Vatapathrasayi- Sri Andal Temple-Srivilliputhur

Vatapathrasayi- Srivilliputhur Temple:

Last week we had a trip to our native Place. On the way we visited Srivilliputhur Temple.It was long time wish to visit this temple.The temple was so beautiful and divine.

Srivilliputhur Andal Temple is situated in Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu near Madurai.  It is one of the 108 Divyadesams dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who is worshipped as Vatapatrashaayi along with his consort Andal. Srivilliputhur known by other names such as Varaha Kshetram ,Shenbakaaranyam Thenpuduvai, Vadeswarapuram, Vadamahadamapuram,  Vikrama chola chaturvedhi mangalam, and Sridhanvipuri.

This is the birthplace of two of the Alvars, namely Periyazhwar and his daughter Andal

History

The history of Srivilliputhur centres around the Srivilliputhur Andal Temple, dedicated to Andal. It is argued that the temple of Vatapatrasayi is present from the 8th century, but there are epigraphic records are available only from the 10th century CE.The view that the Andal temple was built during the 14th century is highly debated

 

As per legend, sages Bhrigu and Markandeya were doing penance in a dense forest named Champaka/Shenbaga. A demon named Kalanemi was harassing the sages. They prayed to Lord Vishnu to help them. Pleased with their devotion, the Lord came down to earth and slayed the demon. The Lord then took abode in the forest in a reclining position on a banyan leaf. He came to be known as Vatapatrashaayi (vata – banyan, patra – leaf and shaayi – reclining position).

 

As per another legend, the land around Srivilliputhur was under the rule of Queen Malli who had two sons one of whom was Villi. One day, the Lord came in Villi’s dream and ordered him to found a city. Villi did so and the city became known by his name, Sri-villi-puthur. He then built a temple by installing the statue of Lord Vatapatrashaayi in it.

The temple has inscriptions from Chola, Pandya and Nayak rulers, spanning across various centuries from the 10th to 16th centuries. As per some accounts, the original structure was constructed by Tribuvana Chakravarthy Konerinmai Kondan Kulasekaran and the Andal temple by Barathi Rayar.

During the reign of Thirumalai Nayak (1623–1659) and Rani Mangammal  (1689–1706), this city became very popular. Thirumalai Nayak renovated all the temples of this city.

 

He installed choultaries, temple tanks, paintings and golden towers inside the temple. The sculptures in the hall leading to the shrine of Andal were also built by him.[5]

From 1751 to 1756 CE, Srivilliputhur came under the rule of Nerkattumseval  palayakkarar Puli thevar and was a maravarpalayam. Later the Fort of Srivilliputtur was ruled by Periyasami Thevar.

Then it fell into the hands of Mohammed Yousoof Khan. Until 1850, Sri Andal temple was under the care of the king of Trivancore.

The British ruled the country till India attained freedom in 1947. The temple’s gateway tower, 192 ft (59 m) tall and it is believed that this is the official symbol of the Government of Tamil Nadu (Sri Vatapatrasayi Temple Tower).

Sthala puranam

Mukunda Pattar and Padmavalli were a couple in Srivilliputhur, devoted to Lord Vishnu in the form of Vatapatrasayi (vata=banyan, patra=leaf, sayi=lying down). Their fifth child – Vishnuchittan – was also a devotee of the Lord, and used to prepare garlands for worship of the Lord at the temple. Once, Vishnuchittan won a contest and received a gold box by the grace of Lord Vishnu, who appeared on Garudan. The townfolk were astonished, and so Vishnuchittan sang a Pallandu which pleased Lord Vishnu. The Lord blessed him, and after this, Vishnuchittan became Periyazhvar.

One day when Periazhvar was gathering flowers in the garden, he found a girl child and took her home, as he and his wife were childless, and named her Kothai, who later came to be known by the local people as Andal. Kothai constantly dreamed of the Lord, and her only wish was to be married to Ranganatha Perumal. She even used to wear the garland prepared for the Lord, and ensure it was fit to offer to the Lord. On one occasion, Periazhvar found a human hair in the garland prepared for the Lord, and knowing it was Kothai’s started preparing another for the Lord. That night, Lord Vishnu appeared in his dream and insisted he would only accept the garland tried out by Kothai!

Kothai, now Andal, sang many pasurams on Perumal, and the day finally came when Lord Vishnu decided to get married to her and told Periazhvar to bring her to Srirangam. When he took Andal to Srirangam, she disappeared in the Kaveri river, as the Lord had taken her to be with him. Periazhvar requested the Lord to come to Srivilliputhur and get married to Andal, again. Accordingly, Ranganathar visited Srivilliputhur as Rangamannar (since he came dressed as a King) and married Andal.

Temple Structure

The Rajagopuram, the temple’s gateway tower has 11-tiers rising to a height of 194 ft. The tower was built by Periyazhwar with the prize money he obtained from winning a religious debate in the court of a Pandiya king. This awe-inspiring tower is the chosen emblem of Tamil Nadu. The temple has two sections – Andal temple located in the Southwest section and the Vatapatrashaayi temple in the Northeast section. The Andal shrine houses the image of Andal and Rangamannar. Garuda, who brought Lord Ranganatha the divine bridegroom, from Srirangam is also present in the same shrine. The second hall from the entrance towards the sanctum, houses sculptures of Mohini, Rama, Kamadeva, Ratidevi and many other deities.

 

The Vatapatrasayee Temple, is  about 2000 years old and said to have existed long  before the great Tamil Vaishnava scholar  Periyazhwar's time. Unlike other temples, it a "Maadakkovil" and one has to climb a few steps to worship Lord Vatapatrasayee while the shrine of  Sri Lakshmi Narasimha is on the ground floor.

 

The Vatapatrashaayi temple premise houses Lord Vatapatrashaayi in a reclining posture and his consorts Lakshmi (Sridevi) and Bhudevi. Sage Bhrigu stands near his head and sage Markandeya is near his feet. The banyan tree on whose leaf the Lord reclines is present behind Bhrigu. The hall leading to the sanctum has detailed teak wood carvings depicting Puranic events and Dashavataras. Near the dwajasthambam and bali peetam, there are shrines for Nammazhwar and Ramanujar on the left and Periyazhwar on the right. There is a shrine of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha facing the dwajasthamba.

 

The Lord’s image is a large and very colourful stucco image (made of brick and mortar), hence daily Thirumanjanam (sacred bath ) is not performed. Lord Vadabadrasayee was the Lord whom Periyalwar and Andal worshipped with such fervour. Images of Panchamurtis – Thumburu, Narada, Sanathkumara, Kinnara, Sun, Mithuna and Moon are present around the deity as well as representations of Villi and Puttan are seen at his feet.

Tiruppora Mandapam:

Tiruppora Mandapam is situated in the Nandavanam between Andal Shrine and Vadabadrasayee Shrine. It was here that Andal was found as a small child beneath Tulsi plant by Periyalwar. It is also believed that this mandapam was built by Periyalwar and the idol installed after his return from Srirangam where he handed over Andal in marriage to Ranga Mannar. . Inside the Nandavanam there is an idol of child Andal. By her side is the thulasi mantapam. The entire verses of divine Thiruppavai can been seen inscribed on marble in the Nandavanam.

 Andal Shrine:

Andal Temple is situated on the southwest side of the Temple Complex. 20 Pandha Mandapam is found in the entrance of Andal temple. Kalyana Mandapam is situated on the left side after Pandha Mandapam. There are shrines for Sri Rama and Srinivasa Perumal immediately after the Kalyana Mandapam. Dhwaja Sthambam can be found next. There is Mandapam called, Madhavi Mandapam after the Dhwaja Sthambam. This Mandapam houses lot of beautiful paintings depicting Lord Vishnu.

 

Next to it is the Mani Mandapam and then the Artha Mandapam and then the sanctum follows. The Sanctum houses the image of Andal and Ranga Mannar. In Srirangam, Lord Ranganathar holds a conch and discus in his hands, In Srivilliputhur,  he holds a Dhandam-royal staff held by kings and is called as Ranga Mannar. A green parrot rest on Andal’s shoulder. This parrot is special in that it is freshly made by hand everyday using leaves and herbs.

Nandavanam:

The flower gardens (Nandavanam) in between these two areas are said to have been maintained by Periyalwar.

Andal Idol:

There is no separate shrine for Andal in the Temple premises. A separate Statue is kept for Sri Andal in the Nandavanam, where she was born, which is found on the North East direction .

Periyalwar Shrine:

Periyalwar Shrine is found on the North side of the temple and he is faced towards the south direction.

Festivals

Aadi Pooram, Adhyayana Utsavam, Vasantha Utsavam, Peria Perumal Bramhotsavam, Theppostavam and Andal Mannar Thirukalyanam are the important festivals celebrated in Srivilliputhur temple. Aadipooram festival, the birthday of Andal, celebrated during the Tamil month of Aadi (July – August), is the most prominent. During the festival, the presiding deities Sri Rangamannar and Goddess Andal are taken in decorated palanquins to the temple chariot. The festival marks the adoption of Andal, by Periyazhwar after he found her near the temple nandavanam.

The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Ushathkalam at 7 a.m.,  Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m.,  Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m.

Famous For:

    Tulasi Garland

    Sthana Powder (Turmeric Powder Made of natural herbs)

    Palkova (Sweet Delicacy made of Milk)

How to Reach Srivilliputhur Temple?

By Air:

Madurai Airport is the nearest airport which is 70 km away

By Train:

Srivilliputhur Railway Station is the nearest Railway Station which is 2 km away

By Road:

Sriviliputhur Is Well Connected With Other Major Cities

Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple-Jayankondam

After visiting Pichavaram lake. we straightly went to Gangaikonda Cholapuram Templeby 3.30 pm and waited in the garden.While watch the surroundings,

The towering 180 feet tall Vimana seem to touch the sky announcing its existence in this otherwise dead capital. A majestic Nandi obstruct our gaze. A few gardeners are tending to the lawn while we soak in the ambience. Various forms of Shiva captured in different moods stand out in the artistic mosaic. A giant lion shaped sculpture called Simhakinar in the form of the Chola emblem stares at you.

Rajendra Chola Gangaikonda Cholapuram

Rajendra I, according to Tamil tradition, thereafter assumed the name of Gangaikonda Cholan, meaning the one who conquered the Ganges. He established Gangaikonda Cholapuram as his capital from the medieval Chola capital of Thanjavur, which would go on to become the capital for the next 250 years.

 

Ariyalur is best known for the Gangaikondacholisvarar temple in Gangaikondacholapuram, the biggest temple constructed during the reign of Rajendra–I in Ariyalur region. Following the conquest of the Gangetic plains in A.D. 1023 Rajendra–I built a great city called Gangaikondacholapauram and a Siva temple Gangaikondacholisvarar and a lake Chola Gangam in commemoration of his victory. The place, the temple and the lake (Chola Gangam) are the living embodiments of the heroism of the Tamils who unfurled the Chola‘s Tiger flag on the banks of the River Ganges. He also shifted his capital from Thanjavur to this newly built town. From his period to the end of the Chola family rule in A.D.1279 this city was the capital for the Chola Empire for a period of 256 years. The gigantic stone temple which he built in this place is rich repository of beautiful sculptures of middle Chola period. This city is celebrated in the literature of Muvar ula of Ottakuttar and Kalingattuparani of Jayankondar.

 

This temple is a living history of the Cholas in stone from the period of Rajendra-I and a beautiful gallery of Chola art and architecture. Many sculptures brought from Andhra, Karnataka and Bengal as war trophies are also preserved in the temple and in the nearby villages. Chandesura Anugraha Murthy and Sarasvathy are the most beautiful sculptures of the temple.

At present it is under the control of ASI and the HR&CE and recently the UNESCO declared the temple as one of the world heritage monument.

 

Ancient stone sculpture in the Shiva Temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu,India.The temple is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites.

Experts say this sculpture shows Rajendra Chola being crowned by Lord Shiva, instead of his father Raja Raja Cholan.

Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple is located at Ariyalur District in Tamil Nadu. The shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The main sanctum sanctorum at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple consists of huge Shivling. The height of the Shivling is thirteen feet (3.90 meters). It is believed to be the biggest in all the Shiva temples in South India. Shiva is worshipped here as Gangaikondacholishwara.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and he is worshipped here in the form of a lingam which is 18 feet wide and 13 feet tall. It is considered to be one of the largest lingams constructed in the country. The idol of the ‘Nandi’ is placed in such a way here that it reflects light into the sanctum. Interestingly, the flooring of the sanctum is made up of ‘Chandrakanta’ stone slabs which remain cool during the summer and warm during the winter months.

 

The temple itself is built along grand lines and rests on a raised platform. It has a courtyard that is 341 feet in height and 100 feet in width. The Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple has a concave outline divided into eight zones; this was deliberately done to make it appear smaller than the original temple in Thanjavur. The temple is also famous for its bronze sculptures, ancient inscriptions and paintings.

Elegant Vimana at Gangaikonda Cholapuram

The vimana of the Brihadeeswarar temple at Gangaikondacholapuram rises to a height of 182 feet (55 m) and is shorter than the Thanjavur tower but has a larger plinth. It is often described as the feminine counterpart of the Thanjavur temple.

 

Along with the Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram, the above-mentioned three temples form part of the Great Living Chola Temples that are part of the World Heritage Sites under UNESCO. All three temples share the same grandeur and marvellous architectural styles practised during the Chola dynastic rule. The Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple is located near the Kollidam River and within the fertile Cauvery River delta.

However, the form of this temple is different from that of the Big Temple at Thanjavur.

 

The main tower here at Gangaikondacholapuram is square at the bottom, octagonal in the middle, and circular at the top, thus simulating the form of the Shiva lingam.

The main deity of Gangaikondacholapuram is Brihadeeswarar in the form of a Shiva Lingam of 13.5 m tall. In local dialect and Tamizh, the deity of Lord Shiva is referred to as ‘Bragadeeswarar’ or ‘Brihadeeswarar’ meaning great Lord or Lord of the World. His consort is known as Periya Nayaki.

 

It is said that there is a rare gemstone of Chandrakantha/Moonstone that has been installed beneath the Shiva lingam at Gangaikondacholapuram temple. The Sanskrit name for moonstone is Chandrakantha mani (Chandra is one of the names for the moon, Kantha means light, and Mani means jewel).

What is Moonstone?

In India, from time immemorial, moonstone or the Chandrakanta mani has been regarded as sacred.It’s said that Chandrakantha mani grows under the influence of the moon and absorbs its magical powers.  Indian tradition holds, that the stone itself symbolizes the third eye of Shiva.

The gem supposedly keeps the place cool in summers and warm in winters. And indeed, the interiors of the Gangai Konda Cholapuram temple were very cool when compared to the outside. This compels one to believe the moonstone theory!

Another interesting lore is of Chandrakantha mani being representative of feminine energy and Shiva lingam at Gangaikondacholapuram temple is supposed to be feminine in nature. I guess that explains the feminine hints in the architecture too. The Sanctum Sanctorum that always remains cool

Steps from the Northern Side

 

A specialty of both the Brihadeeswara temples (Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram) is the dwarapalaka sculptures. On keen observation, you can find a giant snake syphoning a whole elephant alive, while the snake itself is being caught and controlled by the dwarapalaka’s foot.

 

 at his supposedly portrays the importance of the gatekeepers and the influence they wielded through their huge built, and how they could have gone to any extent to protect the Lord who resides inside the temple.

A whole city was believed to have been built around the temple, but as of today, all that remains standing is the temple itself surrounded by ruins of the two-century-old city. There is evidence of there once having been ‘Gopurams’ or gateways into the temple, but all that remains now are the two images of ‘Dwarapala’ or guardians. After Pattadakal, this is believed to be the second World Heritage Site that is so abandoned amidst ruins, with not even basic food facilities in sight.

 

His empire included the whole of southern India to the river Thungabathra in the north. For administrative and strategic purposes he built another capital and named it Gangaikondacholapuram. 

 

The Gangaikondacholapuram temple he constructed consists of 3 stories and was surrounded by a huge fort-like wall, the outer wall largely destroyed during the English rule (1896) to reuse the building material (granite rocks) for constructing the Lower Anicut the dam built across river Kollidam. He built around 10 temples at various places.

 

 

 

Simhakeni(Lion-well) in Gangaikondacholapuram temple

Besides the regular shrines and sub shrines in this temple, there is an entrance inviting us with a lion head, upon entering, you go down the stairs, ending up in a pond, which was the swimming pool of the then Queen and Princess. But for those who look from the lion’s mouth, the pond is invisible. It also has a lion well where waters from the Ganga was poured.This excellent structure is called as Simhakeni(Lion-well). At present it was locked.

That aside, the temple is still a functional one with rituals being conducted four times a day.  You can visit this mystical temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram as its well connected by highways, railways with the nearest airport being in Trichy.

However, unlike other great Chola capital of Thanjavur the grandeur of Gangaikondacholapuram did not survive for long. The city was destroyed by the Pandyas in the early 13th century to avenge the earlier Chola invasions. The last Chola king Rajendra Chola III died fighting the Pandyas in 1279 CE and the Chola kingdom was finally extinguished. It later passed on to the Vijayanagara empire, Nawabs of Arcot and then the British.

I was actually trudging the paths in the great Chola Empire on which my ancestors once dwelled and worked, was indeed a goose-bump moment!