Thirukkavithalam Sri Gajendra Varadha Perumal Temple, Thanjavur

Address

Thirukkavithalam Sri Gajendra Varadha Perumal Temple, Mela Kapistalam Post, Kabisthalam, Papanasham Taluk, Thanjur District, Tamil Nadu 614203, Kumbakonam to Thiruvarur Route.

Diety

Gajendra Varadhar(Vishnu) Amman: Loganayaki(Lakshmi)

Introduction

Gajendra Varadha Perumal Temple in Thirukkavithalam, a village in the outskirts of Papanasam in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the god Maha Vishnu. Constructed in the South Indian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Gajendra Varadha and his consort Lakshmi as Ramamanivalli. The temple is one of the five Pancha-Kannan temples, where Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu is given prominence over the presiding deity. The temple is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas of the late 8th century AD, with later contributions from Vijayanagar kings and Madurai Nayaks. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and its bodies of water. Thala Virutcham : Magizhamboo Theertham : Gajendra Pushkarini, Kabila Theertham Agamam / Pooja : Vaikanasa Agama

Puranic Significance

King Indrajumnan was a staunch Vishnu devotee. He will ever be drowned in the thoughts of Lord Vishnu and would not do anything without prayer to the Lord. During his meditation none would call on him and he too would not grant audience to any. It so happened that during his puja time, Sage Durvasa known for his temperament came to see him but had to wait. As he could not meet the king for a long time, he entered his Kudil the meditating room and stood before him. The king was so deep in his prayers and did not recognize the presence of the sage before him. The angry sage shouted that the king would be born an elephant as he was proud of his Bhakti. The king woke up from his meditation and sought the pardon of the sage holding his feet. Durvasa took pity on him and said that even as an elephant he would still be a staunch Vishnu devotee and added that a crocodile would hold his leg while bathing in a tank and Perumal would rush to his rescue when he cried Aadhimoolame. The sage said that he would be relieved of the curse and attain salvation. A demon, Koohoo by name was residing in a tank and had the habit of pulling the legs of those coming for a bath and harassed them, which he did to Sage Agasthya too. The angry sage cursed him to become a crocodile. When begged for the relief, the sage told the demon that he would be relieved of the curse when he caught the legs of Gajendra. Lord Vishnu would rush there to rescue the elephant when His discuss would hit him and the curse would disappear. The curses of two sages met in Kabila theertham east of the temple. When Gajendra cried Aadhimoolame for relief from thegrip of the crocodile’s teeth, Lord rushed, cut the crocodile and protected Gajendra and granted salvation, thus goes the story

Beliefs

The devotees have only to call the loudly “Aadhimoolame”. All their grievances will be redressed and wishes granted.

Special Features

The temple is located in Kabisthalam, a village situated 3 km (1.9 mi) away from Papanasam and around 20 km (12 mi) away from Kumbakonam and Thanjavur, towns in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The village is located in between the two rivers Kaveri and Kollidam. The temple is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas of the late 8th century AD, with later contributions from Vijayanagar kings and Madurai Nayaks. A brick wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and bodies of water. The temple has a five-tier rajagopuram and a single precinct. The prime deity, Gajendra Varadhar is enshrined in the sanctum, in a reclining posture, called Bhujanga sayanam. The vimana (roof above the sanctum) is called Ganganakrutha Vimanam. There is a separate shrine for Ramanavalli, located to the right of the sanctum. There are separate shrines for Yoga Narasimhar, Sudarsana, Garuda and the Azhwars in the first sanctum. The main temple tank is Gajendra Pushkarani and there is another tank called Kapila Theertham, located inside the temple complex

Festivals

Aadi Poornima Gajendra Moksha Leela in July-August; Car festival on Vaikasi Viskam in May-June; Brahmmotsavam and all Lord Vishnu related festivals are celebrated in the temple