Did you know that the Srinivasa Perumal Temple, located at Perungulam, dedicated to Lord Vishnu known as Venkatavanan and Srinivasa, represents the Navagraha planet Shani (Saturn)?
The Srinivasa Perumal Temple, named Tirukulandhai, and also known as Sri Mayakoothar Temple at Perungulam town near Thutakudi in Tamil Nadu is one of the 108 Divya Deshams (Holy places of temples) reverred by the 12 Alvar saints of South India who composed 4,000 hymns or pasurmas and sang them in these temples as Mangalasashanams as part of the Bhakthi Movement that they initiated in the country during the period from 7th to 9th centuries; these 4,000 hymns in Tamil language are compiled in canonical Text called Nalayara Divya Prabhandam, most holy to the Sri Vaishnavites.This temple in particular, along with the other eight Nava Tirupathis also known as Navagraha temples (temples representing nine Zodiacal planets), is credited to the period of the Pandya Kingdom in Tamil Nadu (during the second period of their of imperial dominance, the 6th to 10th centuries CE) . The Vaishnavite saint Nammalvar, a great mystic of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. has sung 11 pasurmas in praise of this temple and the Lord of the temple, Lord Vishnu , who is popularly addressed here as Mayakoothar and his consort Lakshmi as Kulandhaivalli Thayar. The mian deity also represents Shani (Satirun), one of the Navagrahas (Nine zodical planets)
Historically, the temple is credited to the Pandya period of rule in Tamil Nadu from 6th to 7th centuries, which is also supported by the relgious history enriched by the Alvar saint Nammalvar rendering divine hymns in the same period of time. During the Madurai Nayak period (16th century), this temple was renovated. The mythology and literature of this temple with its well executed sculptures and paintings is recorded on the walls. Inscriptions on the walls also refer to the donations of land and cattle made to the temple, for the upkeep of the temple; even statues of the donors are carved on the pillars. The temple has been recently renovated, as was witnessed in grand Mahasamprokshanam (reconsecration or Kumbabhishekam) held on 25th August 2013. Brahmanda Purana one of the eighteen sacred texts of Hinduism and written by Veda Vyasa contains a chapter called Navathirupathi Mahatmeeyam. Vaikunta Mahatmeeyam is another work in Sanskrit that glorifies the temple and is a part of Tamraparani Sthalapurana available only in palm manuscripts.
The temple is steeped in many local legends, and in one of them, typical of such Sthala Puranas, is attributed to an Asura (power-seeking clans) called Asmacharan who reportedly abducted a Vishnu devotee named Kumudhavall, Vedasaran's wife; its is also said that the Asura who was lecherous came to this place from the Himalayas in search of women On special prayers rendered to Lord Vishnu by Vedasaran to rescue his wife, the Lord appeared at this place riding a Garuds (His mount eagle), vanquished the Asura by dancing on his head as Koothar; hence the Lord deified in the sanctum is known as Mayakoothar. Nammlavar also ) refers to the Lord Vishnu in his pasurmas or hymns as a wonderful dancer, riding on Garuda.
In another legend not associated with any Asura, Devasaran and Kumudavalli, a childless couple who lived in a forest known as Thadakavanam near Tholavallimangalam, prayed to Lord Vishnu to bless them with a child. Vishnu was pleased with their devotion and blessed them with a daughter who was named Kumudavalli or Kamaladevi. Kumuda right from her childhood to adolesence was a staunch devoteee of Vishnu and wished to marry the Lord himself. Vishnu appeared before her and to fulfill her desire, He placed her in his chest. The forest where she lived and prayed to Lord Vishnu is known as Balikavanam (young girl's forest) and the hamlet itself came to be known as Thiru Kulandhai (place of the sacred child).
The temple, located on the southern bank of Thamiraparani river, built in Dravidian architectural style of the Pandya Period and further renovated during the reign of Nayaka kings of Madurai, has the rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower, a three-tiered structure at the entrance. Entering through this tower, the temple complex has two prakarams (closed precincts of a temple) within which are the Dwaja stambam and Balipeetham. The interior of the temple complex also has long corridors with ornamental pillars and pillared mandapas (hall) for conducting various rituals and sculptures depicting the gods and goddesses in various forms. The typical Nayak feature of placing huge yalis and animals, and statues of donors in the pillars as an attachment can be seen in this temple too. The garba griha or sanctum sanctorum of the temple complex has an image of Lord Vishnu facing east direction, in a standing posture. Moolavar (Principal Deity) is known as Venkatavanan and Srinivasan. Lord's consorts worshipped here are Alarmelmanga Thayar, Kulandaivalli Thayar (also known as Kamala Valli). The procession deity of the Lord, also seen in the sanctum, is known as Mayakoothar or Mayakoothan in a sitting posture, flanked by Sridevi and Bhudevi. The main deity also exclusively represents Shani (Saturn), the most feared and reverred Navagraha planet. The tower above the sanctum sanctorum is known as Ananda Nilayama Vimana. Interestingly, corroborating the legend related to the Lord arriving here on his Mount Garuda to kill the Asura and rescue his devotee, Garuda is also deified in the sanctum itself.
The temple conducts six daily rituals following the Pancharathra aagama dictums of worship. Apart from the daily, weekly and monthly rituals, three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the ten-day annual Vaikanda Ekadasi during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December - January) and the Nammalvar birth celebrations with Garudasevai with all nine temple of Navatirupathi, being the most prominent.
This temple, located in Perungulam along Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route in Tamil Nadu, is 5 km away from Alwar Thirunagari, which is located 26 km from Tirunelveli and 615 km away from Chennai.
The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
- Narasipur Char
