Vijayaraghava Perumal temple

Vijayaraghava Perumal temple
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geography
Coordinates 12°52′21″N 79°37′08″E / 12.87250°N 79.61889°E / 12.87250; 79.61889Coordinates: 12°52′21″N 79°37′08″E / 12.87250°N 79.61889°E / 12.87250; 79.61889
Country India
State Tamil Nadu
District Kanchipuram
Location Tamil Nadu, India
Culture
Sanctum

Vijayaraghavaswamy (Vishnu)

Margathavalli Thayar (Lakshmi)
Architecture
Architecture Dravidian architecture

Vijayaraghava Perumal temple is a Vishnu temple in Thiruputkuzhi, a village in Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated about 7 miles west of Kanchipuram and half a kilometre from Baluchetti Chattiram which lies on the Chennai - Vellore highway. Constructed in Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is counted as one among the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu. Vishnu is worshiped as Vijayaraghava Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Maragathavalli Thayar.

The temple is believed to be of significant antiquity and is believed to be initiated by the Pandyas, with later contributions at different times from Cholas and Thanjavur Nayaks. The temple has three inscriptions dating from the Chola period. The temple has a five-tiered rajagopuram (gateway tower) and enshrined within a granite wall. The complex contains all the shrines while the temple tank, is located to the west of the temple.

Architecture

The temple is believed to have been built by the Pandya kings during the 13th century, as seen from the stone inscriptions in the temple.[1] The temple here is one among the 108 Divya Desams and is dedicated to Lord Vijayaraghavaswamy (Moolavar). There is a separate temple for Thayar in the form of Margathavalli Thayar and a sannidhi for Sri Ramanuja. The central shrine houses the image of the presiding deity, Vijayaraghava sported with four hands. He is seen in a posture holding the bird Jatayu and performing the last rites. Sridevi and Bhudevi are sported alongside with their head facing earth. It is believed that the image is sported to indicate sorrow on the faces. Sridevi who is usually sported on the right side of Perumal is located to his left in this temple probably because of the sorrow created by the death of Jatayu. Ramanuja, the preceptor of Vaishanavadvaita philosophy had her early education at this temple.[2]

Legend

Temple Tank

Jatayu, the eagle bird in Ramayana was killed by the demon king Ravana, while trying to save Sita during the abduction. Rama, the avatar of Vishnu and the hero of Ramayana, who was in search of his wife Sita arrived at this place. When Rama and Lakshmana went there in search of Sita, they find Jatayu mortally wounded in the forest.[3] The eagle Jatayu narrated the events to Rama before breathing his last. The presiding deity, Vijayaraghava Perumal is believed to have performed the last rites of Jataya at this place. The water body where Jatayu fell is called Jatayu Theertham.[1] Jatayu belongs to the Pul (a separate family of eagle) family and was buried in a pit (Tamil kuzhi), hence this sthalam is called Thiruputkuzhi. The eagle Jatayu narrated the events to Rama before breathing his last. The presiding deity, Vijayaraghava Perumal is believed to have performed the last rites of Jataya at this place. The water body where Jatayu fell is called Jatayu Theertham.[1]

Religious importance

Temple Gopuram

Thiruputkuzhi is believed to be the birthplace of Yadavaprakasa, the teacher of Vaishanava saint Ramanuja and also that of Pinpazhagiya Perumal Jeeyar. Vedanta Desika composed hymns praising the presiding deity. Thirumangai Azhwar has also reverred the temple in his verses.[1] The temple follows Pancharaktha Agama and the worship practises are carried out by hereditary priests belonging to the Porakathi Bhattar sect.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 C., Chandramouli (2003). Temples of Tamil Nadu Kancheepuram District. Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu.
  2. ↑ M. S., Ramesh (1993). 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Volume 1. Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam. p. 109.
  3. ↑ K.V., Raman; T., Padmaja (1995) [1991]. "Indian Epic Values: Rāmāyaṇa and Its Impact : Proceedings of the 8th International Rāmāyaạ Conference". Peeters Publishers: 86. ISBN 978-9068317015.

External

  • "Thiruputkuzhi - Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple, Tirupukuzhi". Divyadesam.com. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  • "Thiruputkuzhi Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple". Sri Vaishnavam Practices. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
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