Tirusirupuli Sri Arulmakadal (Sthalasayana) Perumal Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Tirusirupuli Sri Arulmakadal (Sthalasayana) Perumal Temple, Thiruvarur district

Diety

Sthalasayana Perumal (Vishnu) Amman: Thirumaamagal Naachiyar (Lakshmi)

Introduction

Sthalasayana Perumal Temple (also called Arulmaakadal Perumal Temple) is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu located near Kollumangudi, Tamil Nadu, India.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 Sthalasayana Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Thirumagal Nachiyar. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all the shrines. There is a four-tiered rajagopuram, the temple’s gateway tower, in the temple. Sthalasayana Perumal is believed to have appeared to sage Vyaghrapada. Three daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Brahmotsavam festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May–June), being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Thala Virutcham : Vilwa Theertham : Tiruvananda theertham, Manasa theertham Agamam / Pooja : Pancharatra

Puranic Significance

There once existed a bitter enmity between Garuda and Adisesha. The latter came to this place and worshipped Lord to end the enmity between them. Lord granted darshan to the divine serpent on Masi full moon fortnight Ekadasi and took him as His bed –Anantha Sayanam

Beliefs

Majority of the devotees seek child boon from Lord Perumal. Women concerned about the longevity of their husbands and their Mangalya stability pray here. Devotees facing various adverse aspects of the planets and those facing prolonged illness, mental problems are advised to pray to Perumal for relief. It is the staunch belief of the devotees that their prayers would bring them the relief they wish

Special Features

Of the 108 Divya Desa Tirupathis of Lord Perumal, only Sri Rangam and the Tiruchirupuliyur being the 11th in the line temple are facing south. Perumal graces in a full long form in Sri Rangam. He appears as a little boy reclining in this temple. Sages Vyakrapada and Patanjali, devotees of Lord Nataraja are in the very sanctum sanctorum with Perumal here. It is said that sage Vyakrapada prayed to Lord Nataraja (Shiva) for years seeking salvation. He was advised by Lord Shiva to go to this place and pray to Perumal to realize his wish. Lord Perumal granted salvation to the sage with a place in His sanctum itself. It is noteworthy that Shiva devotee Sage Patanjali (Adisesah) and Vyakrapada are with Perumal in the sanctum. Sage Kanva also had darshan of Lord in this place. There is a separate temple for Adisesha also here. As sage Vyakarapada-Pulikkal Munivar in Tamil-worshipped here and as Perumal granted darshan as a Balaka-little boy, the place is named Tiruchirupuliyur.

Festivals

Brahmotsavam festival – May or June,Masi Shukla – February or March Margazhi Vaikunda Ekadasi – December or January Rama Navami – March or April,Krishna Jayanthi – August or September