Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple

Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple or Thiruvellarai is situated in Tamil Nadu near Tiruchirapalli (Trichy). It is located at a distance of 27 km from Trichy, en route to Turaiyur. This place has Sri Pundarikasha Perumal Temple, one of the 108 Divya desams. Here Lord Vishnu is worshipped as Pundarikakshan and his consort Lakshmi as Pankajavalli.

History and Significance:

Vellarai means white rock. Since, this sthalam is situated 100 feet high in the top of the small mountain, which is white in colour, this sthalam is called “Thiru Vellarai”. Here a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, Pundarikan, established a garden here and worshipped the Lord with Tulsi leaves grown here. The Lord pleased with his worship gave darshan to him and came to be known as Pundarikaksham.

As per Hindu legend, when Sibi Chakravarthi stayed there with his warriors, a white boar crossed his path. He chased it and the boar hid inside a hole. Markandeya, a sage, was doing penance there and the king narrated the incident to him. The sage asked the king to fill the hole with milk. While doing so, Hindu god Vishnu appeared before them. The sage asked the king to bring 3700 Vaishnavites from the north and build a temple on the site for Vishnu. As requested, the king took 3700 Vaishnavites and started building the temple. While doing so, one of the Vaishnavites was killed in transit and the king was concerned by the accident. Vishnu appeared incognito as Pundarikakshan, a Vaishnavite, and requested to be counted among the 3700.

According to another legend Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, performed penance at the temple, and Vishnu appeared before her as Sengamalakannan. The presiding deity has since been called “Thamarai Kannan”, meaning the one who has eyes resembling lotus; his consort is called “Pankacha Valli”. The Hindu god Shiva in form of Neelivaneswarar is believed to have worshiped Pundarikakshan to absolve himself from the sin of holding Brahma’s severed head. Vishnu appeared to both Shiva and Brahma, adhering to their prayers.

Festivals:

The Chariot festival is the most prominent festival of the Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple, and for the surrounding villages. It is celebrated during the Tamil month of Chittirai (March–April) when devotees pull the chariot round the streets of Tirvellarai. Verses from Nalayira Divya Prabandham are recited by a group of temple priests amidst music with nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument). The chariot festival is unique in the state as a community feast is offered by several individuals and committees, a custom many centuries old. The processional idols of Pundarikakshan and Pankajavalli are brought to the temple car early in the morning amidst religious chanting. Ratharohanam, the rituals associated with taking the idols to the temple car, is performed at an auspicious time before commencing the procession.

Info on the deity – Specific to the temple deity:

The Moolavar of this Sthalam is Pundarikashan, standing position facing east direction. Prathyaksham was for Garudan, called as “Periya Thiruvadi”, Sibi chakravarthy, Bhoomi Piratti, Maarkandeya Maharishi, Lord Brahma, Rudhran (Lord Shiva). This temple has been dedicated to Lord Varaha. So this temple is also called as Swedha varaha kshetharam.

Thayaar of the Sthalam is Goddess Shenbagavalli. Also called as “Peri Piraattiyaar Lakshmi Devi”. Here Thayar gets the first rights over Perumal.

Temple Pooja Daily Schedule:

The Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple remains open from 9am-1pm and 3.45pm- 7.45pm.

How to reach:

Pundarikakshan Perumal temple is located in Thiruvellarai, a village 27 km (17 mi) from Tiruchirappalli, on the Thuraiyur road,13 km from the bus stop.

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