Sri Aandu Alakkum Ayan Perumal Temple

Sri Aandu Alakkum Ayan Perumal Temple near Kumbakonam is one of the 108 Divya Desams.dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Andalakkun ayyan temple here is one of the Vaishnava navagraha parihara sthalams around Kumbakonam. It is a Guru parihara sthalam. The main deity in this temple is Andalakkumayyan. He is present here facing East in Kidantha Kolam and Bujanga sayanam. He has been worshipped here by Brighu Maharishi, Kamadhenu, thirumangai Azhwar and Agni. His consort here is Ranganayaki Thayar also known as Kamalasini.The utsavar is Ranganathar.

The Rajagopuram is of three tiered structure. There is a sculpture of Lord Maha Vishnu on the Sanctum Vimana among three Boodha Ganas. The idol has been growing in years.

History and Significance:

Actually in Tamil, “Pasu” means cow. Kaamadhenu which is known to be a Divine cow is said to be good to give all sorts of wealth. During Kurma Avatharam taken by Lord Vishnu, all sorts of good things come out of it, which is used to the world. One of those things is Kaamadhenu, which is gifted to Indiran, the king of swargha Lokam.

Pasu (Cow) = Aa + than + oor. “Aa” means cow. Since, the Lord gave Prathyaksham for Kaamadhenu, this sthalam is called as “Thiru Adhanoor”.

The lord who is suppose to be the Paramaathma, resides (Urayum) on all of the hearts, which is considered as the place of stay of him. He is seeing all the activities of Jeevaathma by going in depth to call to cell. As the seva of this God, he holds of the leaf (Oolai Chuvadi) and a writing instrument, he calculates the good and bad activities of all the Jeevathmaas and based on the activities, he is ruling the Jeevathmaas. Because of this reason this Emperumal is called as “Aandu Alakkum Ayan”, as he keeps Marakkal, measuring instrument which is used as the measuring tool for measuring the good and bad activities. His right hand is the hand which serves all the necessary things needed for the world (Padi alakkum Kai(hand)) and left hand for writing.

The Sun which is arising above the Earth is one of the way he sees the world. The rays of the sun is the Eye of the God. All the things are happening only after his eyes are opened. He is not only serving for the Humans, (Mankind) but also to the flowers, rivers, mountains, animals etc. By going indepth into their body as sun rays, he is taking them along their way. Not even a single cell and its activities can escape from his Suns rays in this world.

Because of reason, this Kshethram is called as “Aadhavaa Oor”, which is laterly called as “Adhanoor”. Aadhavan means sun and at the same time as the name implies, the pushkarani here is Soorya (Soorya means Sun in tamil)pushkarani.

Another Legend for the Name Adhanoor – Kamadhenu, a divine goddess came ahead of Goddess Lakshmi from Parkadal. Hence she felt that she should be honored by everyone first and foremost ahead of Lakshmi Devi.  Lord Paranthaman decided to teach her a lesson and gave Marakkal ( In olden days in Tamilnadu food grains were used to be measured  in a Cylindrical shaped container made of wood, brass, iron etc … commonly called as Padi ) and asked to fill with all the Ayshwaryam she was having. Kamadhenu was failed to fill because of her envy, where as Lord Lakshmi Devi filled the Marakkal by praying Lord Vishnu and just with One Leaf of Thulasi. Kamadhenu learnt a lesson, surrendered herself to Lord Vishnu and started a Penance. Hence this place is being worshipped as Aadhanoor – Aa Dhan Oor. Aa means Cow, Kamadhenu. Dhan means Penance and Oor means a Residing Place.

Festivals:

Adi Pooram, 10 day Brahmmotasavam in Vaikasi (May-June) Month and Pavitrotsavam in Avani Month are some of the important festivals.

Info on the deity – Specific to the temple deity:

The Moolavar of this Sri Aandu Alakkum Ayan Perumal Temple is Sri Aandu Alakkum Ayan (Aandallukumayan) in a reclining posture facing east direction. The lord gives seva along with Ranganayaki Thaayar in this sthalam having Marakkaal (Which is used as a measuring tool) below his head and a writing instrument, Ezhuthaani and Palm leaf in his left head. Prathyaksham for Thirumangai Alwar and Kamadhenu, the Cow.

Temple Timing:

Sri Aandu Alakkum Ayan Perumal Temple is open from 7.00 a.m. to 12.30 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m

How to reach:

Thiru Sri Aandu Alakkum Ayan Perumal Temple is just about a kilometer from another Divya Desam,  Thirupullaboothangudi. It is 11 kms from Kumbakonam and 5.5 Kms from Swami Malai. There are buses that ply every half an hour from Swami Malai and Kumbakonam to Thiru Adhanoor.

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