Vempathur Sundararaja Perumal Temple

Kulasekara Pandya Period Temple

Great Poets like Kambar visited this place and composed poems

Located about 35kms East of Madurai and 4kms North of Tiruppachetti is the Sundararaja Perumal Temple in Vempathur. The temple in its current form is said to date back to the 13^th Century AD and to the rule of Kulasekara Pandya. The Moolavar deity is a Mooligai idol and is seen in a Abhaya Varada posture blessing the devotees

Scholars from Thiruvellarai

Several Centuries ago, over 500 Vaishnavite scholars and priests had been brought in from Thiruvellarai (near Srirangam) to the Pandya Kingdom to spread Vedas and Vaishnavism. About 150 of them had moved into Vempathur with just as many going to Sikkal and hundreds of them had stayed back at Perunkarunai, the Avathara Sthalam of Selva Nambi.  All of them had a kudumi in their head and hence were referred to as ‘Poorva Sikha Sozhiya Srivaishnavas’.

Conversion to Saivism

Over a period of time, all of them at Vempathur had converted to Saivites. Hence, the priests at this Perumal temple are Saivites. Also, an interesting feature here is that Vibhuthi is provided as the sacred prasadam every evening after a presentation of Sahasranamam.

It is also believed that Lord Bhoo Varaha emerged from the earth and was installed here inside the temple to the North of Sundararaja Perumal Sannidhi. Belief is that Lord Bhoo Varaha fulfils the wishes of those devotees who place their prayers on a white paper at his feet.

Great Poets and their compositions from here

Great Poets like Kambar, Avvaiyar and Oththa Koothar (contemporary of Kambar) have visited this temple and composed poems. Rajendra Chozhan built the front mandapa here so the great poets could sit in peace and compose their works and spread their Tamil poetry. There is a Hayagriva Sannidhi in front of whom it is believe that Poet Kamban sat and composed songs.

U Ve Swaminatha Iyer in his Thiruvalayadal Purana makes a detailed reference to this place and the vedic recitals that used to take place here.

Festivals

Aavani Thiruvonam

Vaikunta Ekadesi

Procession in Karthigai

Hanuman Jayanthi

Quick Facts

Moolavar         : Sundararaja Perumal with Sri devi and Bhoo devi

Time                : 6am-11am and 530pm-8pm

Contact            : 98409 35113/ 97915 83169/97903 25083

How to reach

One can take the Madurai-Rameswaram Bus from Maatuthaavani Bus Stand in Madurai. Get down at Tiruppachetti (about 30kms from Madurai) after Tiruppuvanam. From Tiruppachetti, an auto to Vempathur (about 6kms) will cost about Rs. 75/-.

There are also mini buses/share auto from Tirupachetti.

Vilacheri Rama Temple

15^th Century AD Pandya Period temple in Madurai where Lord Rama is seen in a Yoga Posture

An early 15^th Century AD Rama temple on the outskirts of Madurai is in a dilapidated state. The idols were donated by Rudravathi Ammal in 1416AD with the temple built during the Pandya period.

Lord Rama is seen in a Yoga Sitting Posture with Sita to his right (while in a Pattabhisheka posture, she is seen to his left) Lakshmana is seen a standing posture to his left.

Anjaneya and Garuda are seen protecting the Lord with their presence at the entrance as dwarapalakas.

The temple was last renovated 110years ago in 1903.

While the outer walls are in a terrible state, the base structure of the Sanctum and inner prakara around the Sanctum looks solid with the strong Granite Structure dating back several centuries.

The Gopuram has been refurbished and has a new fresh look. Efforts are on to bring the temple back to its historical shape.

Currently there is no bhattar to perform the daily poojas. There are no festivals at the temple.

The street leading to the temple may have been a traditional agrahara with a Saivite temple (which has been recently renovated) to the east of the Rama temple.

Moolavar : Rama in a Yogic Sitting Posture with Sita and Lakshmana

Speciality : Anjaneya and Garuda as Dwarapalakas

History     : Built in the 15^th Century AD during the Pandya Period

Inscription: 1903 inscription of a renovation done that year with public support

Contact: 97888 54854

How to reach

Vilacheri is about 8kms from Madurai Junction off the Tiruparankunram Highway. Take Periyar- Thirumangalam bus and get down at Moolakarai bus stop. An Auto from Moolakarai to the temple ( 2kms) will cost Rs. 30/-. 

Perunkarunai Varadaraja Perumal Temple

Avathara Sthalam of Selva Nambi

It was on the advice of Selva Nambi that Pandya King Vallabha Deva announced a debate that Peri Azhvaar of Srivilliputhur won and sung Pallandu verses of praise, in his lap of honour

Located 75kms from Madurai off the Manamadurai-Paramakudi highway is an ancient Varadaraja Perumal temple in Perunkarunai that dates back to the period of PeriAzhvaar.

Perunkarunai assumes special significance as it is the avathara sthalam of Selva Nambi, the Vaishnavite acharya and the preceptor of the Pandya King Vallabha deva.

The Story

Vikrama Pandya who had no children invoked the blessings of his kula deivam Paramaswamy of Azhagar Koil and was directed to the Sethu Sea Shore for a darshan of Paravasudevan at the Aathi Jagannatha Perumal temple in Thiru Pullani and that he would have a son who would be instrumental in the upkeep of dharma. Following his trips, he was immediately blessed with a son Sri Vallabha. On one of his Pilgrimage trips, he stayed overnight at Kotraval Kudi Village.

2kms away from this village, at Perunkarunai there resided around 500vaishnavite scholars who had been brought in from Thiruvellarai (near Srirangam) to spread the Vedas and Vaishnavism in this region. All of them had a kudumi in their head and hence were referred to as ‘Poorva Sikha Sozhiya Srivaishnavas’.

For centuries, Perunkarunai was home to the loud early morning chanting of Vedas and Divya Prabhandham. In later period, many of these Vaishnavites moved to other places in the region – ‘Sikkal Perunkarunai, Senthathor Vembathur Okka Oru Kulai Kaai’. It was from Perunkarunai that these Vaishnavite Scholars moved to Vembathur and Sikkal. Currently, only the 80 year old Shri. Narasimha Narayana Bhattar resides here at Perunkarunai with all other Vaishnavite families having moved out for better prospects!!!

Birth Place of Acharya Selva Nambi

Selva Nambi, the renowned Vaishnavite acharya and the advisor to Pandya King Vallabha Deva in Madurai, was born  and brought up here at Perunkarunai. His father Sowmya Narayanan performed poojas for the Lord at Thiru Koshtiyur. His mother hailed from Perunkarunai village. Staying here at Perunkarunai, Selva Nambi learnt the Vedas from his uncle scholar Varadarajan before he became the preceptor of the Pandyas in Madurai.

Kotta Kudi Village

Coming to know about the presence of the Pandya king at Kotraval Kudi, Selva Nambi made his way there and recited the Bhagavatha Purana to the king and concluded that those who listen to this will be saved from all evils and that this dharma should be understood by everyone in the future.  Having listened to this recital, the Pandya King who had previously heard that there were some troubles in his kingdom during his absence was  reassured from his  ministers that in a dramatic turnaround all the issues had been sorted out overnight and that all was well in Madurai. This place where the Bhagavatha Purana recital took place - Kotraval Kudi - exists to this day and is now called ‘Kotta Kudi’ near Perunkarunai.

The delighted king built the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Perunkarunai.  He also donated several villages for the maintenance and upkeep of the temple and the festivities at the temple. ( There is also a Rama temple opposite the Varadaraja Perumal temple)

The moolavar deity is a Varna Kala idol. There is a separate Sannidhi for Perundevi Thaayar. Currently the outer prakara is full of bushes and is seeking attention!!

Selva Nambi's Fame

Sri Vallabha Deva had Selva Nambi as his preceptor and his most trusted counsellor. The king looked up to Selva Nambi for the right direction whenever he was in doubt. When Vallabha Deva was in doubt as to how to attain Moksha and who was best suited to provide salvation, it was Selva Nambi who suggested the idea of a debate of Scholars in his royal court in Madurai which was attended by Vishnu Chittar of Srivilliputhur.

(Vishnu Chittar – PeriAzhvaar- won the debate- he pronounced that Lord Narayana was the Supreme Lord and one who could provide salvation- and was carried around the streets of Madurai on an elephant top, from where he sung his famous Pallandu verses).

later Period Renovation - Sethupathi Kings

In later periods, the Perunkarunai Varadaraja Perumal Temple was renovated by Sethupathi Kings of Ramanathapuram. A few years ago, Thiru Koshtiyur Charitable Trust and Vijayawada Thirudhandi Sriman Narayana Jeer Swami contributed to the renovation efforts and performed the Samprokshanam. The temple has been taken care of the Sethupathi Maharani of the Ramanathapuram Devasthanam.

Quick Facts

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

Thaayar   : Perundevi Thaayar

Contact   : S Narasimha Narayana Bhattar @ 99440 45347

Time      : Contact the Bhattar on the above number before going

How to reach

From Manamadurai drive about 7kms towards Paramakudi on Rameswaram NH to reach Parthibanur. Take the right at Parthibanur and drive 10kms South on the Parthibanur- Kumuthi-Aruppukottai road. Just after Abhiramam, take left and head East about 4kms to reach Perunkarunai.

Bus Number 26 from Paramakudi

From Parthibanur, one can take the Kumuthi-Aruppukottai bus and get down at Abhiramam, from where one can take an auto to reach the temple. 

Taxi from Madurai and back will cost around Rs. 1000

Thittai Navaneetha Krishnan Temple

Abhimana Sthalam

An ancient Perumal temple in between Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam and Punnai Nallur Rama temple

Lord Navaneetha Krishnan is seen in a dancing posture with a bent left leg and with his right leg on a lotus stalk

 Located about 5kms from Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam on the Northern banks of Vennar  is an ancient temple dedicated to Navaneetha Krishnan in a remote village in Thittai near Thanjavur. The temple is in the midst of lush greenery all around in a calm and peaceful village.

Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam on the Vennar Bank is about 5kms South West while Rama Temple in Punnai Nallur is about 5kms South of Thittai.

Agraharam

To the North East of the Navaneetha Krishnan temple is a Siva Temple that has been praised by the Nayanmars.

Special Dancing Posture

The moolavar deity, Lord Navaneetha Krishnan, is seen in a special dancing posture with his left leg slightly bent and placed on a pedestal with the right leg on a lotus stalk.

His left hand is seen stretched to balance the body weight, while in his right palm Lord Navaneetha Krishnan is seen holding a ball of fresh butter.

Reference by Swami Desigan

Swami Desigan has praised Lord Navaneetha Krishnan in his Gopala Vimasathy:

ஆவீர் பவத் வநிப்ருதா பரணம்  புரஸ்தாத்

ஆகுஞ்சிதைக சரணம் நிப்ருதாந்ய பாதம் 

தத்நா நிமந்த முகரேண நிபத்த தாலம்

நாதச்ய நந்தபவநே நவநீத நாட்யம் 

Presence of Anjaneya

Another feature at this temple is the presence of Anjaneya facing the North. The story goes that there have been several instances of Lord Anjaneya here answering the prayers of the devotees and fulfilling their wishes after they have offered their sincere prayers here and presented a coconut to him.He is referred to here as 'Kaarya Siddhi Anjaneya'.

Sacred Tank

There is an ancient Pushkarani to the West of the temple. Plans are on to build a Raja gopuram at this temple.

Thittai Sampath Iyengar’s family have been the hereditary trustees of the temple.

Festivals

Sri Jayanthi Utsavam

Thirumanjanam every month on Rohini Star

Hanuman Jayanthi

Panguni Uthiram Garuda Seva

Vaikunta Ekadesi Procession

On the full moon day in Chitrai, special donation from the Navaneetha Krishnan temple is handed to the Siva Temple  for the Thiru Kalyanam there that day.

Quick Facts                            

Moolavar: Navaneetha Krishnan with Rukmini and Satyabhama in an East facing Dancing Posture

Thaayar  : Hemambhuja Valli Thaayar

Separate Sannidhi: Kaarya Siddhi Anjaneya

Temple Time: 8am-12noon and 5pm-7pm

Contact: S Ramesh (Vijaya Raghava) Bhattar @ 04362 251885 or 99448 32653/ Mrs. Padmasini Sampath Iyengar @ 94870 28618

How to reach

Thittai Village is around 10kms from Thanjavur old bus stand on the Thanjavur- Papanasam-Kumbakonam rail route. The temple is about 1km West of the Thittai Railway Station. There are daily passenger trains from Thanjavur and Kumbakonam that stop at Thittai.

Bus Numbers 34, 48A, 45B and Rahat (private bus) ply every hour from Thanjavur. One can reach Thittai within half hour from Thanjavur.

Auto from Thanjavur will cost Rs. 100-150/-

                                   

Place to Stay

Retiring room at Thanjavur Railway Station or hotels opposite the Thanjavur Railway Station are good options to stay

If you want to enjoy the serene village atmosphere, it will be good to head directly to Thittai from Thanjavur and to have bath and stay here in the agraharam.