Parakkai Mathusoothana Perumal Temple, Kanyakumari

Address

Parakkai,

KanyaKumari district,

Tamil Nadu 629601

Moolavar

Mathusoothana Perumal

Amman

Sridevi, Bhoodevi

Introduction

Mathusoothana Perumal Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Parakkai Village in Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu. This Temple is renowned for its mural paintings and for its exquisite art on stone. Parakkai is also known as Pakshirajapuram, Kezharmangalam and Paravaikasur. The Temple is located at about 9 Kms from Nagercoil, 15 Kms from Kanyakumari and 93 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest Railway Station is located at Nagercoil and Nearest Airport is located at Thiruvananthapuram.

Puranic Significance

Pakshirajapuram:

According to a legend, a sculptor who was an ardent devotee of the Lord etched an image of Garuda in wood while in Kanchipuram and as the bird was made according to Shilpa Shastras, it came to life and flew southwards. After arriving at the Parakkai village, Garuda, it is said, had a dip in the tank in front of the temple and exclaimed “kandaen kulam”, with joy. Immediately after, he hovered around the deity as though he was making a Pradikshina and began to fly away. An artisan, who was renovating a pillar at the temple, saw the bird and hurled a chisel at it. The bird fell down crying `Madhusudhana’, much to the shock and disbelief of the man. As a result, its right wing suffered a wound. A stone image was later carved at the spot where he fell. The village came to be known as Pakshirajapuram as per this legend.

Other Names: Parakkai is also known as Pakshirajapuram, Kezharmangalam and Paravaikasur.

Madhusudhana Perumal: It is also said Lord Vishnu came to be known as Madhusudhana after he slew the demons Madhu and Kaidapan

Special Features

The Temple is believed to be 1300 years old. The presiding deity, Lord Madhusudhana Perumal, in majestic splendor, with a serene countenance and four arms, is nearly five feet in height. Lord Vishnu appears in the form of Madhusudhana with four hands. While, two hands hold the disc and conch, the other right hand is held aloft in abaya Hastha position and the left rests on the left thigh. He is seen with Goddesses Lakshmi Devi and Bhoomadevi.

The sun rays falling directly on this Perumal’s feet on the 10th day of the month of Chithirai, hence Sun pooja is performed here with much fanfare. The prasadam here for the Moolavar is Kozhukattai (Amrithakalsam.) in the shape of a big coconut. A noteworthy feature of the temple is the stone image of Garuda facing the deity. This Temple is renowned for its mural paintings and for its exquisite art on stone

Most of the pillars supporting the roof of the mandapam leading to the sanctum sanctorum contain numerous images of gods including the Sayana Murthi etched magnificently. The temple is a delight for those with taste for art. Visiting the shrine after going to the Sri Sthanumalayan temple dedicated to the Trinity at Suchindram, (located on the way to Kanyakumari near here), is considered very auspicious.

Festivals

Purattasi Brahmotsavam, Panguni Uthiram, Masi Makam, Vaikasi Visakam, Thiru Karthikai, Vaikunda Ekadashi and Sravana Deepam are the festivals celebrated here.

This has been extracted from,

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2018/01/mathusoothana-perumal-temple-parakkai-kanyakumari.html