Introduction:
Long ago, 12 great devotees of Lord Vishnu traversed the length and breadth of our country and provided yeoman service to the world by acting as the torchbearers of the Sri Vaishnavaite faith. They were none other than the various aspects and accompaniments of Lord Vishnu and came to be known as the Alwars.
The twelve Alwars visited 108 shrines of Lord Vishnu including the Thiruparkadal (The Milk Ocean), Srivaikuntam (Heaven) during their times and rendered 4000 songs on the Lord in Divine Tamil. The great Acharyas led by Nathamuni,Alavandar and Ramanujacharya have brought out the quintessence of faith by appropriately calling the temples as Divya Desams and the songs aptly nomenclatured as Divya Prabandam. In the true sense the Prabandam is the essence of the Vedas and therefore it is known as Dravida Vedam. The Divya Prabandam has endowed Tamil with a Divine status and thanks to the same, millions of non Tamil brethren are familiar with the language due to the spread of Sri Vaishnavam. A true Vaishnavaite aspires to visit the 105 of them in India, the only one in Nepal during his/her lifetime. According to sacred lore the good Lord assures a visit and space in the last two of the Divya Desams if one has visited the 106 on Earth during their lifetime.
The Divya desams have varied architecture, natural surroundings, procedures for worship,varied iconography and flavours of diverse cultures embedded into them. Tamilnadu is home to over 80 of these most sacred homes of Lord Vishnu and the green Chola country hosts the most in India.
The famous Vaishnava Sukrasthalam Thiruvelliyangudi is located at the Northern side of Kumbakonam - the world famous temple city located in modern Tamilnadu.
Thiruvelliyangudi:
Deity - Kolavilli Raman alongwith Bhoomi Devi offering his darshan to Sage Markandeya within the Sanctum.
Posture - East facing while stretching himself fully on the Divine serpent couch ( Adisesha).
Nature and composition of the Icon - Varna Kalaaba Thirumeni (The Icon is made of ancient Sudhai or plaster and has been completely decorated with appropriate colours).
Processional Icon or Utsava Deity - Shringara Sundarar alongwith Sridevi and Bhoomidevi. (The Lord likes to decorate and present himself in an attractive manner).
Thayar (Divine Mother) Sannidhi - Sri Maragadhavalli Thayar (The divine consort rids us of our mental worries).
Theertham (Sacred Spring/waters) - Indra Theertham, Brahma Theertham,Sukra Theertham and Parasara Theertham.
Agamam (Method of prayer and worship) - Vaikanasam.
Sampradhayam (School of religious philosophy) - Vadakalai.
Sthalavriksham (Temple Tree) - Kathali (Sevvazhai).
Prathyaksham - He gave darshan to Indra, Markandeya, Brahma, Sukrac harya, Maya and Sage Parasara.
Temple Timing: Morning - 8.00 AM to 12.30 PM.
Evening - 5.00 PM to 7.00 PM.
Administration - vested with the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department, Government of Tamilnadu.
Places of Interest in the neighbourhood: Gangai Konda Cholapuram dedicated by the Great Chola Emperor Rajendra Chola I (World Heritage Site), Temple city of Kumbakonam (Home to a number of ancient temples known for heritage and religious importance).
The Vaishnava Sukrasthalam - Thiruvellyangudi:-
Thiruvelliyangudi was known as Brahmaputhram during the Krutha Yugam (an era during ancient times), Parasaram during the Thretha Yugam, Saindranagaram during the Dwapara Yugam and Bhargavapuram during the Kali Yugam. It is associated with the Trivikrama Avatharam of Lord Vishnu.
Once upon a time, the grandson of Bhakta Prahlada, the great asura Mahabali undertook the performance of a great sacrifice. Perturbed by the same, the Devas propitiated Lord Vishnu and in order to seek his grace their mother Aditi performed Payovratham by only consuming milk for 12 days. Pleased with her devotion Lord Vishnu manifested as Vamana and proceeded towards the sacrifical altar. On seeing this bright boy, Mahabali was thoroughly impressed and offered a seat along with favours as may be decreed by the receiver. A radiant Vamana just insisted on three paces of land that can be measured by his own feet and a surprised Mahabali agreed to grant the wish. As any form of charity had to be done by the husband with consent of his wife, Mahabali beckoned his wife Vindyavali to offer Argyam ie water in order to complete the process of granting three paces of land requisitioned by Lord Vamana.
The ever alert preceptor of the asuras, Sukracharya suspected foul play and advised the King of the asuras not to grant the boon but the ruler refused to do so. The preceptor tried to dissuade Vindyavali from the exercise, but the chaste Queen proceeded to offer Argyam in order to complete the offering. An enraged Sukracharya took the form of a beetle and blocked the nozzle of the Kamandalam (water container) and tried to stop the process. An ebullient Vamana took a blade of Dharba or dry grass and pierced the nozzle in order to clear the obstruction. The grass cleared the blockade while also blinding Sukracharya in one of his eyes.
On receiving the gift of three paces,Vamana grew fast assuming the "Trivikrama" form - measured the earth with one pace,the sky with the other and left with no alternative the asura offered the space on his head for the third pace. Impressed with this gesture, Lord Trivikrama placed his divine foot on the head of Mahabali and pushed him into the nether world while also granting him immortality. By doing so, Lord Vishnu fulfilled the promises made to both the Devas and Prahlada for he had given his word to Indra that he will let him continue to lead the heavens while he had promised the latter that he would never exterminate his descendants.
Now, having lost his eye Sukracharya came to Thiruvelliyangudi and performed a penance for 48 days. A pleased Lord Vishnu gave him back his vision. The light of vision granted to Sukracharya continues to glow as the Nethra Deepam even today at this temple.
Once upon a time the architect and sculptor for the Devas (Gods), Viswakarma and his asura (Demon) counterpart Maya got into a war of words which resulted in an unnecessary contest with regard to their respective skills. On seeing this Lord Brahma the creator intervened and advised the asura architect Maya thus, "Maya, the architect of the Devas has constructed a beautiful temple at Thiruparkadal which happens to be the residence of Lord Narayana and it was possible due the merits earned by him in the past. If you wish to acquire name and fame,go to the precincts of the River Cauvery at the Karmabhoomi (The place wherein one reaps the fruits of his or her own action), Bhoolokam (Earth), obtain the divine grace of Lord Narayana, then construct a beautiful temple which will make your name immortal.
On receiving the advise Maya proceeded further, reached the Bhaskara Kshethram and at Thiruvelliyangudi, the place of Sage Markandeya's penance and prayed to Lord Vishnu. On completion of his penance, Maya built a beautiful temple. Immediately the Lord manifested as Shringara Sundara and blessed the architect. The place acquired the name Thiryvelliyangudi due to the fact that 'Sukra' also known as' Velli 'got redeemed here. Therefore the people who offer prayers on Friday at this temple are doubly blessed.Sukra is also known as Jupiter.
On the request of Indra, Markandeya, Maya, Bhoomidevi, Sukra, Brahma and Parasara the good Lord handed over his conch and discus to Garuda the Periya Thiruvadi (a special status which confers him the first rank in the Vaishnavaite hierarchy) and presented himself in the fabulous 'Kalyana Thirukkolam'. In order to return the Lords' conch and discus, Garuda had to present himself in a rising posture instead of a sitting or standing posture. Therefore Garuda has special powers at Thiruvelliyangudi.
People who are afflicted by Sukra, unmarried, childless or having problems with their eyes are freed from the same once they offer they prayers to the Lord at Thiruvelliyangudi. It is here that the divine mount Garuda is offered special Thirumanjanam at the Vishnupathy punya kalam four times a year ie., the 1 st of the Tamil months of Vaikasi, Avani, Karthika and Maasi. The Devas and asuras are said to be happy during the Vishnupathy punya kalam and therefore this offering of Thirumanjanam grants blessings to the devotees witnessing the same.
Maya wanted to pray to Lord Vishnu in the form of Rama, therefore the Lord handed over his arms to Garuda and presented himself in a decorated form with a bow in his hands. This 'Kolavil Rama' thus came to be known as "Kolavilli Raman".
Interesting facts pertaining to this temple: -
* The great Vaishnavaite saint Thirumangai Alwar requested the Lord to bless him as Kolavilli Raman and he obliged.
* Senganoor, located in the neighbourhood of Thiruvelliyangudi is the birth place of the famous Vaishnavaite scholar Periavachanpillai.
* The temple tree Senkadhali which is found in the hard ground of the temple continues to give one bunch of red skin Senkadhali Vazhai (One type of Plantain) on an annual basis for the last several generations. One of the Alwars has sung about this tree.
* The devotees who have a bath at the Brahma Theertham of this temple on the onset of Rohini (one of the 27 constellation of stars) during the Tamil month of Vaikasi or the early mornings of the Tamil month of Maasi are freed from all afflictions.
* Indra lost his position and subsequently regained the same after offering prayers with the aid of Vedic scholars as per Agama sastras in this temple.
* A number of Yatis (Saints) who include the Jeeyars of Ahobila Mutt, Srimad Andavan Swamigal, Sankaracharya Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi have stayed here and fulfilled their Chaaturmaasya Vratas while also performing Vyasapoojas too.
* The Puranas share the fact that, Sage Parasara stayed here for a long time and propitiated Lord Vishnu with the Ashtakshara (The eight lettered propitiation - Om Namo Narayana) and the Dwadasakshara (The twelve lettered propitiation - Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya) mantras as per the Vaikanasa Agamam. Therefore it is a great place to meditate with Lord Narayana as the focus.
* Thirumangai Alwar has performed Mangalasasanam by singing ten paasurams (devotional songs in Tamil with spiritual vibrations) in praise of the Lord at Thiruvelliyangudi.
* Thiruvelliyangudi is located amidst the nine Navagraha Kshethrams.
* Lord Kolavilliraman showers his devotees with abundance of wealth.
Festivals in Thiruvelliyangudi:
* Pavithrothsavam: This happens in the Tamil month of Purattasi on the Punarvasu star. It essentially is a clean up ceremony wherein the mistakes if any committed during the earlier periods with regard to prayers and rituals are addressed.
* Adhyayanothsavam: The Rapathu and Pagalpathu Uthsavams (Ten day festivals) are conducted during the Tamil month of Markazhi. Divya Prabandham is recited during these days Its an important occasion when devotees,priests and scholars enjoy the prayers,festivities and rituals on a continuous basis for a number of days.
* Sri Rama Navami: The birth of Sri Rama is celebrated during the Chaithra month with full gusto. Special prayers and offerings to the deities are made on this occasion.
* Sri Vishnupathy Punyakalam: This occurs four times a year and a ceremonial bath known as Thirumanjanam is done for the main deity and the Chaturbhuja (Four armed) Garudalwar. Ceremonial recitation of the Divya Prabandham is accompanied with Annadhanam.
* Popular Prasadam - Thayir Sadam (Curd rice).
A visit or the offer of prayers at the Thiruvelliyangudi Kolavilli Raman temple will bestow the devotees with long life, health, wealth and happiness during the times to come.