TIRUKKOILUR-
Ulagalanda Perumal Temple
South Arcot district, Tamilnadu
This temple
is dedicated to Sri Trivikrama - Ulagalanda Perumal, the fifth incarnation
of Lord Vishnu. It is situated on the southern bank of Krishnabhadra
in South Arcot district of Tamilnadu. This temple tower is one of
the tallest, measuring 192 feet in height. The Alwars Poigaialwar,
Boodathalwar & Peiyalwar sang in praise of Lord Vishnu which formed
the integral part of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham.
One of the
special features is that one idol contains the forms of two Gods - front
side as Chakratalwar with sixteen hands and the back side as Narasimhar.
Bali, the powerful
asura king who was the great grandson of Hiranyakasibu had conquered the
three worlds, but in spite of being an asura,
he ruled his land and people with justice. Even though Bali was just, Indralogam
had to be returned to the Devas, who felt humiliated at the loss of their
kingdom. Lord Vishnu could not fight so virtuous a king, and therefore
he took the guise of a Brahmin boy. Bali was performing a yagna and
for the success of the yagna he had to provide anything that a brahmin
seeks. Lord Vishnu in his Vamanavataram begged for just three feet of land.
This request was considered funny, for three steps of Vamana's feet would
measure upto a very small piece of land only. Bali humbly requested him
to ask for something better which he would grant. But Vamana insisted on
his three feet of land. To the astonishment of all present, Lord
Vishnu as Vamana began to grow to a great height and with one step he covered
the whole earth, with his second step he covered the entire sky and
region above. With the entire universe covered, Bali had no more land to
offer. He bowed down in front of the Lord & offered his head for the
third step. Lord Vishnu had thus regained the power from the asura king.
Being extremely pleased with the virtuosity of an asura king, he placed
his foot on his head and sent him to rule over the lower regions.
Vishnu is worshipped as Trivikramar or Ulagalanda Perumal. There are shrines
to this avataram of Vishnu at Tirukkoyilur and at Kanchi (Ulagalanda Perumal).
Mrikanda Maharishi
was engaged in severe penance & failed to get darshan of Lord Vishnu
in his Viratrupam. He did sever penance & on Lord Brahma's advice
reached Krishnaranya & continued his severe penance. Lord Vishnu
gave him darshan in his Viratrupam. This accounts for the Trivikrama
image here raising the right leg above the ground. The presiding
deity is seen worshipped by Brahma on the right side and on the left by
Mrikanda Maharishi, Namachu, Garuda, Ananta, Vishaksvena ad a host of other
celebrated saint poets. The Lord is holding the conch in his right
hand, instead of the chakram, as if he were blowing on the conch after
his victory over Mahabali.
From inscriptional
evidence it is seen that the temple was constructed & maintained by
the Pallava kings & later by the Vijayanagara rulers. From the
sixteenth century onwards the temple administration has been in the hands
of the Jeers. Emperumanar Jeer & his successors have launched
several renovation programme, mainly concerning Towers.
The temple
is surrounded by high rise compound wall. The tower opposite the
Rajagopuram measures 192 feet in height with intricate sculptural wonders.
The idol of Tirvikramar in the standing posture, with one raised leg, surrounded
by worshipping idols. The idols are made of wood & it is indeed a wonder,
that though centuries have passed, the idols still appear fresh & bright
in a well preserved state. The Thayar is called Poongovil, enshrined
in a huge mandapam of great structural beauty. Goddess Durga, usually
seen in Saiva temples, is considered the custodian of the temple worshipped
with great devotion.
Devout Hindus
offer pindas and arrange samaradhanas on large scale at his place.
There are several sacred thirthas around this temple. One of them
is the Chakra Thirtha. It is believed that Brahma washed the feet
of Trivikrama with water from his kamandalam. This water is said
to have collected in a pool called Chakra Thirtha. According to tradition,
Agasthya bathed in this thirtha before the commencement of his dirghatapas
to get the darshan of Lord Trivikrama. Bathing in the waters of this
thirtham is considered very sacred, especially in the Tamil month Ani.
Some of the
other thirthas are
Mrikanda thirtham
- bathing here blesses one with health, wealth, strength, money, fame,
power and above all with offspring.
Kalava thirtham
- situated on the south-west of the main temple, the water is always pure,
clear, sweet and sparkles like crystal, purging off sins instantly.
Varaha Thirtham
- Parasuramar, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu is said to have bathed in
these holy waters to atone his sins of having killed the kshatriyas.
Pindasthanam
& Runavimochanam - famous for offering pindas.
Akasaganga
- Brahma is said to have done penance here & got the darshan of Trivikramar.
Contact
Arulmigu Thiruvikraswami thirukoil
Thirukovilur - 605757
Vizhupuram district
Tamilnadu
Mobile: +91 - 94862 79990
(also listed
under 108 Vaishnava Divya Desangal - Thirukkovalur
in Nadu Naadu).
Ashtalakshmi temple, Besant Nagar, Chennai
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