Ethirkottai Venugopalan Swamy Temple, Virudhunagar

Address

Ethirkottai village, Sattur Circle,

Virudhunagar District

Tamilnadu – 626131.

Moolavar

Sri Venugopalan Swami

Amman

Sri Sathyabhama-Sri Rukmani

Introduction

Ethirkottai Venugopalan Swamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Perumal, Located in the Ethirkottai village, Sattur circle, Virudhunagar district, Tamilnadu. Here the Presiding deity is called as Sri Venugopala Swami with his consorts Sri Sathyabhama and Sri Rukmani. Kallamanayakkanpatti and Veliya Mathuthupatti on the west bank of the river were located opposite to each other with a fort, so this town is called Ethirkottai.

Puranic Significance

About 300 years ago, Chiratsar Govindappa Nayakkar ruled this region. He built this town, temple and fort by settling the Anthanas who lived in Kanchi and Tiruvallur Divya Desams and learned the scriptures. The temple is beautifully situated on the eastern bank of the Kayal River, founded by Manduka Maharishi.

Veeraragavaiyangar, who was the leader of the people of this town, sold the Vedic scriptures. Once when the enemy came with an army, Sudarsana prayed the Mahamantra and tossed a coin and became a warrior. Elders say that it built a fort around the town beyond which the enemy could not enter. Even today, statues of Govindappa Nayaka and Veeraragavaiyangar can be seen in the Mahamandapam of the temple.

Over time, the Anthanas, who depended on agriculture to survive the famine, migrated to other towns. The lands and properties donated to the temple by the elders of this town were encroached upon and at one point, the eternal pujas were interrupted without any puja. But with the help of Lord Perumal and the efforts of some people, Satyabhama Sametha Srivenugopala Swami Bhakta Sabha was established and the work started. A circular wall was erected; the Mahamandapam, the hall where the Alwar Acharyas rise, and the sanctum sanctorum were renovated. The Yagasala was formally started and Kumbabhishekam was also performed.