Tirukulandhai Srinivasa Perumal Temple (Mayakoothar Perumal Temple),Thoothukudi- Nava Tirupati

Address

Tirukulandhai Srinivasa Perumal Temple (Mayakoothar Perumal Temple), Perungulam – 628 752, Tirukulandhai,Thoothukudi District Phone: +91 4630 256 476 Mobile: +91 94436 19222 / 99940 98664

Diety

Srinivasa Perumal, Mayakoothan Vishnu Amman: Alamelu Mangai Thaayar (Lakshmi)

Introduction

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple or Sri Mayakoothar Permual Temple is one of the Nava Tirupathi, nine Hindu temples dedicated to Vishnu located Perungulam along Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamil Nadu, India in the southern bank of Thamiraparani river. It is located 5 km from Alwar Thirunagari. All these 9 temples are classified as Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.The temple is referred to as Shani sthalam, a location for the planet deity, Shani (saturn). Constructed in the 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 one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Mayakoothar and his consort Lakshmi as Kulandhaivalli Thayar. Temple tank: Perungulam Planet: Saturn Specialized Day: Saturday

Puranic Significance

This temple history describes Vishnu’s power to perform miracles to serve his devotees. Once one asura abducted Vishnu devotee named Vedasaran’s wife Kumudhavalli. The asura performed magic tricks but was vanquished by Vishnu who danced on his head as Koothar. And he restored Kumudhavalli to her husband.As per another legend, a childless couple named Devasaran and Kumudavalli were residing at a forest named Thadakavanam near Tholavallimangalam. On account of their devotion to Vishnu, they got a gilr named Kamaladevi. Kamala was also a very ardent devotee and started doing penance. In spite of many convincing her against it, she was firm and wanted to attain Vishnu as her husband. Since a small girl performed penance at this place, the place came to be known as Palikavanam. From then, the place came to be known asThirukulanthai

Special Features

The temple has two prakarams (closed precincts of a temple). The temple has an image of Vishu facing east direction. Kulam refers to tank in Tamil language. The name of the village is derived from the same. The temple is located in Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamil Nadu, India in the banks of Thamiraparani river, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The temple is constructed in Dravidian style of architecture. All the shrines of the temple are located in a rectangular granite walls, pierced by a three-tiered gopuram. The presiding deity is sported in a sitting posture with Sridevi and Bhudevi on either of his sides. The images of Bhoodevi and Sridevi along with the festival images are located inside the sanctum. Since Garuda helped Vishnu in the war, he is always sported carrying both Vishnu and Lakshmi. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Festivals

The Garuda Sevai utsavam(festival) in the month of Vaikasi(May-Jun) witnesses 9 Garudasevai, a spectacular event in which festival image idols from the Nava Tirupathis shrines in the area are brought on Garuda vahana(sacred vehicle). An idol of Nammalvar is also brought here on an Anna Vahanam (palanquin) and his paasurams (verses) dedicated to each of these 9 temples are recited. The utsavar(festival deity) of Nammalvar is taken in a palanquin to each of the 9 temples, through the paddy fields in the area. The paasurams(poems) dedicated to each of the 9 Divyadesams are chanted in the respective shrines. This is the most important of the festivals in this area, and it draws thousands of visitors.