Sita, they find Jatayu mortally wounded in the forest. Jatayu tells them about Ravana and Sita, and then dies. Sri Rama then performs the last rites for Jatayu. As suggested by Jatayu, the Perumal here gives his Seva in the form in which he performed the final funeral of Jatayu. Jatayu belongs to the Pul (a separate family of eagle) family and was buried in a pit (Tamil kuzhi), hence this sthalam is called Thiruputkuzhi. The eagle Jatayu narrated the events to Rama before breathing his last. The presiding deity, Vijayaraghava Perumal is believed to have performed the last rites of Jatayu at this place. The water body where Jatayu fell is called Jatayu Theertham. On certain festive occasions, Lord Vijaya Raghavan goes on street processions mounted on his ‘Horse Vahanam’. For a moment, one almost feels that this is a real Horse, with its jumping stride and movements. The man who created this horse specifically for Lord Vijaya Raghava was asked to make another horse. He refused to recreate his magic for anyone other than the Lord. To this day, when the Lord is taken on a street procession on the Horse Vahanam, he visits the place where the horse maker lived to pay regards the creator. Ramanuja learnt the Advaitha lessons from Yaadava Prakaasar at this place. The mandapam where he learnt his lessons still exist here. Vijaya Raghava Perumal is seen in a sitting posture, having the bird (Jataayu) on his thigh. Not able to bear the smell caused by the final rites and because of the flames that arose out of the cremation of Jatayu, Sri Devi Thaayar is said to have moved to the other side of the Lord. At this temple, the Goddess is seen to the left of the Lord Vijayaraghava with her head slightly turned in the Lord’s direction (in all Divya Desams, Sri Devi Thaayar is seen to the right of the Lord). Also, the Thaayar Sannidhi is to the left of the Lord. In all Divya Desams, the Thaayar Sannidhi is always to the right of the Lord. While each Divya Desam has its own unique story, the Vijayaraghava temple at Thiruputkuzhi shares the same story as another. Jataayu Moksham is a story that relates to Pulla Bhoothangudi Divya Desam (about 10 kms West of Kumbakonam). The question arises as to how two Divya Desams can have the same event connected to it. There are many reasons to believe that Pullabhoothangudi is more likely to be connected with Jataayu Moksham and not Thiruputkuzhi. Thirumangai Azhvaar in his praise of the Lord at Pulla Bhoothangudi refers specifically to Raama with a bow (called Valvil Rama) while in his praise of Thiruputkuzhi Lord, Thirumangai does not refer directly to Raama. Also, in several of his Paasurams relating to Pullabhoothangudi, Thirumangai refers to the Ramayana. Raama is said to have taken the Chola route to Thirupullani and then to Lanka and is unlikely to have passed through Kanchipuram.

Architecture

The temple is believed to have been built by the Pandya kings during the 13th century, as seen from the stone inscriptions in the temple. The temple here is one among the 108 Divya Desams and is dedicated to Lord Vijayaraghavaswamy (Moolavar). There is a separate temple for Thayar in the form of Maragathavalli Thayar and a Sannidhi for Sri Ramanuja as well. Lord Vijaya Raghava Perumal blesses the devotees with Jatayu on his lap. Both the Nachiyars are found on both the sides, but in opposite manner. During all Perumal processions, due regard is offered to Jatayu also. As this is the place, where Lord Rama performed the last rites for Jatayu the eagle, who fought with Ravana to rescue Sita from him and sacrificed his life in the service of the Lord, as a mark of honour to him, the flag post and the Balipeeta are outside the temple. Vijayaraghava Perumal temple houses a separate shrine for Goddess Maragathavalli Thayar. The Pushkarani (temple tank) of Vijayaraghava Perumal temple is called as Jatayu Pushkarani. The Vimanam (the tower above the sanctum sanctorum) of Vijayaraghava Perumal temple is called as Vijaya Koti Vimanam. The temple has been revered as Nalayira Divya Prabandham, a Vaishnava canon, and hymns were sung by Thirumangai Azhwar, the saint of south India.

Timings: 7.00 am to 12.00 noon, 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm