About the Temple & Location:
This sthalam is situated next to Thoduvetti in Kerala. We can also reach this sthalam by getting down in Thoduvetti while traveling in Bus which starts from Trivandrum to Naagar Koil. After getting down in Thoduvettin, we have to catch another bus and travel around 6 miles to reach this sthalam. There is no lodging facility.
Specials:
1. The specialty about this sthalam is, the thayar is Maragadhavalli Naachiyaar. The colour that is related to periya piratti is yellow mixed with red. But, Maragadham (Green colour) is related to Vaishnavi Devi. Because of this, this sthala thaayar is said to have the power of Vaishnavi Devi.
2. Another specialty of this sthalam is the way in which the perumal is positioned. He is found in such a way that every day he gives his seva to Chandiran, the moon god.
3. This place is also called as “Aadhi Dhamasthalam, Dakshina Vaikundam, Srirangam of Chera Nadu and Parasurama Sthalam”.
The Adikesava Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple located in Thiruvattar, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India and is one of the 108 Divya desams, the holy sites of Hindu Vaishnavism according to existing Tamil hymns from the seventh and eighth centuries C.E. The temple is one of the historic thirteen Divya Deshams of Malai Nadu. The temple is a picturesque setting surrounded on three sides by rivers namely, (River Kothai, River Pahrali and River Thamirabarani) It was the Rajya Temple and Paradevatha shrine of Erstwhile Travancore. After state reorganisation, the temple was handed over to Tamilnadu HR&CE Dept. The presiding Vishnu in the form of Ananthapadmanabhan/Adikeshavaperumal is believed to be older than Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. Since Vishnu resides here in a reclining position, and is surrounded by rivers, the temple is called "The Srirangam of Chera Kingdom".
The temple was consecrated by Parasurama and is admired by Veda vyasa in the sections which deal with temples in Padma Purana. As per the stone inscriptions which dates back to 779 KE the temple is established in the Treta yuga. The Adikeshava temple is also where Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, founder of the Gaudiya Vaishnava movement, discovered the lost manuscript of the Brahma Samhita.
Architecture and history
The temple architecture is Dravidian style architecture with wooden pillars, doors and roofs. The Temple is surrounded by a thirty-feet-high fort wall. The outer corridor stands on 224 stone pillars. The adjacent forward facing mandapams include sculptures and art works which depict events from Ramayana. It also portrays Gods and goddesses from Hindu mythology including Shiva, Parvati and Sri Krishna etc. The lord is lying on his snake couch and has to be viewed through three doors. We could see Lord Shiva near Lord Adikesava Perumal inside the sannidhi. Deepalakshmi are many but none resembles the other. The Otraikkal Mandapam (single stone hall) made of a single stone 3 feet thick, is a marvel. Oorthuva Thandavam, Venugopala, Rathi, Manmatha, Lakshmana and Indrajit are excellently carved. The temple is also renowned for its murals.
The composite columns of Virabhadra holding sword and horn are found by additions of the Vijayanagara kings during the early 1500s. Similar columns of Virabhadra are found in Meenakshi Temple at Madurai, Nellaiappar Temple at Tirunelveli, Kasi Viswanathar temple at Tenkasi, Krishnapuram Venkatachalapathy temple, Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram, Soundararajaperumal temple at Thadikombu, Srivilliputhur Andal temple, Srivaikuntanathan Perumal temple at Srivaikuntam, Avudayarkoil, Vaishnava Nambi and Thirukurungudi Nachiar temple at Thirukkurungudi.
The temple complex includes a Ayyappan temple behind which stands the Ksetra bala Balikkal. It also includes Sree Bali Prakaram and the Yanaikottil. Other deities being located in the south-western corner, the flagmast is located at the west at the Sree Balippura. As per the stone inscriptions in the pedestal of the flag mast it was renovated by Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma VI in 1071 KE. The granite entrance of the Chitra Sabha includes sculptures of the Dwara Palakas, Jaya and Vijaya. Sculptures of Lakshmana and Pathanjali Tandava carved to the left of Sabha Mandapam while that of Indrajith, Muralidhara and Kalabairava are carved to the right. The image of the chief deity in his sayana posture is sculpted on the wooden entrance door. Vatteluttu inscriptions of Shilpa Shastra are found in adjacent walls. It also includes details about the 11th century Chola King Rajendra Chola.
Sculptures of Rati and Manmadan are found opposite Udaya Marthanda Mandapam. The epic scenes Vinayaka Kalyanam, Bharata War and deities Varuna, Niriyati, Yama, Kubera, Indra, Agni, Brahma and Monks in penance are sculpted in a row above the Mandapam. A variety of mural paintings are found along the walls of the inner prakarams. A secret passage leading to the Palace is found beneath the west of the inner prakarams which is covered with a large stone slab.
Going by extant legends, the temple is closely associated with the famous Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram. Thiruvananthapuram Sri Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple deity lies in the direction as to see the Thiruvattar Adi kesava deity. The main deity was originally covered with gold kavacham in which diamonds and other precious stones were embedded which the Kerala kings had presented to the temple. There is also a small shrine for Lord Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy near the river and opposite to the Adikesava Perumal Temple. Alvar saint Nammalvar had sung 11 pasurams in praise of Adi Kesava Swamy in the 6th Thiruvai mozhi. There are Three temples related to Adikesava Perumal Temple. It is believed that, the Moolasthanam of all three temples such as Padmanabhaswamy temple, Thiruvananthapuram; Adikesava Perumal Temple, Thiruvattar and Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam is Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple or Anantha Lake Temple near Kumbla in Manjeshwar Taluk of Kasaragod District of Kerala, South India.
Treasures and connections
The entire present day Kanyakumari District formed part of erstwhile Travancore Kingdom. Up to Marthanda Varma, all kings ruled the erstwhile Venad Kingdom (which was expanded by Marthanda Varma to form Thiruvithaamkoor) from Padmanabhapuram in Kanyakumari District. It was Dharma Raja, the nephew and successor of Marthanda Varma, who shifted the capital to Thiruvananthapuram. Padmanabhapuram Palace, the erstwhile royal abode of Travancore Kings, is still preserved in all its glory and is situated at Padmanabhapuram in Kalkulam Taluk of Kanyakumari District. Marthanda Varma was a staunch devotee of Lord Adikesava and used to worship at the temple before all the major war campaigns undertaken by him.
The presiding Deities of Thiruvattar, Thiruvananthapuram and Thiruvalla had a three-cornered connection which reflects in the quantitative measurement of commodities utilised etc. The Perumals of Thiruvattar and Thiruvananthapuram remain closely bound to each other with this closeness being mirrored not only in festivals which coincide, special days and many rituals but also in the structural pattern including the Ottakkal Mandapam. In both cases the Moola Vigrahas are of Katu-Sarkara and contain Salagramas. The strong affiliation of the Venad kings to both Thiruvattar and Thiruvananthapuram temples in their privileges and responsibilities provide ample evidence of enduring interconnections. Many ceremonies had to be initially performed at Sree AdiKesava Temple before being conducted at the Padmanabha Swamy Temple.
Legend
The Lord AdiKesavaSwamy means 'Foremost Friend'. Legend says that Lord AdiKesavaSwamy defeated the demon Kesi. The demon's wife prayed to the River Ganges and to River Thamirabarani and created destruction. But it was in vain and she surrendered to the Lord. Thus, the formation of the rivers made in a circle came to be known as Thiruvattaru.
On 10th June 1741, Anizham Tirunal Marthanda Varma, the then ruler of Travancore, before going for the Battle of Colachel offered 908 panams, yataghan, and silk on the feet of Lord Adikesava and prayed for victory.
Festivals and prasadhams
Vaikunta Ekadesi is celebrated with pomp and glory. Paal Payasam (Milk Kheer), Aval and Appam are delicious prasadams at this temple. The pujas are done in the same manner as that of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple, Thiruvananthapuram.
Sthlapuranam :
This sthala perumal, Aadhikesavapperumal is found in the same thirukkolam (Sayana thirukolam) as found in Thiruvananthapuram sthala perumal. Anantha padmanabhaswamy. He is also found along 3 Entry points known as Vassals which represent the evolution (birth), leading of life and final stage, the death. But, the only difference in Thiruvananthapuram perumal is found in Bhujanga Sayana kolam facing East direction, but this sthala perumal is found in the same Bhujanga sayana thirukolam but facing west.
Thiruvananthapura Padmanabhaperumal gave his prathyaksha for Chandiran, the moon god, like the same way, this sthala perumal, Aadhikesavaperumal gave his prathyaksha for Chandiran, the moon god.
The east direction, which is said to be the moon setting direction is the direction faced by Padmanabha perumal (Thiruvanandhapuram), but this sthala perumal, Aadhikesava perumal (Thiruvaattaaru) is facing along the western direction, which is said to be the rising direction of moon, is said to be special side.
In Thiruvananthapuram, the perumal has a big structured body, but in Thiruvattar, the perumal is found in Syria thirumeni (Small in structure) in Kidantha kolam. As a result, the vimanam Ashtakshara vimanam is also small in size.
The specialty about this sthalam is, the thayar is Maragadhavalli Naachiyaar. The colour that is related to periya piratti is yellow mixed with red. But, Maragadham (Green colour) is related to Vaishnavi Devi. Because of this, this sthala thaayar is said to have the power of Vaishnavi Devi.
Another specialty of this sthalam is the way in which the perumal is positioned. He is found in such a way that every day he gives his seva to Chandiran, the moon god. During the setting of the sun, the rays of the sun are falling on the Moolavar’s face as though it says that it will leave today and come tomorrow. After the sun sets, the moon appears (or) rises from the same direction where the sun sets and first sees the Moolavar and gets his darshan. This is one of the specialties of this sthalam (i.e.) the perumal’s position.
The unity of Saivam and Sri Vaishnavam is best explained by Thiruvananthapura Padmanabhaperumal. Likewise this Thiruvaattaaru Aadhikesava perumal also explains how people should follow the God and explains the unity of Saivam and Vaishnavam.
Sriman Narayanan has a special amsam, the Kesavaartham which explains that Narayanan did a strong tapas and merged into the body of Sivaperumaan and this amsam explains the union of Vaishnavam and Saivam. So, Kesava means Narayana along with Shiva.
Once, there lived a Demon (asuran) named “Kesi”, who gave lots of problems to humanity. This sthala perumal fought with Kesi and finally he defeated him and slept on his body. Aasoori, wife of Kesi worshipped Ganga devi and asked her to save his husband from the perumal. Hearing this request, Ganga along with Thamirabarani river merged together and ran fast towards the perumal who is found on Kesi. On seeing the rivers, the perumal ordered Bhooma devi to make the place to some height. Being raised, both the rivers could not flood the place, but they flow around the perumal as if they worshipped him. But at the same time, when both the rivers touched the body of Kesi, he got purified and got Mukthi. Because of this, the Perumal is called as “Aadhi Kesava Perumal ''. In spite of being an asuran, Kesi was able to hug the body of the perumal while fighting and it itself implies that he will be given Mukthi done the perumal.
Theerthavari, is one of the grand utsavam done in this sthalam.
Pushpanjali is yet another important utsavam done in this temple where lots of flowers are offered to the Perumal.
Moolavar:
The Moolavar of this sthalam is Sri Aadhikesava Perumal. He is in Kidantha Thirukkolam in Bhujanga sayanam facing a western direction. Pratyaksham for Chandiran, the Moon God.
The Thayar of this sthalam is Maragathavalli Naachiyaar.
Mangalasasanam:
Nammalwar – 11 Paasurams.
Total 11.
Pushkarani:
Kadalvaai Theertham.
Vaattaaru.
Rama Theertham.
Vimanam:
Ashtanga Vimaanam.
Ashtaakshara Vimaanam.
