I thought of praying at places where celestial weddings took place .(a) Thiruthangal where grand son ( Anirudh) of Lord Krishna wedding took place, (b) Srivilliputhur where Andal wedding took place , (c) Thirupparankundram where Lord Muruga wedding with Deivayanai took place (d) Madurai where Goddess Meenakshi wedding with Lord Shiva took place.
Most of us would have visited but missed some points . I am sharing my experiences and I am sure that you would enjoy .
Sriviliputtur temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams. Legend has it that Srivilliputhur was built by Villi and Puttan and hence the name Villiputhur. Later, after the birth of Andal, Villiputhur became ‘Sri-Villiputhur.’The temple is divided into three parts – 1. The Andal Temple(incarnation of BhoomaDevi) 2. Vatapattrasayee Temple (Vishnu in sayanam pose) which is connected by a corridor just before Andal Temple’s entrance . 3. Andal’s birthplace Nandavanam(Garden) is in this corridor. 4.The famed Srivilliputhur RajaGopuram( third largest Gopuram in Tamilnadu) is at the Perumal Temple .The entrance is through the Andal Temple. Points:-
1) Andal Darshan is first as is the custom here.
2) There is a separate Hayagreevar shrine .
3) Near the Flag post , there is a mantapam with pillars which have gigantic statues engraved on them .You can spend lot of time admiring these beautiful statues . 4) Near Andal shrine , on the roof there is a carving of three monkeys and one priest told me that it is for Kann Dhristi . ( See the photo) . 5) There is also plaque depicting hundreds of years old song wherein it is said that Sriviliputtur is a place where justice is held . Even today the district courts function from here, even though the district Hqrs is at Virudhunagar . ( See the photo attached)
4) At Andal Sannathi, Perumal in Kalyana Kolam( marriage alankar) and Garudan standing next to Perumal – all three as Utchavamurthi. Behind the Utchavamurthi, The gigantic idols of the three is deep inside the sanctum sanctorum .5) One of the few temples where Garuda is standing alongside Perumal in the sanctum sanctorum. Usually we see Garuda outside . 6) Here Perumal is seen holding a royal staff ( Rengamannar) and Andal with a parrot.7) There is a Naazhi kinaru in which Andal was believed to have looked at the beauty wearing the garland to check whether it suited her Lord . A glass topped dome is there at the Mandapam even today .
2. Andal’s Birthplace and Garden There is a separate Tulsi Garden and a small temple of Andal and Tulsi .
3.Vatapattrasayee Perumal Temple
This temple has two levels.At the lower level we have a over 6 feet tall Lakshmi Narasimhar in bright green colour.
There is a flight of stairs leading to the upper level where we have the moolavar( Main Deity).
Vatapattrasayee Perumal is in Ananthasayanam pose with Sridevi , Bhumadevi, the sages Brighu, markendaya and other Gods . This is the Lord who was Garlanded daily by PeriyAlwar and to whom Andal was devoted to.
On this level we have a corridor with roof made of wood with each panel having intricate beautiful carvings of episodes from Ramayana, Mahabharata and Andal’s life. Don’t miss this.
There is a separate shrine for PeriyAlwar( Andal’s father and Father-in-law of Perumal as per legend.
Legend and Names of deities
1. The legend is that Perialwar a Vishnu devotee found a baby near the Tulsi Garden and named her Gothai and hence the Andal is also called Kothai Nachiyar.
2. The Perumal whom Andal & Perialwar worshipped is called Vatapattrasayee ( the lord resting on a Banyan leaf – in Sanskrit ‘Vata’ means Banyan and ‘Pattra’ means Leaf).
3. The legend says that Kothai used to adorn the garland (which Perialwar used to offer to Vatapattrasayee ) to check if it suited her lord. To this day, before Tirupati Brahmotsavam, the garland worn by Kothai is taken to adorn Tirupati Lord and Madurai Azhagar temple during the Kalazhagar festival
4. Since Lord requested Perialwar that he be Garlanded by the garlands worn by Kothai herself, the Goddess is also called Sudi Kodutha chudarkodi( in Tamil it means the beautiful creeper like lady who offered the garland after wearing it)
5. Since through her devotion and love she won over the Lord himself she was named Andal (in Tamil meaning – the One who reigned over the Lord ).
6. Pleased with her devotion Lord Vishnu /Ranganathar of Srirangam asks the hand of Andal in marriage and that’s why we have Vishnu , Andal in Kalyana Kolam in Andal Sannidhi with Vishnu holding the royal staff and hence also called Rangamannar.
7. It is believed that Andal on reaching Srirangam for the marriage merged within the Lord Ranganathar himself .
8. Perialwar and Andal are two of the 12 Alwar Vaishnavite saints of India
9. Andal is credited to composing of the famous ‘Thirupavai’ , ‘Nachiyar Thirumozhi’ .10. Pandya king Vallabhadevan wanting to know who was the deity that was bestowed with the power to lead one to Paramapatham. He sought a solution from Periyazhwar, who was brought to the court of the Pandya king in Madurai.With several examples from Vedic scriptures as well as historical references, Periyazhwar told the Pandya king that it was Lord Vishnu who could take one to the heavenly abode.A delighted Pandya king was impressed with the explanation given by Periyazhwar and conferred on him the title, ‘Vishnu Chittar.’ And so pleased was the king that he took Periyazhwar on an elephant through the streets of Madurai.It is believed that Koodal Azhagar, along with the Goddess, came to witness this on his Garuda Vahanam. A surprised Periyazhwar instantly showered praises on Koodal Azhagar with his ‘Pallaandu.’ He composed hundreds of verses of praise including those that feature as the first 12 songs of the Divya Prabhandham called Thiru Pallaandu.11. As Garuda brought Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam to Srivilliputhur for the marriage festivities faster than was expected, he was accorded a special status here and is seen alongside Rangamannar and Andal.12. It is believed that Lord Ranganathar while coming to Srivilliputhur to ask Andal’s hand for marriage , rested at a place near Sivakasi. The place is called Thiruthankal( Thangal – staying in Tamil) and the Perumal Temple there is also a Divya Desam.13.Periyazhvar has written A Periyazhvar Thirumozhi in which Pallandu falls.14. Beautiful Wood carvings in the ceiling now which were part of old big chariot earlier . In this hall Raappattu utsavam is held.15.This divyadesam has Arayar Sevai, few have. Araiyar Srinivasarangachariar has presented Araiyar Sevai at Srivilliputhur Divyadesam for 70 years. Srivilliputhur is in fact one of the three Divyadesams, where Araiyar Sevai is still performed.16.There are beautiful paintings in the praharam and one of which is Chakravarthi Thirumagan which depicts wedding of Lord Rama . The unique feature is that ancestors of Sadayappa Vallal Tamil philanthropist is seen worshipping. No where else , you can see Sadayappa Vallal in the celestial wedding pictures. 17. Garuda Sevai is important . Highlights of the Garuda sevai utsavamThiru Thangal Appan nearby temple Thiruthangal makes his annual trip to Srivilliputhur in the month of ‘Aadi.’ Periazhwar praises each of the five Lords with Prabhandham verses.Periazhwar provides ‘Ethir Sevai’ through the night to all the five deities as part of the Garuda Seva procession.This is the only occasion where Thiru Thangal Appan, a Divyadesam Lord, comes and personally receives the sacred garland worn by Andal.18. Srivilliputhur Divyadesam temple tower has been the official symbol of the Tamilnadu State Government.19. Friday evenings are special. Infront of Andal shrine Utchavar alankaram is done . A fantastic alankaram with Andal, Perumal and Garudazvar . Pooja done around 0730 pm and all devotees are given Theertham, sadari and Pongal Prasadam . I was told that this is a special feature on all Fridays and it is ideal to visit during this time .
Places for eating :-
Srivilliputhur is a very small place. Nearby the temple at walking distance on the highway there are two hotels which serve Veg( Kathiravan and an adjoining hotel Diwakaran). Decent food. The food is served on a Banana leaf and you are expected to dispose the leaf in the bin. There is no other better hotel in Srivilliputhur.
Places to stayThere are few Hotels nearby, I saw one Yatrika Niwas just a few metres from the Andal temple and it has AC rooms and Vedanta Desikar Bhavan where bathroom(with Geyser) and toilets are common(neat). The advantage is that You just need to walk to the main road around 30 mts , cross it and the road leads to the Andal temple. But, I stayed at Madurai and took a taxi to go to Thiruthangal Divya Desam and from there to Srivilliputhur and back to Madurai for night halt.
Srivilliputhur is famous for its speciality Palkova. The palkova shops are everywhere in vicinity of the temple. But, I am not sure about the quality and refrained from purchasing it .
Hardly one Km away from this temple is another beautiful Shiva temple known asSri Vaidhyanatha Swamy temple . It is said that King Thirumalai Naicker was cured of stomach pain by the grace of Lord here . From then on, Thirumalai Nayakar used to take his lunch only after Uchikalapooja here . For this he constructed a series of halls from Sriviliputtur to Madurai to transmit sequentially the drum beats from this temple to Madurai . Only after hearing sound of drum beats , that the king used to take his lunch . The stone halls still exist on the high way . There are mooligai drawings in the temple.
Sent from my iPad
karaikudi express 