Tirukoyilur Sri Thiruvikramaswamy (Ulagalantha Perumal) Temple- Villupuram

Address

Tirukoyilur Sri Thiruvikramaswamy (Ulagalantha Perumal) Temple, Tirukovilur Thirukoilure, Tamil Nadu 605757

Diety

Trivikrama perumal, Amman: Pushapavalli

Introduction

Ulagalantha Perumal Temple or Trivikrama Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu located in Tirukkoyilur, Tamil Nadu, India. 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 Ulagalantha Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Poongothai. The temple is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas, with later contributions from Vijayanagar kings and Madurai Nayaks. The temple covers an area of 5 acres (20,000 m2) and has a temple tower that is the third tallest in Tamil Nadu, measuring 192 ft (59 m) in height.

Puranic Significance

The Bhagavata Purana describes that Vishnu descended as the Vamana avatar to restore the authority of Indra over the heavens, as it had been taken by Mahabali, a benevolent Asura King. Bali was the grandson of Prahlada. King Mahabali was generous, and engaged in severe austerities and penance and won the praise of the world. With the praise from his courtiers and others, he regarded himself as the all powerful in the world. Vamana, in the guise of a short Brahmin carrying a wooden umbrella, went to the king to request three paces of land. Mahabali consented, against the warning of his guru, Sukracharya. Vamana then revealed his identity and enlarged to gigantic proportions to stride over the three worlds. He stepped from heaven to earth with the first step, from earth to the netherworld with the second. King Mahabali, unable to fulfill his promise, offered his head for the third. Vamana then placed His Foot and gave the king immortality for his humility. In worshiping Mahabali and his ancestor Prahláda, he conceded sovereignty of Pátála, the netherworld. Some texts also report that Vamana did not step into the netherworld, and instead gave its rule to Bali. In giant form, Vamana is known as Trivikrama. The legend is associated with Thrikkakara Temple in Kerala, but also with this temple and Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram As per another legend, the temple is believed to have originally been a Krishna temple. The temple name, Kovilur, refers to the original deity Gopalan, indicating Krishna. As per Brahmanda Purana sage Mrikandu heard about Vamana avatar of Vishnu and wanted to have a view of it. Brahma directed him to visit the place and perform penance. The sage came to the place along with his wife Mithravathi to start the penance. The pair used to feed Brahmanas in their hermitage. To test their devotion, Vishnu appeared as a Brahmana and sought food from the pair. Since all food for the day were already given, Mithravathi was worried and prayed to Vishnu. All the vessels were full with food and she was able to feed the Brahman. Pleased by their devotion, Vishnu reappeared as Vamana – Thrivikrama form.

Special Features

As per Hindu legend, Vamana, a dwarf and an avatar of Vishnu, appeared here to quell the pride of Asura king Bali. The temple is believed to be the place where the first three Azhwars, the Vaishnava Saints, namely, Poigai Alvar, Bhoothathalvar and Peyalvar attained salvation. The temple is one of the Panchakanna (Krishnaranya) Kshetrams, the five holy temples associated with Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu. The temple has an eleven-tiered rajagopuram with a height of 192 ft (59 m), the third tallest temple tower in Tamil Nadu, after the one in Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple and Thiruvannamalai Annamalaiyar Temple. The temple covers an area of 5 acres (20,000 m2) and houses residential buildings in the precincts around the temple tower. The presiding deity, Ulagalantha Perumal, has an imposing image made of Tharu wood with foot raised. The images of Azhwars are housed in the hall preceding the sanctum. The temple has two gopurams (gateway towers), with the one at the main entrance being the tallest of the two. The image of Vamana is located behind the sanctum. There are separate shrines for Laskhmi Narayana, Lakshmi Narasimha, Varadaraja, Rama, Andal, Chakrathazwar, Vishvaksena, Manavala Mamuni and Ramanuja around the sanctum. The sanctum houses the wooden image of Ulagalantha Perumal. Unlike other Vishnu temples, Perumal is sported with Sankha in his right hand and Chakra on his left. The sanctum also housed the images of Mahalakshmi, Prahalad and Mahabali to the right of presiding deity and the images of Sukracharya, sage Mrikandu and the three mudhal Azhwars (Pey, Bhoothath and Poigai Azhwar) to his left. The festival deities, the metal images of Koovalan and Poongodhai Thayar are housed in the sanctum. Durga, otherwise housed only in Shiva temples, is a rare feature of the temple. The image of Krishna is made of saligrama stone and is housed in a separate shrine. There are separate shrines in the first precinct for Venugopala, Lakshmi Narayana, Lakshmi Raghava, Lakshmi Narasimha, Rama, Veera Anjaneya, Andal and Shukracharya, the Guru of Asuras.Vishnudurga is housed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, which is one of the unique features of the temple. There are sixteen temple tanks associated with the temple, with Chakra Theertham located outside the temple being the most prominent. Chakra Theertha is believed to have been from the waters used by Brahma to wash the feet of Vamana. It is believed that the water is source of river Pennar, which flows nearby the temple. Chank Theertha, located in the east, Akasha Ganga, Varava Theertha and Kalava Theertha are the various other temple tanks in the temple.

Festivals

Various festivals are celebrated in the temple, with the 15-day Panguni Brahmmotsavam in March–April with Sri Pushpavalli Thayar Oonjal, being the most prominent one.