Tuesday, November 6, 2007

ThiruPutkuzhi Vijaya Raghava Perumal

Two Divya Desams having the same story - Does the Jataayu Moksham story relate to Pulla Bhoothangkudi or Thiru PutKuzhi?
Lord Vijaya Raaghavan on Horse Vaahanam is a special feature

Located 12kms west of Kanchipuram on the Madras -Bangalore Highway, near Balu Chetty Chattiram (about 80kms from Madras), the Vijaya Raaghava Perumal temple at ThiruPutkuzhi relates to the episode of Jataayu Moksham in the Raamaayana.

The Story - Jataayu Moksham??
Eagle King Jataayu, a friend of King Dasharatha, had fought a valiant battle trying to rescue Sita from the Lankan king Ravana. Finally, the bird’s wings were cut off and Jataayu is said to have found Moksham here.

Legend has it that Raama, who had not been able to perform the last rites for his father as he was away in the forest at that time, derived some consolation by performing his obsequies and giving moksham to the Bird. In the Raamayana, this episode is referred to as the death of the 2nd father.

There is a separate sannidhi for Jataayu opposite the temple tank. On all festive occasions, Lord first visits the Jataayu sannidhi during his street procession.

Raama is said to have sent an arrow that created a pit here to bring sacred water into this place (this is where the temple tank is currently).

Horse Vahana- A Special Feature
On certain festive occasions, Lord Vijaya Raaghavan goes on street processions mounted on his ‘Horse Vaahanam’. For a moment, one almost feels that this is a real Horse, with its jumping stride and movements. The man who created this horse specifically for Lord Vijaya Raaghava was asked to make another horse. He refused to recreate his magic for anyone other than the Lord.


To this day, when the Lord is taken on a street procession on the Horse Vaahanam, he visits the place where the horse maker lived to pay regards the creater.

Raamaanuja learnt his early lessons here
Raamaanuja learnt the advaitha lessons from Yaadava Prakaasar at this place. The mandapam where he learnt his lessons still exist here.

Sri Devi to the Left of the Lord- A unique feature
Vijaya Raghava Perumal is seen in a sitting posture, having the bird (Jataayu) on his thigh. Not able to bear the smell caused by the final rites and because of the flames that arose out of the cremation of Jaatayu, Sri Devi Thaayar is said to have moved to the other side of the Lord. At this temple, the Goddess is seen to the left of the Lord Vijayaraghava with her head slightly turned in the Lord’s direction (in all Divya Desams, Sri Devi Thaayar is seen to the right of the Lord). Also, the Thaayar Sannidhi is to the left of the Lord…In all Divya Desams, the Thaayar Sannidhi is always to the right of the Lord.


2 Divya Desams with the same story
While each Divya Desam has its own unique story, the Vijayaraaghava temple at Thruputkuzhi shares the same story as another.

As seen earlier in this Divya Desam series (in fact the first story in this series -(http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/04/108-divya-desam-pulla-bhoothankudi.html), the Jataayu Moksham is a story that relates to Pulla Bhoothangkudi Divya Desam (about 10 kms West of Kumbakonam). The question arises as to how two Divya Desams can have the same event connected to it.

There are many reasons to believe that Pullabhoothangkudi is more likely to be connected with Jataayu Moksham and not ThiruPutkuzhi. ThirumangaiAzhvaar in his praise of the Lord at Pulla Bhoothangkudi refers specifically to Raama with a bow (called Valvil Rama) while in his praise of ThiruPutkuzhi Lord, Thirumangai does not refer directly to Raama.

Also, in several of his Paasurams relating to Pullabhoothangkudi, Thirumangai refers to the Raamaayana. Raama is said to have taken the Chola route to Thirupullani and then to Lanka and is unlikely to have passed through Kanchipuram.

Childless Couple and Unmarried girls
Sincere prayers to Maragadavalli Thaayar at this temple, on 'No Moon' day, by observing fast, is said to yield immediate results for childless couples and unmarried girls.

Azhvaar
Thirumangai has praised the ThiruPutKuzhi Lord with 2 Paasurams.

அலங்கெழு தடக்கையாயன் வாயாம்பர் கழியுமாலேன்னுல்லாம் 
மென்னும் புலங்கெழு பொருநீர் புட்குழி பாடும் போதுமோ 
நீர் மலை கென்னும் குளம் கெழு கொல்லி கோமளவல்லி கொடியிடை 
நெடுமழைக் கன்னி  இலங்கு எழில் தோழிக்கு என் நினைந்து இருந்தாய் இட வேந்தை எந்தை பிரானே - Thirumangai Azhvaar

There is no direct reference to Raama or any Raamaayana episode in the above Pasuram. However, in ThirumangaiAzhvaar’s Periya Thirumadal, he says 'மரகதத்தை புட்குழியும் போறேதை …' referring to the Goddess, the location and the Lord. By ‘Porethai’, Thirumangai is possibly referring to 'Lord Rama before the war/going for the war (with Raavana)'

The temple management view is as under:

“Jataayu wanted darshan of Lord Vishnu as seen in ParamaPatham. Acceding to his prayers, the Lord is said to have appeared here as Paramapatha Nathan in a sitting posture. There must have been a definitive reason as to why the historians/our predecessors left behind this story for the ThiruPutKuzhi Divya Desam.”


The commonality to Pullabhoothangkudi and ThiruPutkuzhi Divya Desams does not stop with the story alone. The Bhattars in both the temples are quite ‘devotee friendly’ and explain the temple history in loud and clear voice, that sends positive vibrations to the devotees.

Management of the Temple and Temple Renovation
Sundara Pandyan, the Pandya King, was one of the earliest rulers to have renovated this temple. Raayas, known for their attachment to Vishnu temples, are also said to have contributed to the renovation of this temple.

While the temple currently comes under the endowment board, it is completely run by the Maragadavalli Trust (MSVRP Trust), which has done a commendable job in recent years. What one saw 10 years ago and what one sees now is a complete transformation. The Vijayaraghava temple wears a clean and neat look, with the Trust management cleaning the prakaram on a regular basis. The temple tank, which had worn a barren look several years ago (the Theppam fest had been stopped temporarily in 1974), is now brimming with water.

The Temple requires a Chariot
The one thing the temple lacks today is a Chariot. The trust, which has renovated the temple with devotees’ contribution, is hoping to get a Chariot for this temple over the next year or so.

Festivals
Theppotsavam in Thai
10 day Brahmotsavam in Maasi
Rama Navami

Quick Facts
Deity          : Vijayaraghavan, East facing sitting posture
Goddess     : Maragadavalli
Azhvaar     : Thirumangai Azhvaar –2 Paasurams
Timing       : 7am-12noon, 4pm-7pm
Contact      : Srinivasa Bhattar @ 90474 89295 / Sesharaghavan @ 9585299764 / V. Narayanan @ 2724 6501
Address     : Vijayaraghava Perumal Koil, Thiruputkuzhi
                     Via Balu Chetty Chattiram
                     Kanchi District 631 551

How to reach ThiruPutkuzhi
Buses between Chennai and Vellore stop at Balu Chetty Chattiram. Several local buses available from Kanchipuram.

23 comments:

sampath said...

Very nice. doing a very great job. sitting in front of computer we could have a darshan of divya desam. Thanks a lot

PRabhu S said...

Thanks much

Prabhu

Anonymous said...

Great job. I visited the temple along with my children on Sunday. As mentioned by you, the Bhattar did say the stahala puranam as he did the arathi. However, it was difficult to absorb all the details. Your explanation is very clear and it made all the more an interesting reading due to the recent visit to the temple. Thanks once again. Sudha

PRabhu S said...

Sudha,

Hi! Thanks much for your comments.

Glad you liked the story

Prabhu

Unknown said...

Dear Sir,

The story of Jatayu moksam at Tiruppytkuzhi and Thiru-pullambhutangudi are BOTH true. Regarding the question as to how it is possible for jatayu to get moksam at two places, Sri Ananthapadmanabhachar of the "Dinam oru divya naamam" fame on Jaya TV clarified that the two places were locations of jatayu moksam in different yugas. In every threta-yuga the Ramayana repeats in general though the exact occurences and souls involved may be different. Hence in one threta-yuga Jatayu got moksam at Thirupputkuzhi while in another, he got moksam in Thiru-pullam-bhootangudi. Hope this clarifies..

Thanks,
Srikanth

Prabhu.S said...

Dear Srikanth,

Thanks for the information.

Noted.

Regards
Prabhu

Unknown said...

Dear Sir, thanks for making note of my comments. Meanwhile I must congratulate you for the wonderfully informative site. It creates interest in anyone to visit the temple and have darshanam of the Lord. Great job!!!!

Prabhu.S said...

Thanks for your comments

Good to hear this.

Regards
Prabhu

Unknown said...

i wish lord raama shower you with all the best and beautiful things under the sun....good work well done...

ananth

Prabhu.S said...

Sir,

Thanks for reading and for your kind words

Prabhu

R S V said...

Namaskaram,
Recently i too visited this temple along with my relatives during Amavasai and also participated in the recent festival.
I attended the Theppotsavam in Thai(Jan-Feb). i feel a great change in life after visiting this temple

Rgds / R S Vennkatesh, Chennai.

PRabhu S said...

Sir,

Good to hear.

Prabhu

Anonymous said...

one of my relatives who dont have child for more than 12 years. They went for all medical treatment all are in vain. The woman lost all her hopes. one of the elderly woman said believe God and do this you definitely get child. Her heart didnt accept to do but she went on ammavasa day with her husband and wore a new cotton saree and they used to give roasted green gram in the temple and she kept in her belly wrapped with sari and rounded the temple with her husband. She fasted the whole day like she had only fruits and milk. That day she slept in the temple and the next morning there is some sprouts seen. Then she had a baby girl in the same year. These are Gods miracles.

Anonymous said...

can you tell how is the pooja performed?

udayam said...

Hai its very useful article.
And this temple is a big boon to all childless couples. and we too plan to go this temple .

Udayakumar.,bangalore

Unknown said...

It is really nice site which gives all details with contact no too. but one is missing pls include that also if possible, i.e. instructions to childless couple to perform pooja..

Anonymous said...

For childless couple: In no moon day we have to go their wearing cotton saree and bath in jatayu theertham.Have to get green gram from Thayer Sanidhi and fast whole day. Have to stay in temple and on next day morning fried pulse will get germinated..mother have grace to germinate even fried pulse...I have done this PooJa and waiting for good thing to happen.. hope mother bless me with children. By lavanyavathi

archana said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Shall we wear new cotton saree or only old one please mention clearly as someone is telling new and others old, so please post clearly

Anonymous said...

Please guide, do we need to inform bhattar in prior to perform amavasya day worship for child birth? I tried to contact the number given hear but none picked up.

Unknown said...

Hello
I am going to this temple ... I need some details . Whether we have to change dress after taking bath or we have to remain in the same saree...some says I need not change some tell we have to change ...Kindly provide the details
Thank you

Unknown said...

Hello
I am going to this temple ... I need some details . Whether we have to change dress after taking bath or we have to remain in the same saree...some says I need not change some tell we have to change ...Kindly provide the details
Thank you

Asha said...

Very nice to hear