Kazheesirama Vinnagaram
| Kazheesirama Vinnagaram | |
|---|---|
Thadalan Kovil | |
.jpg) Gopuram (entrance tower) of the temple | |
  Location in Tamil Nadu | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Mayiladuthurai |
| Deity | |
Features |
|
| Location | |
| Location | Sirkazhi |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Country | India |
| Coordinates | 11°14′26″N 79°43′53″E / 11.24056°N 79.73139°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Dravidian architecture |
| Creator | Chola Empire |
Kazheesirama Vinnagaram or Thadalan Kovil or Trivikrama Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu located in Sirkazhi, of Mayiladuthurai district, Tamil Nadu, India. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Trivikrama and his consort Lakshmi as Loganayagi. The temple is believed to have been built by Cholas, with later contributions from Medieval Cholas, Vijayanagara kings, and Madurai Nayaks.
The temple is found in Sirkazhi, and situated in a location called Thadalan Kovil. The temple complex actually houses all the shrines within large concentric walls completed by a three-tiered Rajagopuram (entrance tower). There are three major shrines in the temple, with the one of Trivikrama-Vishnu in the main sanctum and two other shrines of Loganyagi-Lakshmi and Andal being the most prominent. The temple's water tank, Chakra Tirtham, is located behind the shrine.
The Brahmotsavam festival is celebrated during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May–June). The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.[1] The temple follows the Vaishnava Tenkalai mode of worship.
Legend
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The temple finds mention in the Brahmanda Purana as Patalika Vanam and Uttama Kshetram. As per Hindu legend, Brahma boasted about his long life. A sage named Romas wanted to defeat Brahma's pride, and he performed severe penance at this place. Vishnu was pleased by his devotion, and Vishnu appeared before him. Upon the sage's further request, Vishnu appeared again as Trivikrama. He gave a boon to the sage that he would get a life longer than that of Brahma and blessed that with each falling hair of the sage, Brahma would lose one year.[2]
The Bhagavata Purana describes that Vishnu descended as the Vamana avatar to restore the authority of Indra over the heavens, as it had been taken by Mahabali, a benevolent asura King. Bali was the grandson of Prahlada. King Mahabali was generous and engaged in severe austerities and penance and won the praise of the world. With the praise from his courtiers and others, he regarded himself as all-powerful in the world. To defeat Mahabali's false pride, Vishnu appeared as Vamana, a short Brahmin carrying a wooden umbrella, and went to the king to request three paces of land. Mahabali consented, against the warning of his guru, Shukracharya. Vamana then revealed his true identity and enlarged to gigantic proportions to stride over the three worlds. He lifted his leg till the heaven for the first step, then till the earth for the second step, but did not have anything to step on for the third step. King Mahabali, unable to fulfil his promise, offered his head for the third. Vamana then placed His Foot and gave the king immortality for his humility. In worshipping Mahabali and his grandfather Prahlada, he was given sovereignty of Pátála, the netherworld. Some texts also report that Vamana did not step into the netherworld, and instead gave its rule to Bali. In giant form, Vamana is known as Trivikrama. The legend is associated with Thrikkakara Temple in Kerala, but also with this temple, the Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Tirukoyilur and the Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram. That makes a total of four shrines dedicated to the Vamana form in South India.[3][4][5]
Architecture
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The temple is located in the town of Sirkazhi in Mayiladuthurai district. The Vaishnavite poet-saint Thirumangai Alvar won an ideological debate challenge against the Shaivaite poet Sambandar by composing Pasurams (poems) in praise of Lord Vishnu, who is nicknamed as Mann alantha Tadalan meaning the one who measured the land.[6] The name Tadalan is in honour of the Trivikrama (Vamana) form, and the mulavar (main idol) fixed in the central shrine is in this form. The main idol of Trivikrama is made of black stone and shows Lord Vishnu as Vamana, having four hands which hold his symbols, the Sudarshana Chakra and the Panchajanya conch shell. He is balancing on one leg, lifting his left leg high. In front of the main idol are the utsavars (the metal processional idols) of Vishnu, Sridevi and Bhudevi. The presiding deity, Trivikrama, appeared for sage Ashtakoma.[7][8]
The temple has a rectangular plan with the sides of the temple covered by tall brick walls. The temple tower, the rajagopuram has a three-tiered structure. The sanctum is approached from the gateway tower through a flagpost, altar, an elevated hall and two other halls, namely the Mahamandapa and the Ardhamandapa. The shrine of Vishnu's wife Lakshmi as Lokanayagi is located in a shrine around the first sanctum in the north-western corner beyond the sanctum, and the shrine of the Vaishnavite poet Andal is located on the other corner. The temple's water tank, Chakra Tirtham, is located behind the main shrine.[5]
Religious importance
This place is believed to be where the sage Vishvamitra conducted his Yagna (fire sacrifice ritual) and came to be known as Siddhashrama. The place was in ruins at once, and an old lady is believed to have placed the idol in a pot of rice. When the poet Thirumangai Alvar visited the place, the lady handed over the idol to him, and Thirumangai is believed to have constructed the temple. V. V. S. Aiyar quotes that the 610th Tirukkural mentions the temple. It is also the place where Thirumangai Alvar, after coming back from North India, defeated Thirugnana Sambandar in a debate.[2] The temple is revered in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Thirumangai Alvar in one hymn of Thirunedunthandagam. The temple is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book.[5]
Worship and festivals
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The temple follows the Pancharatra Agama and the Vaishnavite Thenkalai tradition. The major festival celebrated in the temple is the 10-day Vaikasi Brahmotsavam, held during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May - June).[5]
In 2026, The temple had undergone renovations to restore its towers and the tank. The temple's grand Mahakumbabhishekam (reconsecration ritual) will be held on August 31, 2026.
References
- ↑ 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu. M. S. Ramesh, Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam.
- 1 2 R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001). An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam (1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 471–2.
- ↑ Parmeshwaranand, p. 1337
- ↑ Hoiberg 2001, p. 217
- 1 2 3 4 "Sri Trivikrama Temple". Dinamalar. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ↑ Journal of Indian history, Volumes 22-24.Dept. of Modern Indian History, 1943.
- ↑ Ayyar, P. V. Jagadisa (1982). South Indian Shrines: Illustrated. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. p. 534. ISBN 9788120601512.
- ↑ K.V., Raman; T., Padmaja (1995). Indian Epic Values: Rāmāyaṇa and Its Impact : Proceedings of the 8th International Rāmāyaạ Conference, Leuven, 6–8 July 1991. Peeters Publishers. pp. 85–86. ISBN 9789068317015.
External links
- Parmeshwaranand, Swami (2001). Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Puranas, Volume 1. Sarup & Sons. ISBN 9788176252263.
- Hoiberg, Dale; Ramchandani, Indu (2000). Students' Britannica India, Volumes 1-5. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 9780852297605.
