Thiruppukuzhi Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram

Address

Thiruppukuzhi Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple, Thiruppukuzhi, Tamil Nadu 631551,Phone: 044 2724 6501

Diety

Vijayaraghavaswamy, Amman: Maragadhavalli

Introduction

Vijayaraghava Perumal temple is a Vishnu temple in Thiruputkuzhi, a village in Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated about 7 miles west of Kanchipuram and half a kilometre from Baluchetti Chattiram which lies on the Chennai – Vellore highway. Constructed in Dravidian 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 counted as one among the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu. Vishnu is worshiped as Vijayaraghava Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Maragathavalli Thayar. The temple is believed to be of significant antiquity and is believed to be initiated by the Pandyas, with later contributions at different times from Cholas and Thanjavur Nayaks. The temple has three inscriptions dating from the Chola period. The temple has a five-tiered rajagopuram (gateway tower) and enshrined within a granite wall. The complex contains all the shrines while the temple tank, is located to the west of the temple.

Puranic Significance

Legend dates back to Ramayana times, When Jatayu, the king of birds who fought fiercely with the demon Ravana to save Mother Sita from his abduction. Rama and Lakshmana who were in search of Sita met the Jatayu, who lost his wings in the battle and in final moments. Jatayu who informed whatever happened and prayed the Lord to grant His magnificent form ( Viswaroopam). Lord blessed Jatayu with his divine form and performed last rites here. Unable to bear the heat of the pyre, Sridevi moved to the left and Bhudevi moved to the right. To perform final rites, Rama shot an arrow on the Earth and created a spring, which is now called Jatayu Theertham. The main deity Vijayaraghava Perumal will be seen here in a sitting posture holding Jatayu on his thigh and facing East, to mark the importance of Jatayu’s devotion. Processional deity atop Jatayu Vahanam (Vehicle) will be taken out in a procession on Jatayu Vahanam during the annual festival. There is a separate shrine for Margathavalli Thayar within the temple complex.

Beliefs

Women used to take a holy dip in Jatayu Theertham and sleep here in this temple for a night with fried pulses tied at the tip of their saree. Next day morning, if there pulse germinated, then it is believed that their wish for children is granted. Childless couples used to perform this. Devotees offer Tharpanam to their ancestors on a new moon day here. It is believed that offering Tharpanam on new moon day will double the credit.

Special Features

The temple is believed to have been built by the Pandya kings during the 13th century, as seen from the stone inscriptions in the temple.The temple here is one among the 108 Divya Desams and is dedicated to Lord Vijayaraghavaswamy (Moolavar). There is a separate temple for Thayar in the form of Margathavalli Thayar and a sannidhi for Sri Ramanuja. The central shrine houses the image of the presiding deity, Vijayaraghava sported with four hands. He is seen in a posture holding the bird Jatayu and performing the last rites. Sridevi and Bhudevi are sported alongside with their head facing earth. It is believed that the image is sported to indicate sorrow on the faces. Sridevi who is usually sported on the right side of Perumal is located to his left in this temple probably because of the sorrow created by the death of Jatayu. Ramanuja, the preceptor of Visishtadvaita philosophy had his early education at this temple.

Festivals

The Brahmotsavam festival celebrated in the Tamil month of Masi (February – March), Theppotsavam (float fetival) in Thai (January – February) are the major festivals celebrated in the temple.