Pancha Krishnaranya kshetrams
The Pancha Krishnaranya kshetrams or Panchakanna temples namely Tirukoilur or Tirukoviloor, Tirukannankudi, Kapistlam, Tirukannapuram and Thirukannamgai, part of the 108 Divyadesams, are all located in interior Tamilnadu in and around Kaveri and its Tributaries. The unique feature of these temples is that the processional deity and the presiding deity are different. In these kshethrams the Presiding deity is Lord Perumal and the processional deity isLord Krishna and hence they are called Pancha Krishnaranya kshetrams or Panchakanna temples
Route : Chennai - Thirukannapuram - Thirukannangudi - Thirukannanmangai - Kabusthalam - Thirukoilure - Chennai
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Route : Chennai - Thirukoilure - Kabistahlam - Thirukannamangai - Thirukannangudi - Thirukannanpuram - Chennai
Thirukannapuram Sowrirajaperumal Temple
Timings : 6.00 am to 12.00 noon 4.30 to 8.00 pm
Phone ; 04366 270570, 270718 099426 56580.
Covered by a huge wall, this large temple measuring 1.5 acres has a seven tiered Rajagopuram and a big tank called Nithya Pushkarni. It is believed that a bath in this tank and performing rituals for the ancestors is auspicious. Inside there is a 60 feet tall gopuram. Seven theerthams are found here of which 3 are inside the complex. One of the 108 divya desams, Andal, Kulasekara Azhwar, Thirumangai Azhwar and Nammazhwar have sung pasurams. Thirumangai had sung around 128 Pasurams on the Lord.. Azhwar was taught by the Lord the holy Ashtakshara Mantram of 8 syllables in which the Lord is believed to reside and so names as Srimadh Ashtakshara Mahamantra Siddhi Kshetram.
It is also one of temple for salvation, the others being Tirupathi, Srirangam, Srimushnam, Nanguneri, Badrinath, Saligram and Pushkar. It is believed that devotees experience a unique vibration in the Moolasthanam of this temple embodifying the essence of all the eight letters of Ashtakshara Mantra (Om Namo Narayanaya).
Vibhishanan got the darshanam of Sri Ranganathar at Sri Rangam. Since he to have another darshan of the Lords in standing posture, he was guided to visit Keezhakku Veedu (Eastern Gate – Srirangam, Tirupathi @ west, Thirumaliruncholai @ north and Azhgarkoil being South which was Thirukannapuram on a New Moon Day (Amavasya). The Lord displayed his gait by walking from His shrine to Vibhishanan’s shrine, where his daughter Trisadai is also present. This happensd every Amavasya. Shri Neelamegaperumal is in standing position in this temple.
The uniqueness of the temple is that the Lord shows the Trimurthy Swaroopam only here -Vishnu during the day, Brahma during the night and Shiva in the early morning of the next day! Hence for a short time in the morning, on the 7th day of Vaikasi, the Lord is adorned with Vibhuthi which is the prasadam here.
The next story involves Dushyanthan and Shakuntala, when the fish caught by a fisherman was cut open in Dushyantan’s kitchen, the king found the wedding ring he put on Shakuntala’s finge and he remembered the past.. Hence the fishermen are called Bharatavar ( having united Bharatha with his father). Shri Neelamega Perumal married Shri Padmavathi, who was raised by fishermen and hence considered as a Sembadava Lady (women of Fisherman tribe).
It is also believed that a local king used to send flowers for pooja out of which, The Bhattar used a part for one of the ladies of his family. when the flower prasadam was sent to the king one dayhe found a strand of hair. When the intrigued King checked, Bhattar maintained that the flowers came after adorning the Lord who had a tuft on His head. When the king wanted to examine the idol, Bhattar was in a fix and repented for his mistake and prayed to the Lord to save him.
Next day, when the king visited the temple, he could see hair (wig or sowri) on the Lord’s head! From that day, the Lord was called Sowrirajan. Sowri also means beauty and one who is present in all the Yugas. This Kshetram is said to have seen 75 Chatur Yugas. Since the Lord is very beautiful, he is called named Sowrirajan.
a king an dhis daughter was taking bath in Tamiraparani river, the king Chithasravas and his daughter Uthamai were lost in the flood waters. Based on the dream of one of the ministers about the king and his daughter, when consulted sage Agasthya suggested that they should visit Thirukannapuram. It is believed that, in the Nithya Pushkarni, all the holy rivers of the world mingle to make it holy. Hence, the king and his daughter were brought by Tamiraparani to this pushkarni and the Lord brought them safe.
The special prasadam in this temple is called Munayathu Arayar Pongal. There are two associated stories which goes like this.
A local resident Munayathu Arayar was in the habit of taking his dinner only after offering it to the Lord. It is believed that one day, he had the Lord himself come to partake his offering. When the Bhattar opened the Lord’s shrine next day, he was amazed that morsels of Pongal was on the Lord . They realised that that it was the simple offering of rice, lentil, ghee and salt which later became the unique prasadam of this temple.
Another story says that Arayar, a Vishnu devotee, residing at Thirukannapuram, was an official for collection of taxes. Once when there were floods, Arayar used all the tax collections for feeding the people. The king was angry and imprisioned Munayathu Arayar. Viragadibhogam, a maiden who revered Arayar prayed the Lord to release Munayathu Arayar. She made this pongal and offered as Neyvedhyam to the Lord, who was pleased with her devotion, the Lord and appeared in the dream of the king and ordered him to release His devotee immediately.
Some sages meditating on Vishnu, foregoing even water and food were soon reduced to look like paddy stalks. When the King’s soldiers who were in need of food grains were about to cut the stalk like Rishis, The Lord appeared as a boy and defeated the entire army. When the king heard about this he used Ashtakshra Mantra against the boy which amazingly surrendered to him. The King then realised that it was the Lord himself who appeared as a small boy. The temple is believed to have been built by King Uparisavasu with the help of Vishwakarma.
The Main shrine has Shri Neelamega Perumal with Sridevi and Bhoodevi by His side. We also see Dandaka Rishi and Garuda. The utsava murthy Sri Sowriraja Perumal seen in the Moolasthanam along with four Devis - Sridevi, Bhoodevi, Andal and Padmini. Santhana Krishnan and Chakarathu Azhwar grace with their presence.
Neelamega Perumal appears with the Disc (Chakra) about to be launched. It is only believed that this temple was so large that it had seven compound walls and it stretched upto 13 miles towards the sea shore. The ruling king who was not a Vishnu devotee was troubling the devotees of this Lord. When one of the devotees pleaded with the Lord to protect them and as there was no response, he threw a disc at the idol. The dent/scar is still believed to be present on the body of the Lord. Later on the request of the devotee, the Lord launched His disc and destroyed the invaders and in this process, six of the seven walls also were removed.
The Navagrahas who are believed to be under the control of Sri Rama and Seetha. Were installed by Indra with Zodiac signs on the wall under the tower facing west. Since the Lord is believed to have created the Swarga Vaikunta in this place, there is no Sorga Vasal (Paramapada Vasal) here. Devotees cannot have darshan of it as it is covered by walls on all the four sides. There is a belief that this is done so that the Rishis who are performing Tapas on the Vimanam, are not disturbed.
Neelamega Perumal is in standing posture, facing east with two Abhaya Mudhra Signifying Asylum for believers and Boon giving.. Generally we see Abhaya Hastham; Here, like Kanchi Varadaraja Perumal temple, it is Varada Hastham. Some believe that His mudra is equivalent to seeking alms - receiving all the sins and sorrows of His devotees!
There is a puranic incident which made Garuda his Vahan. Once when Garuda was returning carrying nectar from Parkadal needed to free his mother from slavery When he flew over this place, he had a sense of superiority over others for getting the nectar and Lord wanted to teach him a lesson. All of a sudden Garuda lost all his strength and fell into the sea. Realising his mistakes, He sat on a rock near the sea and Prayed to Lord Vishnu. The Lord pardoned him but magnanimously accepted him as his vahan and hence his presence in the Moolasthanam. This event is being celebrated every year during the full moon day in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-mar).
It is believed that the Azhwar sang the kulasekara alwar pasuram in this temple, a lullaby, with the idol of the Lord on his lap and treating him a as Child. Daily poojas are performed twice and vadamala is one of the important offerings to Anjaneya Murthy.
Kapisthalam Gajendravaradar Temple
Temple timings : 7.00-12.00-5.00-7.30-
Phone : 04374 225434 – Seshadri Bhattar
15 kms form kumbakonam. 7th century temple with Five tiered gopuram. The large land area is including the pushkarnis, Gajendra Pushkarni and Kapila Theertham covered by a granite wall. The sthala vruksham is Magizha Tree.
Gajendra Varadar is Presiding deity and Utsavar is Dhamodara Narayanan. The Thayars are Ramamani Valli and Loganayaki. One of the Pancha Krishnaranya kshethram where Krishnan as the Utsavar gets precedence over the presiding deity
Gajendra Moksham story is well known. There lived a king by name Indrajuman who was such a staunch Vishnu devotee that he neglected his kingdom and lost it. Once He was in Vishnu pooja and failed to see the arrival of Sage Durvasa. The Rishi thought that the king was arrogant and cursed him to become a wild elephant. When the king sought relief from curse, the Sage advised him to continue with his Pooja and the Lord Vishnu would give relief.. In the same place, a Gandharva named Koohoo was troubling every one. He caught the legs of the sage agasthya during his snanam. The Rishi cursed him to become a crocodile in the temple tank and his deliverance will happen in the hands of Vishnu.
When Gajendra came for plucking the lotus flowers of the tank for Pooja, Koohoo caught his legs. The elephant called out to Lord Vishnu as Adimoolame and the Lord killed the crocodile with His disc. In view of this, both Indrajuman and Koohoo got liberated of their curse. Hanuman a monkey (Known as Kavi OR Kabi0 got darshan of this Lord in this place and this place came to be called Kabisthalam or Kavisthalam.
The Moolavar faces east in the Bhujanga Sayana ( reclining ) posture. He has various thiru namams namely - Gajendravaradar, Adimoolaperumal and Krishnan. Similarly Thayars are also called Ramamanivalli, Shenbagavalli and Pon Thamarayal. Thayar’s shrine is on the right side of the Moolasthanam.
Azhwar in his pasurams praises him as “ Attrangarai Kidakkum Kannan” ( Kannan reclining on the river bed ) and hence has been called kannan henceforth. This is a unique Divya Desam where the Lord had given darshan and redemption to two non-humans ( elephant and crocodile) and darshan to a monkey (Hanuman). Praying here gives relief from the ill effects of Rahu.
Sri Loganatha Perumal Temple:
Timings: 8.00 - 12.00 5.00 pm - 09.00
Phone 04365 – 245350 9442861719, 9943138591
The presiding deity is Sri Loganathan perumal (also called Shymalameni perumal) in standing posture and thayar is Loganayaki thayar. The urchavar idols are called Damodara Narayanan perumal and Aravindavalli thayar.
This is the final point of Krishnaranya Kshetram, which begins at Naachiyar Koil in Thiru Naraiyur and passes through Thiru Cherai, Kannamangai and Kannapuram.
Vashita Maharishi made an idol of Krishna in Butter which didn’t melt. For many years he worshipped Lord Krishna made out of butter. To test him the Lord transformed himself into a small boy (of Yadhava caste or Idai kulam) and started eating the butter idol. Vashita lost his temper and chased the boy. when the boy was crossing a Magizha Maram, other rishi's who were performing penance there caught the boy and tied him up in the tree. Then they found that Lord Krishna was standing at the boys place and showers his blessings from the same lace Lord Dhamodhara and Dhamodhara Narayanan.
So the place where Lord Krishna was tied here by the sages is known as Thirukannankudi (Kudi means place of stay).
This place is related to Ramayana and Mahabaratha. In Ramayana, Lord Rama was the disciple of Vashista Maharishi but at this place Lord Krishna assumes the role of teacher and taught gnanam to his student Vashista.
In Mahabharatham, Lord Krishna was tied by Mother Yashoda for the reason of eating butter. For a similar reason he was tied here by rishi's.
1. Thirumangai’s praise of the Tamarind tree
Thirumangai Azhvaar while coming to Nagai was tired and wanted to rest and so lay under a Tamarind tree at Thiru Kannankudi. Thirumangai asked the tree to wake him up if someone came there. The next morning when the owner of the plot arrived to resume work, the tamarind tree dropped its leaves on Thirumangai to wake up the Azhvaar.
2. Pending cases at Kannankudi
Thirumangai and the owner of the plot argued about its ownership. Thirumangai argued that the documents were in Srirangam and that he would come back in a day or two with the same He never returned and the case is said to have remained pending. Disputes in ThiruKannangudi never reach a decision
3. Dry Wells at Thiru Kannangudi
A thirsty Thirumangai is said to have walked up to the womenfolk near the well and asked for water. Scared after his fight with the plot owner, they were worried that he would fight with them on the ownership of the well and hence refused to give him water. Angered Thiru Mangai Azhvaar pronounced a curse stating that the water would not fill up in the well. To this day, wells in Thiru Kannankudi are seen dried up. Rarely when it fills up, it tastes salty.
4. Lord quenches Thirumangai’s thirst
The Lord of Thiru Kannankudi is said to have presented a tired and thirsty Thiru Mangai with food and water and disappeared once he was satisfied
A Bewildered Thirumangai, on his way back, met a man who seemed to have a conch and chakra but disappeared immediately. Since Thirumangai had earlier told the Lord’s enquiry about his background saying that he was a vagabond and Hence, the Lord is believed to have given him just one quick glimpse of his full vision and then disappeared.
Unlike in other Divya Desams here the Garuda is seen here with his hands around his body and not with folded hands.
In this temple the Moolavar and Utsavar idols of Goddess are similar which is not seen in any other Divya Desam.
Thirukannamangai Bhakthavatsala perumal temple
Timings : 8.00 – 12.00 5.00 – 8.30 p.m.
Phone : 04366 278 288 98658 34676
This temple is believed to have been built during the 7th century by the Cholas and modified by the Tanjavur Nayaks. The 90 feet, five tiered gopuram is impressive with the main entrance facing east. With a smaller tower on the western side, The entire complex is enclosed by a granite wall with three prakarams. The temple pushkarni which is one of the largest (Darshana Pushkarni) is opposite the temple. The Chithirai Brahmotsavam is the most important festival in this temple. This temple follows the Tenkalai tradition and follows Vaikanasa Agama.
During the churning of the Milk Ocean, after th evarious divine things like celestial vruksham Karpagam, Mahalakshmi appeared. When She saw Lord Vishnu, She was enamoured with him while her natural shyness prevented from openly declaring Her desire. She chose to come to this place which was full of Mahizha trees and performed penance. Hence this place came to be called Lakshmivanam.
Generally, in places associated with Krishna, Gopika Sthrees are predominant. However this place is known more for the penance performed by Thayar Mahalakshmi and hence Gopikas are absent. The place came to be called Thiru Kanna Mangai (wife/lover of Kannan) in her honour. She took the Lord’s hand after He performed abhishekam to Her and so She is called Abhishekavalli. The place where She performed tapas, is called Shree Mandapam, as Shree is one of Her namakarnam.
Lord wanted to marry Her and ordered to fix the appropriate muhurtham and then came to this place to marry her amidst the chanting of Vedic hymns. Since he came from far off Milk Ocean ( Thiruparkadal), He is called Perum Pura Kadal. Mother got his darhsan after she took bath and prayed, the pushkarni is called Darshana Pushkarni. It is also told that Chandra had His curse removed after merely sighting this pushkarni and hence it is called Darshana Pushkarni. When in Vamana Avataram, Lord raised one of His feet to measure the space granted by Mahabali, Brahma saw the Foot of the Lord and performed abhishekam to the Lotus Foot, a drop of which had fallen on this pushkarni. It is believed that the Pushkarni came into existence when the Lord pressed one of His toes. A bath in this tank during the Tamil month of Masi, is believed to give immense benefits.
The temple is better known by the name of the Utsava Murthy-Shri Bhakthavatsalan, While the Moolavar is called Perumpurakkadal and is a gigantic Murthy of around 16 feet in height. The tallest among Vishnu temples signifies that He would be blessing the devotees with all the 16 boons ( one normally wishes for). In this Krishna Mangala Kshetram, Thayar appears in wedding posture which is believed to have happened in the four pillared Shree mandapam in front of the shrine. The four pillars represent the four Vedas and Brahma officiated as the priest. The Thayars are Kannamangai Nayaki and Abhisheka Valli. The Peria Tirumanjanam (Jeshtabhishekam) for the Moolavar, is done only once a year. It is generally done in the month of Aadi (July-Aug). This is a kshetram where Varuna worshipped the Lord.
Rishi Romesar explained to the Pandavas the story of Nala in this place. It is believed that this Rishi and all the Devas assembled in this place to witness the marriage of Thayar with the Lord by coming in the form of Bees. Hence we find a big beehive on the Artha Mandapam in front of Thayar shrine, on the rectangular windows on the southern and northern walls. Uniquely, during uttarayanam (Jan middle to July middle), the bees occupy only the northern window and during dakshinayanam (July middle to Jan middle), the southern window!
There is a belief that Lord Shiva protects this place by remaining in four different forms in the four directions. Vishvaksenar here appears only with two hands as He came to seek audience with Thayar to finalise the marriage and hence took the human form.
There are a lot of similarities between this temple and the one in Thiruninravur, near Chennai. Both are Divya Desams and In both, the Lord is called Bakthavatsalan. Thirumangaiazhwar sang about the Lord in both the places. It is believed that Perumal had to come from Thiruninravur in search of the Azhwar to this place and sought Pasuram, as demanded by the Thayar there! In both the places, Thayar performed penance to marry the Lord. In both the places, one of the names of the Thayars is Abhishekavalli. The Vimanams in both the temples are Utpala vimanams. In both the places, Varuna was blessed by the Lord. Both are Sapthamirtha Kshetrams. These kshetrams have seven places which contain Amirtham (Nectar)-Vimanam, Mandapam, forest around the temple, river, location of the temple, town and the pushkarni- and hence are called Saptha Amirtha kshetrams.
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