Tiruchengunnur Sri Imayavarappan Temple, Kerala

Address

Tiruchengunnur Sri Imayavarappan Temple, Tiruchengunnur, Chengannur , Alappuzha District. Kerala State Pincode is 689106

Diety

Imayavarappa Perumal Amman: Shenbaga Valli

Introduction

The town where the temple is situated is Chengundrur. The river flowing near the temple is Chittraru. Name of the Lord is Imayavar Appan. It is noteworthy that Nammazhwar has used all these three words in his Mangalasasanam hymn. Theertham : Sanga Theertham, Chittraru

Puranic Significance

It was an embarrassing situation for Dharma the eldest of Pandava brothers in the Kurukshetra battle field. Unless Dronacharya the Guru of Dharma was killed, Pandavas cannot win. Drona was very fond of his son Aswathama and he could not bear his loss in the battle field. It was decided to make Drona believe that Aswathama was killed in the field. Dharma had to do this job. He knows it was sin to speak a lie of this kind. But there was no option left if he has to win the war. He told Drona that an elephant also named Aswathama was killed but toned down his voice while telling the word elephant and raised the voice while telling the name of Aswathama. Drona could not bear the news and stopped fighting. He was instantly killed by Dhrushtadyumna against the Yuddha Darma. Yet, Darma could not excuse himself for the deed. After war ended, he came to this place, performed penance for peace and cleansing. It is said that Darma renovated this temple. Even before Darma’s coming to this place, Imayavars (Devas) came to this place and performed penance on Lord Vishnu. Lord granted them Darshan and was celebrated as Imayavar Appan – Lord of Devas.

Beliefs

It is strongly believed that Lord pardons wrong doers if they honestly and sincerely seek Lord’s grace. Devotees perform Tirumanjanam to Lord and Mother

Special Features

This is the 72nd Divya Desam out of the 108 Divya Desams which received the Mangalasasana of Perumal. Itala Perumal has given a darshan to Shiva. The plane of the source is called the Jagajothi plane. It is very beautiful to see the lights lined up around the temple and lined up.