Thiru Indhaloor – Sri Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple, Mayavaram
About the Temple & Location
Parimala Ranganathar Perumal Temples or Thiruindalur is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, located in Thiruvilandur of Mayiladuthurai, a town in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.
This temple is along Kaveri and is one of the Pancharanga Kshetram. This temple lies in the Tanjore district of TamilNadu. (Should cross the River Cauvery which is in the North direction to Mayuram town and the temple is in the Northeast direction to Mayuram.) or (By crossing the river Cauvery which is in the North side to the Mayuram town we cab reach this temple which is in the Northeastern direction to the town).
The temple is believed to be of significant antiquity with contributions at different times from Medieval Cholas, Vijayanagar Empire and Madurai Nayaks. The temple is enshrined within a granite wall and the complex contains all the shrines of the temple. The rajagopuram (the main gateway) has five tiers.
Parimala Ranganathar is believed to have appeared for Chandra, the moon god. The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and twelve yearly festivals on its calendar. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Institutions Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The temple is one of the prominent tourist destinations in the district.
Sthala Puranam:
Indhu means moon. As perumal received Chandra (Moon) from his curse, this place is known as Indhaloor.
Lord Narayana gave dharsan as Vennchudar perumal in the standing posture to the Moon god in Thalachangadu. But here at this place he is in Veera Sayanam posture.
There he was full of light being as Vyomajyothi piran. But here he is full of fragrance (Parimalam) and hence he is called Parimala Rangan. He has 4 hands here.
River Cauvery is under his feet here. As he promised river Cauvery to increase its status, he made her as his bed at Srirangam, took her as his mother at Thirucherai and here at Thiru Indhaloor, he has taken river Cauvery above his head. Thus gave her the status of river Ganges who is on the head of Lord Shiva.
As the perumal of this place, converted the position of river Cauvery and Lord Chandra into a pious state, Thirumangaialwar calls him as a Brahmin.
The vedas were created to instruct rules for human beings to lead a happy life. The Surya and Chandra revolve around the world to give prosperity (like wheels ie Chakra). Hence the vimana of this place is called Veda Chakra Vimaanam.
Sri Rangam is known as Aadhi Arangam (first) while Thirukudanthai is Madhiya Arangam (Middle) and Thiru Indhaloor is known as Andiya Arangam (Last).
Legend
According to Hindu legend, the place is where moon god, Chandra is believed to have been relieved of his curse. Indu means moon and the place Tiruindaloor derives its name from the legend. Chandra worshiped Vishnu who appeared to please the devotee.
According to another legend, the azhwar saint Thirumangai Azhwar visited the temple and the doors were locked at the time. He was singing praise of Parimala Ranganathar, but the door still was not open. After continuous singing, he became frustrated at one point and so asked Parimala Ranganathar to keep the temple for himself, when the doors were opened.
Architecture
The central shrine, of the presiding deity Parimala Ranganathar, is made of 12 ft (3.7 m) green stone. The deity is seen in a reclining posture, facing east. The consort of Parimala Ranganathar is Parimala Ranganayaki, who is also called Chandra Sapa Vimochanavalli and Pundarika Valli. The sanctum houses the images of river gods Kaveri and Ganga, as well as that of Santhanagopalakrishnan. The Hindu god of creation, Brahma, is sculpted on the wall. The temple has shrines of Yoga Narasimhar, Rama, Anjaneya, Surya and Chandra. This temple has three prakarams (precincts) that house all the shrines and has a five-tier, east-facing Rajagopuram. The Dwajasthamba Mandapam and Garuda Mandapam have sculpted pillars, with the latter having images of ten avatars of Vishnu.
Religious significance
The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon and classified as a divyadesam, the 108 Vishnu temples that are revered in the Vaishnava canon.
According to another legend, the azhwar saint Thirumangai Azhwar visited the temple and the doors were locked at the time. He was singing praise of Parimala Ranganathar, but the door still was not open. After continuous singing, he became frustrated at one point and so asked Parimala Ranganathar to keep the temple for himself, when the doors were opened.
Architecture
The central shrine, of the presiding deity Parimala Ranganathar, is made of 12 ft (3.7 m) green stone. The deity is seen in a reclining posture, facing east. The consort of Parimala Ranganathar is Parimala Ranganayaki, who is also called Chandra Sapa Vimochanavalli and Pundarika Valli. The sanctum houses the images of river gods Kaveri and Ganga, as well as that of Santhanagopalakrishnan. The Hindu god of creation, Brahma, is sculpted on the wall. The temple has shrines of Yoga Narasimhar, Rama, Anjaneya, Surya and Chandra. This temple has three prakarams (precincts) that house all the shrines and has a five-tier, east-facing Rajagopuram. The Dwajasthamba Mandapam and Garuda Mandapam have sculpted pillars, with the latter having images of ten avatars of Vishnu.
Religious significance
The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon and classified as a divyadesam, the 108 Vishnu temples that are revered in the Vaishnava canon.
Pancharanga Kshetram (also called Pancharangams, meaning the "five Rangams or Ranganathas'') is a group of five sacred Hindu temples, dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of the god Vishnu, on the banks of the Kaveri River. The five Pancharanga Kshetram in the order of their successive locations, on the banks of the Kaveri River are: The Srirangapatnam called the Adi Ranga, the first temple on the banks of the Kaveri River from the upstream side; the Srirangam (island in Tiruchirappalli) in Tamil Nadu known as Adya Ranga (the last temple), Appalarangam or Koviladi at Tiurppernagar in Tamil Nadu, Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple, Mayiladuthurai and Vatarangam at Sirkazhi. The Sarangapani temple at Kumbakonam is mentioned in place of Vatarangam in some references.
Worship and festivals
The temple follows Pancharatra Agama and thenkalai tradition. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. Like other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; Tiruvanandal at 8:00 a.m., Kala santhi at 9:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:30 p.m., Niyyanusandhanam at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:30 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 9:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Parimala Ranganathar and Thayar. The food offerings during the six times are curd rice, Ven pongal, spiced rice, dosa, Ven pongal and sugar pongal respectively. The worship is held amidst music with nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument), religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, fortnightly and monthly rituals.
The major festival celebrated in the temple is the Chitrai festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Chittirai. The other festivals in the temple include the 10-day Aaandal Aadi festival celebrated during July–August, Thayar Navaratri Utsavam during the Tamil month of Purattasi (September - October), 10-day Aipasi Thula Mahostavam during Aipasi (October - November), 10-day Vaikunta Ekadasi during Margazhi (December - January), Makara Sankranthi during January and Panguni Brahmotsavam during the month of Panguni (March - April).
Moolavar:
The Moolavar of this sthalam is Sri Parimala Ranganathan. Also called as Maru viniya Maindhan, Sugantha Vananathan, and Andhiya Rangan. He is giving his seva in Kidantha (Sleeping) Thirukkolam in Veera Sayanam facing his thirumugham towards east direction. Prathyaksham for Chandiran (Moon god).
Thayaar:
The Thayaar found in this sthalam is Parimala Ranganayaki. Also known as Chandra shaba vimosana valli and Pundarigavalli.
Utsavam:
This temple is in the ceremonious mood throughout the tamil month Aippasi. A handicapped devotee came to take bath and gained puniya equivalent to that gained on the Aippasi month. This is celebrated every year as “Mudava Muzhuku” in a special manner.
Mangalasasanam:
Thirumangaialwar – 11 Pasurams.
Total – 11 Paasurams.
Pushkarani:
Indu Pushkarani.
Vimanam:
Veda Chakra Vimanam.
