Kalyana Venkataramana Swamy Temple (Thanthondri Perumal Temple), Karur

Address

Kalyana Venkataramana Swamy Temple (Thanthondri Perumal Temple), Thanthondrimalai , Karur District- 639 005.

Diety

Venkataramana Swamy Amman: Sri devi, Bhoomidevi

Introduction

The Vaishnava temples have always had a significant place among the holy places in Tamil Nadu. One of the most sacred and sanctified of them is the Arulmigu KalyanaVenkataramanaswamy temple in Thanthondrimalai. This temple is located 4 kms south of Karur on the Karur – Dindigul state highways via Gujiliamparai. Kalyana Venkataramana Swamy Temple, popularly known as Then (South) Tirupati is in Thanthoni, 5 kms from Karur. The rock-cave temple is on an outcrop of a hillock and is one of the famous temples in this area. Kalyana Venkataramana Swamy (Vishnu or Srinivasa) is the main deity with Goddesses Sridevi and Bhoomidevi with him.

Puranic Significance

There are many stories on the name ‘Thanthondri’. It is believed that this hillock has formed itself and some others say that it was found by devotees of the Lord. Also it is said that there was a king named Thaamaan Thondrikon who ruled over this region with his residence at this hillock which is evident from the Puranaanuru. A few say that this place could have been named after him. In Thirupaarkadal once, Lord Vishnu was conversing with his Goddess Lakshmi. Adhisheshan was guarding the entrance. Vayubaghavan wanted to see the Lord but Adhisheshan did not permit. It started a debate between them on who is stronger and powerful. To solve it, Lord Thirumal gave them a task to accomplish which is Lord Adhiseshan should hold Thiruvenkatamalai (Venkatachalam) with his body and Vayudevan is to take the hill out of the clutches of Adhisheshan. Adhisheshan held firmly, so Vayubhagavan could not succeed in his attempt and he was furious. He transformed into a great cyclone and broke the hill. It was thrown into pieces in all directions and one such piece is Thanthondrimalai. This hillock having got the holiness of the Thiruvenkadamalai, is also called as the ‘Then Thirupathi’. There was a priest who performed the pujas regularly. Once he sent his as he could not come on that day. On that day a devotee came there with life size garland. The boy was so short so he prayed the Lord to bend a little. Lord Perumal also bent so the boy happily decorated the Lord with the garland. Legend of pieces of Rock falls at Thanthoni Malai: When a fight broke out between the Serpent King Adisesha and the Wind God Vayu as who was more stronger and who played a more important role, Lord Vishnu asked Adisesha to hold on to the Tirumala Hills and Vayu to try and remove the hills from the clutches of the Serpant Lord. An angry Vayu who could not remove from Adhisesha’s hold turned into a cyclone. Pieces of the rock from the hills fell in different places. One such piece is the rock we find here at Thanthoni Malai in Karur where Venkatachalapathi provides darshan as Kalyana Venkatramana perumal.

Beliefs

Devotees perform abishek and Sandal Alankara to Lord. They celebrate wedding festival. Offer butter, sandal, vastras light lamps, Tulsi garlands. Arrange preparation of nivedhanas to Perumal and distribute it to devotees and arrange feeding-Annadhanam. Devotees pray to Perumal for cure from pimples and scars in the body by placing salt, pepper and jaggery in the temple. They also pray for wedding and child boons. Lord responds without fail to prayers of the devotees regarding their health problems.

Special Features

In general, temples in Tamil Nadu will be facing the Eastern direction. But this Thanthondriperumal Temple is facing the west. The hillock Thanthondri is spread from East to West. The western part of the hillock is elevated that the eastern part. This west facing temple is a cave temple. The Sanctum Sanctorum when the daily Perumal is presented is in the eastern part of the ‘Artha Mandapam’. Only the Sanctum Sanctorum is the cave. ‘Artha Mandapam and the entrance hall were constructed later. There is a big stage with two pillars in the Sanctum Sanctorum. Three sides of the stage were deepened. In the eastern part of the stage along with the rock, Arulmigu Kalyanavenkataramana Perumal poses with Goddess Lakshmi in His Chest facing the western direction. Lord Perumal who stands and blesses the devotees with four hands has been praised as ‘Bhaktha Pratheenan’. Kalyana Venkataramana Swamy Temple’s deity is a Swayambu (self-manifested) and the shrine is on top of a hill. A flight of 70 odd steps up the hillock leads to the entrance of the temple. The deity is accepted today in general by the locals as Lord Vishnu in the form of Kalyana Venkatramana Swamy. Of the four arms of the deity, the two upper arms hold the conch and discus. The lower right arm shows the Varada Hasta (boon giving) gesture and the lower left arm are in the Katyavalambita pose (palm resting on the hip). If you look carefully, the deity’s head is slightly lowered.

Festivals

The 22 day Purattasi festival in September-October, 17 day Masi Magam car festival in February-March, Krishna Jayanthi in August-September, Vaikunda Ekadasi in December and Tamil and English New Year days are the festivals celebrated in the temple.