Sri Chitraradha Perumal Temple- Chithirai Nakshatra

Address

Sri Chitraradha Perumal Temple, Kuruvithurai 625 207, Vadipatti Taluk, Via Cholavandhan, Madurai district. Phone Numbers: +91 94439 61948, 97902 95795

Diety

Chitraradha Perumal Amman: Shenbagavalli

Introduction

Chitra Radha Vallabha Perumal Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Kuruvithurai Village near Cholavandhan in Vadipatti Taluk in Madurai District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Chitra Radha Vallaba Perumal and Mother is called as Shenbagavalli Thaayar. Though the primary deity of the temple is actually Lord Vishnu, the temple is famous as Lord Guru’s shrine. Since it is Guru Parihara Sthalam, Guru Peyarchi day is the biggest day of the year at this temple with lakhs of devotees visiting the temple on that day. *CHITRA STARERS: Chitra starrers are of a reserved type confining themselves to their own self. They are fond of touring, good in education, courageous and love even enemies. They achieve what they wish by adjusting to others views. Chitra starrers pray to Lord of the temple for relief from adverse planetary aspects, especially those facing adverse Jupiter aspects and take up remedial pujas. According to astrology,favourable Jupiter aspect alone would help settling happy marriages and offer child boon. Practical experiences also confirm this theory.

Puranic Significance

Brihaspathi, the leader of the Devas, assigned his son Kacha to secure the secret Sanjeevini mantra from Sukracharya, the preceptor of the Asuras that would help bring the dead back to life. While Devayani, the daughter of Sukracharya, fell in love with Kacha, the demons, realising the young man’s mission, killed and reduced him to ashes, dissolved it in water and made their guru Sukracharya consume it. the asuras, realising his mission, killed Kacha, mixed his ashes in a glass of water and made Sukracharya drink it. Saddened by her lover’s absence, Devayani appealed to her father to find him. Through his ‘gnana drishti’ Sukracharya came to know of the whole episode and realised that Kacha is in his stomach. He initiated the Sanjeevini mantra and Kacha came out of the acharya’s stomach thus ending the latter’s life. As he could not bear to see Sukra lying dead in front of him, Kacha in turn chanted the Sanjeevini mantra and gave a new lease of life to Sukracharya. At this juncture, when he is asked to marry Devayani, Kacha justifies that she is his sister as he had come out of her father’s stomach. Having accomplished his mission by learning the secret mantra Kacha leaves the Asura kingdom. Angered at Kacha deserting her, Devayani prevented his departure to the Deva Kingdom. Worried at the inordinate delay, Guru Bhagawan (Jupiter) undertook penance here invoking the blessings of Lord Narayana to save his son from the Asuras. Hence, this place came to be called as Guru Iruntha Thurai (later Kuruvi Thurai). Pleased with the prayers, Lord Narayana used his discus (Chakrath Azhwar) to save Kacha from the asuras. He came here on a special chariot and provided darshan to Guru on the Chitra star day in the Tamil month of Chitrai and hence the Lord here is referred to as ‘Chitra Ratha’ Vallabha Perumal.

Beliefs

Chitra starrers pray to Lord of the temple for relief from adverse planetary aspects, especially those facing adverse Jupiter aspects and take up remedial pujas. Devotees perform Tirumanjanam to Perumal and offer vastras. Those who visit this temple and offer sincere prayers to Vallabha Perumal and Guru Bhagwan are said to be relieved of Guru Dosham and other obstacles in life. Thursdays are said to be special Prarthana and parikara days at this temple.