Abhaya Pradhana Ranganatha Temple Karur

Twin Perumal Temples of Karur

A beautiful Ranganatha temple on the banks of Amaravathi

Displays his Karkodaga Anantha Sayanam Posture

Located 1km south of the Railway Station on the Northern banks of River Amaravathi off the Mettu Street is an ancient Abhaya Pradhana Ranganatha Temple in Karur, one that was constructed during the rule of Muchukunda Chakravarthy dating back several centuries.

Muchukunda also played a role in the construction of Kalyana Venkatramana Swamy temple in Thanthoni Malai on the outskirts of the city.

Providing darshan in a Karkodaga Anantha Sayana posture, Lord Ranganatha is believed to have promised abhayam to Markandeya Rishi protecting him from evil forces. Lord Ranganatha is seen in a beautiful Posture resting himself on the five hooded Serpent with his right hand placed on the Rishi’s head in a sign of blessing him and promising protection.

Belief is that Lord Ranganatha will provide abhayam to devotees who offer sincere prayers at this temple.

Festivals

Brahmotsavam in Chitrai

20day Utsavam in Margazhi

Opening of Swarga Vaasal on Vaikunta Ekadesi 

Quick Facts

Moolavar : Ranganatha East Facing Karkodaga Sayanam

Thaayar   : Ranganayaki Thaayar (Separate Sannidhi)

Utsavar   : Srinivasa Perumal

Time        : 630am-1130am and 430pm-830pm

Contact    : VV Narasimha Bhattar @ 94439 04088 or 04324 257640

How to reach

Auto from Railway Station / Karur Bus Stand will cost Rs.30

Thanthoni Malai Kalyana Venkatramana Swamy

8^th Century AD Rock cut Cave Temple bears similarity in Architecture to the Narasimha temple at Namakkal

Prarthana Sthalam for the unmarried and the Childless

Located 4kms from Karur on the Dindigul highway is the 8^th Century AD historical Rock cut Cave temple of Kalyana Venkatramana Swamy in Thanthoni Malai where the 10feet Swayambu Lord is seen in a majestic standing posture facing the West. The temple tower has been constructed right at the top of the huge rock.

The wide sanctum of Kalyana Venkatramana Swamy has been carved along the cave out of the rock.

The Maha Mandapa and other Sannidhis at the temple were a later time additions possibly in the 12-13^th Century AD.

Similar to Thanjai Maa Mani Narasimha Sanctum

Inside the sanctum, that reminds one of Thanjai Maa Mani Narasimha Divya Desam both in terms of the huge size of the Moolavar Lord as well as the big sized Sanctum, there are 16 specially carved sculptures each of whom is seen playing a musical instrument.

Piece of Rock falls at Thanthoni Malai

When a fight broke out between the Serpant King Adhisesha and the Wind God Vayu as to whowas more stronger and who played a more important role, Lord Vishnu asked Adhisesha to hold on to the Tirumala Hills and Vayu to try and remove the hills from the clutches of the Serpant Lord.

An angry Vayu who could not remove from Adhisesha’s hold turned into a cyclone. Pieces of the rock from the hills fell in different places. One such piece is the rock we find here at Thanthoni Malai in Karur where Venkatachalapathy provides darshan as Kalyana Venkatramana perumal.

Another story goes that Susarma who did not have a child invoked the blessings of Lord Vishnu. He was asked to come to the rock here.  Pleased with his prayers, Lord Vishnu provided darshan as Kalyana Venkatramana Perumal and blessed him with a child.

Construction

Chola King Muchukunda, a Saivite devotee, was cursed to have the face of a monkey.  To liberate himself from the curse, he built several Vishnu temples including the two perumal temples of Karur- this one at Thanthonimalai and the Abhaya Pradhana Ranganatha temple in the city of Karur.

Later on, Thirumalai Nayak of Madurai contributed to the temple.

Historical Cave temple

The Cave Temple here at Thanthoni Malai was excavated in the 8^th Century AD. There is a similarity of this rock and the cave structure with the architecture seen at the Narasimha temple at Namakkal about 45kms from here though the Thanthoni Malai rock cave is a little bigger than the one at the Narasimha temple in Namakkal.

Prarthana Sthalam 
Those who offer their sincere prayers and present this slipper as suggested by Kalyana Venkatramana Perumal have their wedding wishes fulfilled.

Thiru Kalyana Utsavam is a special feature at this temple. On Shravanam Star every month, there is a special abhisheka performed for childless couples. There is a daily Thirumanjanam at this temple every day at 1130am for the Moolavar deity.

Festivals 

Two Brahmotsavams- One in Maasi and One in Puratasi

Pavitrotsavam in Avani

Navarathri Utsavam

On the third day after Maasi, Theppotsavam is celebrated in a grand manner at this temple.

There is a big temple tank on the Western side of the temple.

Chariot Festival on the Thiruvonam day in Puratasi and Magam day in Maasi

Puratasi 3^rd Saturday is a special occasion at this temple

Quick Facts

Moolavar: Venkatramana Swamy in a West Facing Standing Posture

Thaayar  : No Separate thaayar ( Mahalakshmi is seen on the chest of the Lord)

Utsavar   : Srinivasa Perumal

Time       : 6am-1pm, 3pm-7pm

Contact   : Harish Bhattar @ 98940 17928

How to reach

Chennai Egmore- Mangalore Express via Tiruchirapalli reaches Karur @ 630am

Direct Trains to Karur from Coimbatore, Mysore, Bangalore

From Karur Station, auto will cost Rs.70 to the temple

From Karur Bus Stand, auto will cost Rs. 50/-

Local buses and mini buses to Thanthoni malai both from Railway Station and Bus Stand

PS: This story has been edited, subsequently.

Sholavandan Janaka Narayana Perumal

5^th Century AD Inscription refers to Granite Construction

Azhagar of Maliruncholai and Perumal of Sholavandan used to visit Alankanallur every year in a special alankara

Located 22kms from Madurai off the Madurai-Dindigul NH is the Janaka Narayana Perumal temple in Sholavandan, where Sita’s father is believed to have undertaken penance invoking the blessings of Lord Narayana to find a bridegroom for his daughter. Answering his prayers, Lord Narayana is believed to have provided darshan here to Janaka. Hence, he is referred to at this temple as Janaka Narayana Perumal.

This place was earlier referred to as Janaka Puri. Moolavar deity Janaka Narayana Perumal is a Saligrama idol seen in a standing posture with Sri and Bhoo devi.

The Utsava deity is Rama seen along with Sita and Lakshmana. In earlier times, this temple was referred to as the Rama temple of Sholavandan.

In centuries gone by, on the same day that Azhagar used to get into the Vaigai at Thenur about 7kms from here, the Lord of Sholavandan too used to get into the Vaigai here at Sholavandan.

Also, in the past, Azhagar and Perumal of Sholavandan used to go to Nallur, a village between Thiru Maliruncholai and Sholavandan in a special alankara. Hence that place has come to be known as Alanka Nallur.

Inscriptions

There are many inscriptions inside the temple. An inscription on the Northern wall of the inner prakara makes reference to construction of a granite structure in the 5^th Century AD.

Prarthana Sthalam

This is a prarthana Sthalam for the unmarried and those without children. Those who visit this temple and offer their sincere prayers are likely to have their wishes fulfilled.

Festivals

10day Brahmotsavam in Panguni

Aadi Pooram

Pushpa Alankaram on Puratasi Saturdays

Quick Facts

Moolavar: Janaka Narayana Perumal in an East Facing Standing Posture

Thaayar  : Janakavalli Thaayar ( Separate Sannidhi)

Utsavar   : Rama seen with Sita and Lakshmana

Time       : 630am-12noon and 430pm-830pm

Contact   : S Raghurama Krishnan Bhattar @ 93454 45554

How to reach

Nellai Express from Chennai stops at Sholavandan station (4.45am arrival)

Number of buses to Sholavandan from Periyar Bus stand in Madurai- will take 1hour

Auto from Madurai Junction and back will cost Rs. 400

When here, also visit Chitra Ratha Vallabha Perumal at Kuruvi Thurai, about 8kms West of Sholavandan

 

Vandiyur Veera Raghava Perumal Temple

KallAzhagar of Thiru Maliruncholai meets Veera Raghava Perumal every year on the Chitra Pournami day here at Vandiyur

Located 8kms East of Madurai off the Rameswaram Highway on the Northern banks of Vaigai is the Veera Raghava Perumal temple in Vandiyur, a temple that dates back to the 16^th Century AD and to the rule of Thirumalai Nayak.

Chitrai Festival from Thenoor to Madurai
In centuries gone by, Azhagar used to enter the Vaigai at Thenoor, a village west of Madurai near Sholavandan. It was during Thirumalai Nayakar’s period that this was moved to Madurai to coincide with the Meenakshi Thiruvizha as he wanted to make this the biggest festival of Madurai. Vaishnavite legend has it that the purpose of Azhagar’s trip from Azhagar Koil was to liberate Manduka Maharishi from Durvasa’s curse and provide him moksham.

KallAzhagar’s Vandiyur Trip

Thirumalai Nayak found the idol of Veera Raghava Perumal on the banks of Vaigai here at Vandiyur while on a trip to Kaalayar Koil and installed it here making KallAzhagar's visit to Vandiyur an important and integral part of  the Chitrai Festival.

Having made his way into the Vaigai at Madurai for the Annual Chitrai Festival, KallAzhagar goes further East along the Vaigai on his Horse Vahana to Vandiyur  to meet with Veera Raghava Perumal  here on the full moon day in Chitrai.

After staying here through the night at Vandiyur, KallAzhagar, adorned with necklaces, provides Ekantha Sevai the next morning at 5am after which he goes on a street procession mounted on his Sesha Vahana to provide darshan to devotees here at Vandiyur.

Also, here at Vandiyur, the idol of Manduka Maha Rishi is specially decorated in the morning. As part of enactment of the liberation from curse, he receives garland and parivattam from the Lord.

Later in the day, KallAzhagar gets back on his Garuda Vahana and bids goodbye to Veera Raghava Perumal for yet another year making his way to the Ramaraya Mandapa and then back to Azhagar Koil bring to end the Chitrai Thiruvizha.

Mandiyur

In memory of Manduka Rishi being liberated from Durvasa’s curse, this place was originally known as Mandiyur. In course of time, Mandiyur became Vandiyur.

Quick Facts

Moolavar         : Veera Raghava Perumal East Facing Standing Posture with Sri and Bhoo Devi

Temple Time    : 6am-12noon and 430pm-830pm

Contact            : Sundararaja Bhattar @96775 46173

How to reach

Bus No. 4H from Periyar Bus Stand

Mini Buses from Maatuthavani Bus Stand

Auto from Madurai Junction will cost Rs. 75.

Theeyathur Sundararaja Perumal Temple

Several Inscriptions on the outer walls of the temple date back at least 500years

Located 15kms South West of Avudayar Koil on the Thirupannavasal Road is the Sundara Raja Perumal Temple in Theeyathur where Sundararaja Perumal is seen in a handsome standing posture along with Sri and Bhoo Devi. There was a big Chariot at this temple centuries ago with the chariot festival being an important event of the year. Also indications are that Navarathri Festival was celebrated here in a grand manner.

However, the temple is currently in a state of ruins with broken outer walls and a high percentage of shrubs having dominating presence at the temple.

One time pooja is performed in the morning at this temple.

Inscriptions

 

Several inscriptions in the outer walls of the temple indicate that the temple is atleast 500years old and that many lands were donated to this temple in centuries gone by.

Festivals

Puratasai Saturdays

Margazhi Utsavam

Balaji Bhattar @ 99650 86642 performs pooja at this temple with sincerity every morning.

How to reach

One can reach Avudayar Koil from Trichy-Pudukottai- Aranthangi. From Avudayar Koil, one can take the Thirupanna Vasal bus (Mimisal route) to reach Theeyathur in 30minutes

 

Buses ply every half hour from Avudayar Koil. No autos at Avudayar Koil. Taxi to Theeyathur and Ponbethi will cost Rs.400 from Avudayar Koil.