Thiruvazhunthoor | Sri Devaadi Raja Perumal Temple Mayavaram | Divya Desam - 23

23. Thiruvazhunthoor (tErazhundUr)- Sri Devaadi Raja Perumal Temple, Mayavaram

About the Temple & Location:

This sthalam is a village which is situated in Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu.

It lies in between Mayavaram junction and Kuttalam station on the main railway line between Chennai (Madras) to Tanjore.

This temple can also be reached by travelling around 7 Kms from Kuttalam and about 8 Kms from Mayavaram.

This Divyadesam is also called with other names such as Azhundoor, Azhundhai, Therazhundur.

Sthala Puranam:

Uparisaravasu was the king of Sethi Kingdom and was the student of Devaguru Brihaspati. He got a chariot which floated in the sky from Lord Indra.

Once he settled a dispute between the rishi’s and devas and favour it in the Deva’s side.

The rishi’s got angry and cursed the king that his chariot would not fly in the sky.

So as an effect to the curse, his chariot got stuck in this place and the king fell in front of the lord. Henceforth this place is called as Therazhundur (Ther means Chariot).

Lord Narayana sent Garudan and helped him to fly back. As Lord helped the person loved by deva’s who was a human he was called Devaadirajan from then on.

Moolavar Devaadirajan is of 10 feet tall having Lord Garuda to his left and prahlada along with Markandeya Maharishi to his right. He has Gadhayudham (his weapon) in his left hand. River Cauvery too is there kneeling at his lotus feet.

Utsavar Amaruviappan stands with a very beautiful calf along with his two wives.

Cow and calf belong to the Deva group, buffalo’s belong to Asura group and sheep’s belong to Mankind. Lord Krishna thus saves all the living things. As Jeevatma becomes a tamed cow before Lord Krishna and he too behaves as a tamed cow in front of a pure heart, he is called as Amaruviappan (ie) Aaa means cow (person who is as soft as a cow). Thus the Lord Amaruviappan is said to inherit the qualities of Lord Krishna (ie) (he contains Lord Krishnas Amsam).

There is a tale regarding Amaruviappan arrival at this place. Once Lord Brahma stole all the cows of Ayarpadi which were under Lord Krishna’s custody and locked them at Therazhundur. Lord Krishna came to know this thro his Yoga maya and created a whole new heard of cows. Lord Brahma then asked Lord Krishna to forgive him. He asked Lord Krishna to stay permanently at this place and bless all the people who seek his help.

There’s a beautiful unjal Mandapam (Unjal – Joola – Swing) in this temple.

Inside the Rajagopuram, poet kamban and his wives images are beautifully carved. (Poet Kamban was born here only) there are also many beautiful images which are in a demolished state.

Manavala Mamunigal has done Mangalasasanam to his place. Utsavar is brought for Thirumanjanam (ceremony of bathing the lord) in river cauvery many times each year.

As an act of Unison, Lord Krishna (ie) Lord Amaruviappan is dressed up as Lord Rama and brought in Ceremony near the Vedapureeswarar temple (Lord Shiva’s temple).

Moolavar has golden (helmet) Kreedam, Sahasranama necklace, Dasavathara Udhara Malai, Golden anklet, goddess Alarmel mangai in his heart diamond Thiruman (sacred symbol of Vaishnavites).

Sri Devaadi Raja Perumal Temple is one of the “Divya Desams”, the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.Sri Devaadi Raja Perumal Temple, is revered as one of the 108 Divya Desam Temple of Lord Vishnu .

Festivals

Following are the Utsavams celebrated in the Sri Devaadi Raja Perumal Temple:

Sri Ramar Utsavam and Vasantha Utsavam in Chithirai month.
Brahma Utsavam in Vaikasi month.
Sri Andal Utsavam in Aadi month.
Sri Jayanthi Utsavam in Aavani month.
Sri Desika Utsavam in Puratasi month.
Pavithra Utsavam in Aippasi month.
Utsavam for Thirumangai Alwar and Deepa Utsavam in Karthigai month.
Pagal Pathu and Raa Pathu Utsavam Margazhi month.
Thai Month – Garuda seva.
Punarpoosam and Magam Utsavam Maasi month.

Temple Pooja Daily Schedule
Sri Devaadi Raja Perumal Temple is open from 7.30 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

How to reach
Sri Devaadi Raja Perumal Temple is about 11 km from Mayavaram and 2 km from Komal.

Specials:
1. This Sthalam is the birthplace of the Great Tamil Poet, Kambar who has created “Kamba Ramayanam“.

Moolavar:

The Moolavar of this sthalam is Sri Devaadi Rajan. He is giving his seva in Nindra (Standing) Thirukkolam facing his thirumugam towards east direction. Pratyaksham for Dharma devathai, Uparisaravasu, River Cauvery, Garudan and Agathiyar.

Thayaar:
The Thayaar found in this sthalam is Sengamala Valli Thayar.

Utsavar:
The Utsavar found in this sthalam is Amaruviappan.

Sannadhis:

Perumal Sannadhi
In this Sannadhi only, the Perumal of the sthalam, Sri Devaadi Rajan is found giving his seva to his bhaktas.

Thayar Sannidhi
In this Sannadhi, the Thayar, Sri Sengamalavalli is found giving her seva to his bhaktas. On every Fridays, the thaayar is giving her seva as “Vaibhava Lakshmi”.

Sri Vasudevar Sannidhi
This sannadhi is found on the left side of the Moolavar Sannadhi. In this Sannadhi, Sri Vasudevar is found.

Sri Narasimhar Sannidhi
This sannadhi is found in between Perumal Sannadhi and Sri Vasudevar Sannadhi. In this Sannadhi, Sri Narasimhar is giving his seva for his bhaktas who destroys the evil things and helps his bhaktas to get rid of them.

Sri Ramar Sannidhi
This sannadhi is found on the south direction of the Perumal sannadhi. In this Sannadhi, Sri Ramar (both moolavar and utsavar) are found in Nindra koilam facing east direction. Beside him, Seetha Piratti, Lakshman and Hanuman are also found.

Sri Vishwaksena Sannadhi
Sri Vishwaksena is otherwise called as “Senai Mudaliar” (the chief of the army of the Perumal). He is found in this sannadhi which is found in front of Sri Vasudevar Sannadhi.

Sri Desikan Sannadhi
Next to Sri Vishwaksena Sannadhi, this Sannadhi is found.

Sri Alwars Sannadhi
All the Alwars are found on the Outer Pracharam in front of Thayar Sannidhi.

Sri Andal Sannadhi
Sri Andal Sannadhi si found on the Outer Praharam where both Moolavar and Utsava Vigraham (Idol) are found. Thiruvadi Pooram and Margazhi – Koodaravalli are the special occasions for Sri Andal.

Sri Kambar Sannadhi
As soon as we enter the temple, Sri Kambar sannadhi is found on the left side where Kambar and his wife are worshipping the Perumal is standing position.

Sri Hanuman Sannadhi
Opposite to the Kodi maram, Hanuman is found in Nindra kolam facing his Thirumugam on the north direction.

Mangalasasanam:
Thirumangai Alwar – 45 Pasurams
Total – 45 Paasurams.

Pushkarani:
Dharsana Pushkarani.
River Cauvery.

Vimanam:
Garuda Vimana.