Malayadipatti Kanniraintha Perumal Temple, Pudukottai

Address

Malayadipatti Kanniraintha Perumal Temple, Pudukottai

Malayadipatti, Kulathur Taluk,

Pudukottai District, Tamil Nadu 622 502

Mobile: +91 99407 49234

Moolavar

Kanniraintha Perumal

Amman

Kamalavalli Nachiyar

Introduction

Kanniraintha Perumal Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Malayadipatti Village in Kulathur Taluk in Pudukottai District of Tamil Nadu, India. Presiding deity is called as Kanniraintha Perumal / Pallikonda Ranganathar / Anandha Padmanaba / Thiru Vaazha Vantha Perumal and Mother is called as Kamalavalli Nachiyar. This cave temple is excavated on the northern façade of the hill and situated closer to the western end of the hill. This temple is locally known as Olipathi Vishnu Griham. Malayadipatti has two temples namely Vahisvaramudayar Temple and Kanniraintha Perumal Temple, situated on the hillock called as Thiru Valattur Malai on the southern side of the village. The temple is situated on Keeranur to Killukkottai route.

Puranic Significance

This cave temple is considered a later period construction than the adjacent Vahisvaramudayar Temple. There is no foundation inscription in this temple to ascertain the exact period construction of this temple. This cave temple contains ten inscriptions dating back to Cholas, Pandyas and Nayaga Kings. The temple was called as Olipathi Vishnu Griham of Tiruvalathur hill in the Chola period inscriptions and Kanniraintha Perumal of Tiruvayamalai in Nayaga era inscriptions. An inscription dated to the Subhagiri year, Aippasi 10th, found on the sidewall of the Kamalavalli Nachiyar shrine records the construction of the goddess shrine by one Araiyan, named Manganthenkondan son of Sellapokkan of Thenmavur.

Sage Diwakara got back his lost powers here: As per legend, Sage Diwakara tried to disrupt the yagna of King Indradyumna. He was cursed to lose his powers for his arrogant behaviour. It is said that he came to this place and performed penance to get back his lost powers. Pleased with his penance, Lord Vishnu appeared before him in Anandha Sayana posture and restored backs his lost powers and knowledge.

Kan Oli Vazhangum Perumal: As Lord Vishnu provides relief to those suffering from impaired vision, He is praised as Kan Oli Vazhangum Perumal (Kan means eye, Oli means vision, Vazhangum means giver).

Beliefs

Those suffering from impaired vision pray to Lord Vishnu for relief. Devotees light ghee lamps and offer Tulsi garlands to Perumal on Saturdays.

Special Features

This cave temple is excavated on the northern façade of the hill and situated closer to the western end of the hill. The temple complex is enclosed within a granite compound wall with a north facing entrance without any superstructure over it. There is a niche enshrining an image of Valampuri Vinayaga on the exterior of the compound wall to the left of the entrance. Deepa Sthamba, Balipeedam and Garuda can be seen immediately after the entrance in front of the cave. There is a sculpture of goddess to the north of deepa sthamba facing towards the entrance.

The temple consists of sanctum, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The two pillar and two pilasters forms three aisles of the ardha mandapa. It is unique to note that the entrances of the ardha mandapa are marked with lintel and door jambs for a cave temple. The pillars and pilasters are supported on lion / vyala figures at the base. These lion / vyala figures are shown seated with their one limb raised up. The roof of the ardha mandapa is painted with the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The paintings are in bad shape.

The niches formed in the recess of the remaining portion on either side enshrine the dvarapalas. The dvarapalas are two armed. One hand rests on their waist and another holds lotus. Both the figures are almost identical in ornamentation and posture. A hooded snake is shown over their shoulders. The western dvarapala has shankha (conch) crest in his headdress while the eastern dvarapala has a chakra (discus) crest, suggesting that these dvarapalas represent the respective ayudha purushas. The eastern lateral wall of the ardha mandapa has bas relief image of Lord Vishnu with his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodev.

All the three images stands over a pedestal cut out of mother rock. Lord Vishnu is four armed. His upper hands hold shanka & chakra and the lower right hand shows abhaya hastha & lower left-hand rests on the hip. The flying figures of Surya and Chandra can be seen near the head of the Lord Vishnu on either side. The western lateral wall of the mandapa has an image of Lord Vishnu with his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi. It is not a bas relief image, but separate sculptures placed on the wall.

The western wall appears to be devoid of a bas-relief, however it carries an image of seated Vishnu with Bhu-devi and Sri-devi, executed in separate stone. All the three images are showed in seated posture. Lord Vishnu is shown seated in sukhasana with his hanging right leg placed on the padma pedestal. He is four armed. His upper hand holds shanga and chakra. His lower right hand shows abhaya hastha and lower left-hand rests on his thigh. Both his consorts are seated in utkutikasana with their stretched leg rested on padma pedestal. Their inner hand holds a flower bud, whereas their outer hand rest on the seat.

The sanctum is excavated in the center of the southern wall and the remaining spaces have niches enshrining Hayagriva on the east and Narasimha on the west. Paintings can be seen adjacent to these niches. The Narasimha is shown seated in utkutikasana on a pedestal with his left leg resting on the niche floor. He is four armed. His upper hands hold shanga & chakra and the lower left-hand rests on thigh & lower right hand is stretched above the right knee. A painting of a lady can be seen next to Narasimha

The Hayagriva is shown seated in sukhasana on a platform. He is four armed. His upper hand holds shanga and chakra. His lower right hand shows abhaya hastha and lower left-hand rests on his thigh. A painting of Hanuman can be seen next to the Hayagriva. The sanctum is excavated in the center of the southern wall. The sanctum is supported by two pillars and two pilasters in the front. The sanctum enshrines the presiding deity Kanniraintha Perumal / Pallikonda Ranganathar / Anandha Padmanaba / Thiru Vaazha Vantha Perumal

The image is 15-foot sculpture carved on the rear wall of the sanctum. The sculpture covers almost the entire rear wall of the sanctum. He is facing upwards, reclines over the coils under the canopy of hood of the serpent Adisesha. This posture is similar to the posture in Thiruvananthapuram Divyadesam. Adisesha is depicted with five heads in his hood and three coils forming the bed for Lord Vishnu. He is shown with two hands with the left hand raised up in kataka mudra and right hand is stretched over the coil of Adisesha

His legs are stretched out of the coil bed and supported on a lotus. He is wearing kirita makuta and many ornaments. Below the coils of Adisesha, Sage Markandeya can be seen near his head and goddess Bhoodevi can be seen near his feet. Lord Brahma is depicted emerging from the navel of Lord Vishnu. He is shown seated on the lotus. Narada with his lute and Tumburu with his Vina can be seen on the right side of the Brahma.

Daksha with goat head and five ayudha purushas (anthropomorphic depiction of divine weapons of Lord Vishnu) can be seen on the left side of Lord Brahma. Demons Madhu and Kaitaba are shown near the feet of Lord Vishnu. Chandra can be seen above the Madhu and Kaitaba. Garuda and Surya and two other figures in anjali mudra can be seen on the eastern later wall. There is a later period sculpture of Lakshminarayana in the centre of the sanctum.

He is four armed. He holds shanka and chakra in his upper hands. His lower right hand shows abhaya mudra and the lower left hand holds the goddess Lakshmi seated on his lap. He is shown seated in sukhasana on a platform. The goddess Lakshmi holds flower in the left hand and hugs the Lord with her right hand. The sculptures in the sanctum and ardha mandapam are covered with stucco decoration and paintings. There is a mandapa on the north east corner of the temple complex.

The rear part of the mandapa is Madapalli and the front part of mandapa enshrines sculptures of Thirumangai Azhwar, Udaiyavar, unidentified acharya and Vishwakasena. The shrine of goddess Kamalavalli Nachiyar is situated on the North West corner of the temple complex. Her shrine is facing towards east. This shrine consists of sanctum and mukha mandapam. The sanctum enshrines the imageof Kamalavalli Nachiyar. She is four armed and seated in ardha padmasana. The upper hands hold lotus flowers and lower hands show abhaya and varada hastha.

Festivals

Aadi Pooram (Jul-Aug), Purattasi Navaratri (Sep-Oct), Thiru Karthikai (Nov-Dec), Vaikunda Ekadasi & Thiruvadhirai (Dec-Jan), Masi Magam Theerthavari & Maha Shivaratri (Feb-Mar) and monthly Pradoshams are celebrated in the temple. Special pujas are conducted to Lord Vishnu on Thiruvonam star days.

Poojas are held four times daily at this temple. The timings are; · Kalasanthi (07.00 AM) · Uchikalam (12.00 Noon) · Sayaratchai (06.00 PM) · Arthajamam (08.30 PM).

References

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2015/12/vishnu-cave-temple-malayadippatti.html