005. Thiru Anbil - Sri Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal Temple, Trichy
About the Temple & Location:
It is situated in Tamil Nadu. This divya desam is situated 8 Kms away from Vizhupuram Guard line. It is situatedon the North shore (Vadakarai) of collidam river. The bus way is through Kallannai to Kumbakonam. There is no plenty of transportation and boarding facility.
Sthala Puranam:
This Anbil Sthalam is closely related to great creators. This whole world was created by Lord Brahma and Valmiki Maharishi is great Saint (Muni) and has lots of good thoughts built-in. Both these two persons are very good examples of creating good things and dedicating it to this mighty world.
Based on the Kalyana gunam (Character) and Thiru Vadivam (shape) of Sriman Narayanan, they created good things and presented to the world. Behind this good creation, is the love (or) Anbu in Tamil on God. So, this sthalam is calle as "Anbil".
To all the creative people, all the things they see looks good and beautiful. Like the same way, the God here is Vadivazhagiya Nambi and Thaayar is Azhagiyavalli Naachiyar showing Shundhara - Sorobha Dharshanam.
Sundaram means "beautiful" and "good looking" and Soroobham means the body. Since, the Perumal and Thaayar are said to Good looking and beautiful, it is said the beauty of them attracts all of His bhakthaas.
"Anbae Kadavul, Anbae Azhaghu, Anbae Ulagam, Anbae Gnyanam and Anbae Padaippu"
This is quote told here and the explanation is "God is love, Beauty is Love, Love is the world, Love is the Gnayanam and Love is the creator. And all these beautiful issues indicates how beauty the Perumal is.
Thiru Anbil - Vadivazhagiya NambiMoolavar:
The Moolavar of this Sthalam is Vadivazhagiya Nambi. Moolavar in Kidantha Kolam and in Bhujanga sayanam and facing East direction.
Prathayaksham for Lord Brahma and Vaalmiki.
Thiru Anbil - Sundararaja Perumal
Thayaar
The Thayaar of this Sthalam is Azhagiya valli Naachiyaar.
Mangalasasanam:
Thirumazhisai Alwar - 1
Total - 1
Pushkarani:
1.Mandooga Pushkarani - Kollidam.
Vimanam:
Thaaraga Vimanam. Lots of sculptures found here.
Legend
Tharaga Vimanam, the roof over the sanctum As per Hindu legend, the sage Suthapa was doing penance under water at this place. As such, he did not observe that the sage Durvasa was waiting for him. The irritated Durvasa cursed Suthaba to become a frog (Mendaka). Suthaba requested Durvasa to relieve him of the curse. Durvasa explained to him that the curse was on account of the sin he had committed in his previous birth and the god Vishnu would free him. Suthaba, as a frog, continued his penance under water in the Mendaka Theertham in the temple and Vishnu appeared to him as Sundararajan.
As per another legend, the Hindu god of creation Brahma believed that he was the most handsome individual in the world as he created all the human beings. Vishnu learned this and cursed Brahma to be born as an earthly being. Brahma worshiped Vishnu for deliverance from the curse. Vishnu appeared as a handsome young man in front of him. Awed by the Vishnu's personality, Brahma inquired about him. Vishnu revealed his true form and conveyed to Brahma that physical appearance is temporary and one has to be good by heart.
Legend has it that Bhrama and Valmiki worshipped Vishnu here. A similar legend holds at the Anbilalanturai Shivastalam. Legend also has it that Mandookamuni in his state of intense underwater penance failed to pay his respects to the arriving Durvasa muni who cursed him to take up the form of a toad. Upon worshipping Vishnu at this shrine, the sage was relieved of his curse, and hence the name Mandooka pushkarini.
This Anbil Sthalam is closely related to great creators. This whole world was created by Lord Brahma and Valmiki Maharishi is great Saint (Muni) and has lots of good thoughts built-in. Both these two persons are very good examples of creating good things and dedicating it to this mighty world.
History and administration
The temple is located on the Northern bank of the river Kollidam, at a distance of 25 km (16 mi) from Trichy. King Sundara Chola, the ruler of the area, was a devotee of the temple. Upon his war victories, he donated immense wealth to this temple. His prime minister Anirudha Brahmarayar is believed to be from Anbil, the village where the temple is located. The copper plates from the Chola period from Anbil indicate a generous contribution from the Medieval Cholas The temple inscriptions indicate the legend of Vishnu appearing before sage Valmiki at this place.
The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu. An Executive officer appointed by the Board manages the temple along with Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple at Thiruvellarai, Sri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple at Woraiyur and Mariamman Temple at Anbil. Annadhanam scheme, which provides free food to devotees, is implemented in the temple by the Board. Under the scheme, free food is offered to hundred devotees every day in the temple and the expenditure is fully funded by the contributions from devotees.
Architecture The main entrance of the temple faces the east and has a 3-tiered raja gopuram, the gateway tower. The main shrine has the image of the presiding deity Sundararaja Perumal (Vishnu) in reclining posture over his divine serpent Adisesha. The images of his consorts Sridevi (Lakshmi) and Bhoodevi and Brahma are present in the sanctum. The festive image of Sundararajan - Vadivazhagiya Nambi - is housed in the sanctum. The precinct around the sanctum houses the shrines of the twelve Azhwars, Narasimha, Venugoplar, Lakshmi Narasimha (Lakshmi with Narasimha) and Hanuman. The structure of the roof over the sanctum is in the form of a gopuram, which is usually a feature in gateway tower. The front hall of the sanctum has a shrine for Andal in standing posture and has her bronze image in seated posture.
Religious significance
The temple mast found at the entrance of the temple
The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Tirumazhisai Alwar in two hymns. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. This temple is referred in a verse where the seven shrines featuring Vishnu in a reclining position - Tirukkudandai at Kumbakonam, Tiruvekkaa at Kanchipuram, Thiruevvul at Tiruvallur, Srirangam Rangathaswamy Temple, Tiruppernagar, Anbil and Tirupparkadal are mentioned. The temple is thronged by devotees praying for marriage. Special ablution is also performed for Andal seeking their wishes.
Thiru Anbil, or Sundararaja Perumal Temple is also known as Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal temple is situated in a village called Anbil, Tiruchirappalli/Trichy, Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Sri Vishnu. Sundararaja Perumal temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, worshipped as Sundararajan and his wife Sri Lakshmi as Sundaravalli. This temple is also known as “Pancha Ranga Kshetram” by Lord Vishnu. The temple is believed to have been built by the Chola kings in 8th century AD.
Festival and religious practices
The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Ushat-kalam at 7 a.m., Kalashanti at 8:00 a.m., Ucchi-kalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandam kalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), naivedyam (food offering) and dipa aradhanai (waving of lamps) for both Sundararajan and Sundaravalli. During the last step of worship, nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the Vedas.
Sundararaja Perumal Temple
Based on the Kalyana gunam (Character) and Thiru Vadivam (shape) of Sriman Narayanan, they created good things and presented to the world. Behind this good creation, is the love (or) Anbu in Tamil on God. So, this sthalam is calle as “Anbil”.
To all the creative people, all the things they see looks good and beautiful. Like the same way, the God here is Vadivazhagiya Nambi and Thaayar is Azhagiyavalli Naachiyar showing Shundhara – Sorobha Dharshanam.
Info About the Sundararaja Perumal Temple Deity:
In the temple of Sundararaja Perumal, Lord Vadivazhagiya Nambi / Sri Sundararaja Perumal gives the dharshan to his worshipers in an reclining posture with his companions Sri Devi and Goddess Boo Devi. This is one of the sacred places where Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva worshiped Sri Vadivazhagivya Nambi and were relieved of their sins. Lord Shiva as Bikshadanehwarar visited this temple before leaving for Thirukandiyur. Prathyaksham went to Lord Brahma and Maharishi Valmiki.
Anbil Sundararaja Perumal Temple Puja Timings:
Ushathkala Pooja – 7:00 AM
Kalasanthi Pooja – 8:00 AM
Uchikala Pooja – 12:00 Noon
Sayarakshai Pooja – 6:00 PM
Irandamkala Pooja – 7:00 PM
Ardha Jama Pooja – 8:00 PM
Anbil Sundararaja Perumal Temple Festivals
Theerthavari festival is celebrated in February or March.
Vaikunta Ekadasi is celebrated in December or January.
Pongal is celebrated in January.
Diwali is celebrated in October or November.
Anbil Sundararaja Perumal Temple Address:
Sundararaja Perumal Temple,
Tiru Anbil,
Trichy – 621 702,
Tamil Nadu.
Phone: 431 – 6590 672, 90034 69591
