Koozhampandal Pesum Perumal Temple-Thiruvannamalai

Address

Koozhampandal, Thiruvannamalai District,

Tamil Nadu – 631701

Phone: +91 4182 245 304 / 293 256

Moolavar

Pesum Perumal

Introduction

Pesum Perumal Temple is dedicated to God Vishnu located at Koozhampandal Village in Thiruvannamalai District of Tamilnadu. This is a small temple with a single shrine but the Perumal is gigantic and beautiful. It was discovered from the field and installed here. Koozhamandal is approximately 18 Kms from Kanchipuram on the route to Vandavasi, in Thiruvannamalai District. This place, now known as Koozhamandal, was also called as Koozhampandal.

Puranic Significance

The village of Koozhamandal has a history going back at-least to the era of the mighty Cholas of Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram. An inscription in this village records the name Koozhamandal. An explanation offered for this name is that Koozhan is the name for jackfruit tree and pandal means a road. This was probably a village by which there was a road lined with jackfruit tree.

In the village the Siva temple was constructed during the time of Rajendra Chola I (1012 – 1044 A.D.). It is entirely possible that the Vishnu temple is also of this time. The location of the Vishnu and Siva temples in this village are according to the requirements of the Agamas and also the Vastu Sastra and thus reveal that this township came up in the Chola times and was laid out in conformity with the rules of these texts. There is an inscription in the entrance frame wall that King Vijaya Kanda Gopala visited the temple and also spoke to Perumal.

Telugu Chola kings offered 14 coins (panam) and 18 Kalam paddies for the lighting of deepas and maintenance of pujas in the temple. It was the order of the throne that this should go on till Sun and Moon exist. The money and the paddy were entrusted with the Bhattar-priest of the temple. But he did not use them for the temple. He also prepared some poison to kill female children. He also used the milk used for last rites of such children for the Tirumanjanam of Perumal. Angry Perumal destroyed the Bhattar and also village. His anger was such that even Vaikunda – Abode of Lord Vishnu – shook in fear. Later, elders of place came to know of this story through some inscriptions, begged the pardon of Lord, built the temple and began pujas and maintenance of the temple devotionally. As Perumal pointed out the error and crime of a priest, He is praised as Pesum Perumal – Perumal who spoke.

Beliefs

Special prayers and worships are undertaken in the temple for deaf, dumb and disabled children. Parents visit the temple on a particular day of the week with the child and continue for nine weeks on the same day. Devotees light deepas in coconut shells using ghee and circumambulate the temple nine times. Priests spill the Shangu theertha – theertha from the conch – on the face of the child. This theertha is taken home enough for a week’s use. It is believed that any ritual or ceremonies performed in this temple as fasting, Dhana-charity, homas and remedial ceremonies ensures the devotee thousand fold benefits.

Special Features

The main deity Varadaraja Perumal is east facing and accompanied by Sridevi & Boodevi holding lotus in their boonful hands in standing posture. Lord is a very grand image, more than 6 ft. in height in a standing posture wearing a long Salagrama mala. In his upper two arms, Perumal holds the conch and the discus. His lower right hand is in abhaya hasta and his lower left hand is in gada-hasta. To the left and right side of this main image stand Sri Devi and Bhu Devi (Ubhaya Nachiyar).

The processional deity, also wearing a Salagrama garland, is exactly like the main image and he too is flanked by Sri Devi and Bhu Devi. There is no separate sanctum for Goddess Lakshmi in this temple. The utsavamurti of Perundevi Thayar, the consort of Sri Pesumperumal, along with other bronze utsavamurtis of Sri Venugopala Swami with Rukmini and Satyabhama, are worshipped in this sanctum. The long and spacious Mandapam in front of the central shrine has the stone sculptures of the Azhwars and Acharyas like Mudal Azhwars, Nammazhwar, Andal, Periazhwar, Tirumazhisai, Azhwar, Ramanuja and Manavala Mamuni in worship

At the end of this Mandapam, facing the deity is a stone icon of Garuda. Just like the main sanctum, the temple campus is also very small, but it was huge in the times bygone. Over the years, due to weathering and neglect, this temple was in a very dilapidated condition. With the help of local temple and devotees, the samprokshanam was performed on 27th June, 2002.

Since then, efforts have been made to build the sanctums for Thayar, Azhwars, Acharyas, Andal, the compound wall, sacred kitchen (madapalli), gopuram and also repairing of the temple tank, digging a well and laying out a garden. The temple tank is called as Ananta Pushkarini and also a Chetti Kulam is there and the sacred tree in this temple is Parijadham.

Festivals

The rituals and festivals of this temple are conducted according to the Vaikhanasa Agama. Tamil New year day falling almost on April 14; Vaikasi Visakam in May-June with Garuda Seva of 15 villages; Aadi Pooram in July-August; Sri Krishna Jayanthi in August-September; Deepavali in October-November; Vishnu Karthikai Deepam in November-December; Vaikunda Ekadasi and Koodaravalli in December-January; Hanuman Jayanthi, English New Year Day; 3 day Pongal in January and Ratha Sapthami in January-February, Masi Magam with 108 Go Pujas-pujas with 108 cows; Panguni Uthiram wedding festival and Sri Rama Navami in March-April are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

References

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/02/pesum-perumal-temple-koozhampandal_13.html