Thiru Koodalur Jagathrakshagan

Aaduturai Perumal Koil
JagathRakshagan- One who protects the World

Located 15kms East of Thiruvayaru on the Kumbakonam Highway and 5kms West of Kapisthalam Divya Desam is the Jagathrakshagan Perumal Divya Desam in Aadturai, where the Lord Vaiyam (Ulagam)Kaatha Perumal is seen in an East facing standing posture.


The Story

The Devas came together at this place invoking the blessings of Lord Vishnu requesting him to kill Asura Hiranyaksha. Legend has it that Vishnu cut open the earth, killed the Asura and reappeared, with Goddess Lakshmi, as Varaaha Moorthy (one of the 10 Avathaarams of Maha Vishnu) at Srimushnam.

As all of them came together at this place and prayed to the Lord requesting for protection, this place has come to be called Koodalur (where people come together). The Lord who protected the village from the Asura has come to called Jagath Rakshagan - One who protects the World

Another story goes that Raja Ambarishi was so pious  that he even let go his kingdom to continue his penance.

Sage Durvasa, renowned for anger, once visited Ambarishi. With the king in deep penance, Durvasa, in his typical style, lost patience and cursed Ambarishi to lose the power of his penance.

The staunch devotee that Ambarishi was, he continued to be lost in thoughts of the Lord. Coming to the aid of his devotee, Vishnu threw his Chakra at Sage Durvasa, who immediately begged the Lord for forgiveness. Hence, one can find the Utsavar at this temple-JagathRakshagan- with the Chakra in his hand.

Pleased with Ambarishi’s penance, it is here that Vishnu gave him Darshan in his full Divine form. Delighted at  having seen the Lord in his divine form, Ambarishi built this temple. It is believed that this temple was washed away later with floods in the Cauvery. The temple that exists now in its current form was built later by Rani Mangammal of Madurai.

A third story has it that River Cauvery displayed her grief to the Lord that all the impurity/sins was being washed at the river and that she was feeling that the river here was becoming impure and unclean. Answering her prayers, it is believed that Cauvery regained all her glory at this place.

Thirumangai Azhvaar starts his 10 verses of the Koodalur Lord thus:

“தாம்  தன் பெருமை அறியார், தூது
வேந்தற்கு ஆய வந்தார்  ஊர்போல்
காந்தள் விரல் மென் கலை நல மடவார்
கூந்தல் கமழும் - கூடலூரே.”

Quick Facts

Moolavar    : Vaiyam (Ulagam)Kaatha Perumal
Goddess     : Padmaasini(Pushpavalli)
Utsavar      : Jagathrakshagan

Time          : 730am-1230pm and 430pm-830pm
Priest         : Kasturi Rangan Bhattachar @ 96598 80628

Address     : Aduthurai Perumal Koil
                   Ullikadai Post, Papanasam Taluk Thanjavur Dist 614 202

How to reach
Buses ply every 10 minutes from Kumbakonam to Thiruvayaru (narrow road along the banks of Cauvery)