Lord of Thiru Ananthapuram Divya
Desam and Thaayar of Badrinath Divya Desam provide darshan here
Located
on the Southern banks of Kudamurutti (a tributary of Cauvery) is an ancient
Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple in Senthalai, a temple where one finds an
interesting combination of two Divya Desam deities.
கெடும்
இடர் ஆய் எல்லாம், கேசவா, என்ன நாளும்
கொடுவினை செய்யும் கூற்றின்
தமர்களும் குறுககில்லார்விடம் உடை அரவில்
பள்ளி
விரும்பினான் சுரும்பு அலற்றும், தடம் உடை வயல்
அனந்தபுரநகர்
புகுத்தும் இன்றே - Tiruvoimozhi verse on Lord Anantha Padmanabhan
The lord
of Thiru Ananthapuram Divya Desam, Anantha Padmanabha Swamy, who is seen in a
Sleeping Posture there, provides darshan here to devotees in a grand Sitting Posture
without Adisesha. The 9 feet tall moolavar Lord is seen with a conch and chakra,
a saligrama on his lap and with Sri and Bhoo Devi alongside him. The Thaayar of
Badrinath Divya Desam Parimala Valli Thaayar is seen here in a separate
Sannidhi.
Both the
idols date back several centuries and are exemplary works of art immediately,
creating a devotional feeling in those who visit the temple here. 8th
Century AD inscriptions suggest that Senthalai was a prosperous village with
the presence of a Shiva temple.
The Story
Once
Lord Anantha Padmanabhan felt thirsty and requested Adisesha to get water. He
went around and finally scratched the surface to have water pouring out in full
force. A delighted Adisesha ran back to offer water to quench the thirst of his
Lord only to find him already providing darshan in a Padmasana posture. Hence,
one finds the Lord here without Adisesha atop him. In memory of this event, the sacred water here
is named after Adisesha as ‘Ananthan Theertham’.
People
in the village say that there have been several instances in the last
40-50years, when they have found (real) snakes staying atop Lord
Ananthapadmanabha swamy for a whole day here at this temple.
Bala Anjaneya- Ramayana Episode
A
feature at this temple is the Bala Anjaneya idol – just 1 ½ feet high- seen in
the Maha Mandapa. In the Ramayana, Anjaneya’s strength and commitment to Lord
Rama was put to test while he went air borne in search of Sita. Half way
through his journey, he was stopped by the Naga maiden Surasa who wanted to
consume him for lunch. She asked Anjaneya to enter her mouth.
Anjaneya
who was in great hurry to reach Lanka took a huge form and grew in great size
with the lady too widening her mouth equalling his size. And all of a sudden,
the son of Vayu contracted his body and shrunk in size and before she realised
what was happening, he entered the asura’s mouth and came out again and resumed
his normal shape and form. Hanuman told her that he had fulfilled her wish of
entering her mouth and that he now wanted her blessings to be able to find
Goddess Sita in Lanka.
It is
believed that in memory of this episode in Ramayana, Lord Hanuman is seen here
in a tiny standing posture in a separate Sannidhi. Hanuman Jayanthi is
celebrated in a grand manner at this temple.
Separate Sannidhi for Naga
There is
a separate Sannidhi for Nagas. Belief is that those who offer their sincere
prayers here will be liberated from Naga Dosham.
Festivals
Procession
during Navarathri and Aadi Pooram
Puratasi
Saturdays – Thirumanjanam for Thaayar
Hanuman
Jayanthi
Vaikunta
Ekadesi including Paramapada Vaasal opening
Thirumanjanam
for Thaayar on Thai Fridays
Quick Facts
Moolavar: Anantha Padmanabhaswamy
in a Padmasana East Facing Sitting Posture
Goddess : Parimala Valli Thaayar (Separate Sannidhi)
Time : 8am-11am and 4pm-7pm
Contact : R Srinivasan Bhattar @ 98432 94472 /04362
287288/ 94422 93006
How to reach
Senthalai
is about 20kms North West of Thanjavur on the Kandiyur- Thirukattupalli-Kallanai
Highway. Buses ply every 30minutes from Thanjavur old bus stand. One can also
get down at Budalur Railway Station (on the Thanjavur- Tiruchirapalli route)
and take an auto (around Rs. 150) to reach the temple (just over 10kms)
