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| Sree Adikesava Perumal Temple, Tiruvattar, Kanyakumar TMBU |
The Sri Adikesavaperumal Temple in Thiruvattar, Kanyaku
mari district, Tamil Nadu, India is one of the 108 ''Divya Desam Shetrams'' glorified by the Tamil Vaishnavite Azhwar saints of 7th and 8th century CE who wrote soul-stirring devotional hymns in praise of Lord Vishnu. Azhwar saint Nammalvar had sung 11 pasurams in praise of this lord. Located in a serene, picturesque
setting surrounded on three sides by rivers namely Kothai, Pahrali and Thamirabarani, the main deity is Ananthapadmanabhan /Adikeshava Perumal and, it is said, it is older than the famous Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananathapuram, the capital city of Kerala. It is often referred to as ''Srirangam of Chera Kingdom'' for the simple reasons that the Lord is in a Ananthasayanam posture - reclining position on the coiled bed of Serpent Adishesa.
setting surrounded on three sides by rivers namely Kothai, Pahrali and Thamirabarani, the main deity is Ananthapadmanabhan /Adikeshava Perumal and, it is said, it is older than the famous Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananathapuram, the capital city of Kerala. It is often referred to as ''Srirangam of Chera Kingdom'' for the simple reasons that the Lord is in a Ananthasayanam posture - reclining position on the coiled bed of Serpent Adishesa.
Above image: Here, at Sri Adikesavaperumal Temple in Thiruvattar, Lord Vishnu (Perumal) is in an Ananthasayanam posture, relaxing on the coiled bed of serpent Adishesa. Sri Vishnu has similar posture at Srirangam Ranganathar temple, TN and also at Srirangapatna, Karnataka......................................
Like the Padmanabha Swamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, here the lord is worshipped through three doors. An interesting feature is the presence of Lord Shiva in the sanctum. The main deity in the former temple is facing the deity of Tiruvattar temple. The main deity here had gold kavachams impregnated with valuable diamonds and other precious stones that were presented by the Kerala rulers. This temple is the Rajya Temple and Bharadevatha shrine of the erstwhile rulers of Travancore. Even after state reorganization in 1959, the Travancore Maharajah is endowed with all privileges befitting him with respect to temple rituals including the Pallivetta and Thiruvarattu by the Tamil Nadu government. In the early 1500 s Vijayanagara rulers made some additions and the composite columns of Virabhdra holding a sword and conch bear testimony to it. Similar columns of Virabhadra are found in many temples of Tamil nadu, notable being Meenakshi Temple at Madurai, Nellaiappar Temple at Tirunelveli,, Krishnapuram Venkatachalapathy temple, Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram, Srivilliputhur Andal temple, Srivaikuntanathan Permual temple at Srivaikuntam, etc.
Like the Padmanabha Swamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, here the lord is worshipped through three doors. An interesting feature is the presence of Lord Shiva in the sanctum. The main deity in the former temple is facing the deity of Tiruvattar temple. The main deity here had gold kavachams impregnated with valuable diamonds and other precious stones that were presented by the Kerala rulers. This temple is the Rajya Temple and Bharadevatha shrine of the erstwhile rulers of Travancore. Even after state reorganization in 1959, the Travancore Maharajah is endowed with all privileges befitting him with respect to temple rituals including the Pallivetta and Thiruvarattu by the Tamil Nadu government. In the early 1500 s Vijayanagara rulers made some additions and the composite columns of Virabhdra holding a sword and conch bear testimony to it. Similar columns of Virabhadra are found in many temples of Tamil nadu, notable being Meenakshi Temple at Madurai, Nellaiappar Temple at Tirunelveli,, Krishnapuram Venkatachalapathy temple, Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram, Srivilliputhur Andal temple, Srivaikuntanathan Permual temple at Srivaikuntam, etc.
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| Adikesava Perumal Temple in Tiruvattar, Kanyakumari Temples - Mail |
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| Adikesava Perumal Temple in Tiruvattar, Kanyakumari ISKCON Desire Tree |
Above image: Entrance to the temple - Sri Adikesavaperumal Temple in Thiruvattar, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu,
Otraikkal Mandapam (single stone hall) made of a single stone 3 feet thick and the well-carved stone images of Oorthuva Thandavam, Venugopala, Rathi, Manmatha, Lakshmana and Indrajit are some of the attractions. The temple renowned for its murals is built in the Dravidian style of architecture. There is also a small shrine for Lord Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy near the river an across the Adikesavaperumal Temple.
Otraikkal Mandapam (single stone hall) made of a single stone 3 feet thick and the well-carved stone images of Oorthuva Thandavam, Venugopala, Rathi, Manmatha, Lakshmana and Indrajit are some of the attractions. The temple renowned for its murals is built in the Dravidian style of architecture. There is also a small shrine for Lord Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy near the river an across the Adikesavaperumal Temple.
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| Adikesava perumal temple, location. Holy Dham |
Among the festivals, Vaikunta Ekadesi is celebrated on a grand scale as in other Perumal temples. Here, the prasadams (offerings to the god) are Paal Payasam (Milk Kheer), Aval and Appam. The puja protocols here are similar to those at the Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
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