Sowriraja Perumal Temple

Overview

This temple lies in the Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu. It is 4 miles from Nannilam Railway station. From Maayuram we have to go to Thirupugalore and from there by crossing a river Thirukannapuram is at 1 mile distance. Bus facility is provided. Tirukkannapuram is known as Sreematashtaakshari Mahaa Mantrasidhdhi Kshetram and is considered to be the eastern gateway to Srirangam. Tirumangai Alwar is said to have been initiated here. Also located nearby is the Ramanadeeswaram Shivastalam sung by the Tevaram hymns of Tirugnanasambandar where Rama is believed to have worshipped Shiva. Andal, Tirumangai Azhwar and Kulasekhara Azhwar had commended the Lord in their Mangala Sasanam. Kannapuram is revered as one of the five Krishnaranya kshetrams - Tiruvazhundur, Tirukkannankudi, Kapistalam, Kannapuram and Kannamangai.The temple additionally has the notoriety of being one of the Pancha Krishna Sthala among the 108 Divya desas.

About the Deity

Sri Arulmaakadal Perumal Temple is built in a Dravidian style of construction modeling divider encompasses the temple, encasing every one of the altars. There is a four-layered temple's entryway tower, in the temple. Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil divider encompasses the temple, encasing every one of the hallowed places. There is a four-layered rajagopuram , the temple's door tower, in the temple. The directing divinity is Sthalasayana Perumal and is a little picture portrayed in Sayana stance. The icon of Vyaghrapada is found alongside that of Kanvar in the sanctum sanctorum. All scenes joined with this spot are found in the fourth section of the Brahmanda Purana . Holy person Tirumangai Alvar went to the temple, however was not fulfilled by Vishnu's little picture of "Balasayanam", he asked for him to demonstrate his tremendous stance. Vishnu requested that the holy person go to Thirukkannamangai to witness his Vishvarupa. The managing god at Chirupuliyur is likewise named by the holy person in his Periya Thirumozhi verse. name of the directing divinity in Sanskrit is Kripasamudra Perumal. He is otherwise called "Saranagatha Rakshaka Perumal", by which name the holy people have tended to the god Aamaruviyappan in Therazhundur. A different hallowed place for Adhiseshan is available close to the pushkarani - known as Ananthalwar Temple.

Hallowed spring Nitya Pushkarini is blessed for the aficionados. Amid the Uthrayana period covering six months from January-February to June-july, it is trusted that all streams join here for a plunge to wash down their own transgressions. Individuals perform Pithru pujas (a withdrew's custom souls) on new moon day. Indira the ruler of Devas venerated Lord here and introduced the Navagras with zodiac signs. This is confronting west under the Rajagopuram. There is no Sorgavasal here as in other Perumal sanctuaries opened on the Vaikunda Ekadasi day just, in light of the fact that this is viewed as a Sorga-Vaikunda on Earth. It is likewise the conviction that sages are on the Utpalavadhaga vimana, performing repentance of Lord Vishnu. The Vimana darshan is impractical in this temple as it is secured by dividers on four sides.

Theertham

Nitya Pushkarini

Mangalasasanam

Periyalwar - 1 Paasuram, Aandal - 1 Paasuram, Kulasekaralwar - 11 Paasurams, Nammalwar - 11 Paasurams and Thirumangaialwar - 104 Paasurams.

Vimaanam

Utpalavataka Vimanam

About the Deity

The Moolavar of this kshetram is Sri Neelamega Perumal. The Moolavar is giving his seva in the standing stance confronting east. Rather than Abhaya Hastham he has Varadha Hastham like Kanchi Varadharaja perumal. Additionally, he has the Prayoga Chakaram, like that of Ranganatha perumal of SriRangam. Prathyaksham for Kanva Maharishi, Thandaka Maharishi and Garudan. Thayaar found in this sthalam is Kannapura Naayaki alongside Periya piraati, Sridevi, Aandal and Padmini Thaayar. Utsavar of this sthalam is Utsavar Sowriraja perumal is in a stance of looking for hands for marriage.

Legend and Stories

Many years ago, sages performed penance on Lord Vishnu relinquishing food and sleep and thus were physically reduced as thin as paddy stalks. Almost they lost human form. A king Uparisiravasu by name blessed with the Astakshara Mantra Upadesa from Lord himself was passing through this place with his men. As they were hungry, they began to cut the sages for food mistaking them as paddy stalks. Lord rushed to their rescue in the guise of a small boy and defeated the king and his men. As his army could not resist the boy, he finally applied the Astakshara Mantra to win over him. The Mantra simply surrendered at Boy’s feet. Realizing that the boy was none other than Lord Himself, the king fell at his feet and begged His pardon. Lord pardoned the king and appeared before him as Neelamega Perumal. The king built this temple with the help of Viswakarma the divine sculptor. Perumal agreed to stay here at the request of the king.

One day, the temple's cleric gave the laurel utilized as a part of the Perumal puja to his sweet heart. It so happened startlingly the lord went to the temple, yet the minister had no puja wreath to get the ruler. He just utilized the second hand laurel he exhibited to his significant other. The ruler saw a hair and enquired the minister how it came there. The cleric answered that it was the hair of Perumal. At the point when requested to demonstrate to it, the cleric guaranteed the lord to demonstrate to it the following day. The ruler concurred yet cautioned him of discipline on the off chance that he fizzled. The minister fell at the feet of Lord to ensure him. At the point when the lord came the following day, Perumal gave him darshan with hair. Along these lines, he got to be Sowriraja Perumal. Sowri implies hair. Enthusiasts can see this Tirumudi (hair) darshan just amid the parade on new moon days.

Master is holding his Prayoga Chakra-disk the inverse way containing His 8 lettered mantra. Sri Garuda is close-by. Ruler appears to devotees as Shiva in the morning, Brahmma in evening and Vishnu at night. This is the spot where Perumal conceded darshan to Vibishana the received sibling of Lord Sri Rama. This occasion is commended on new moon days. Holy people Nammazhwar, Tirumangai Azhwar, Kulasekhara Azhwar and Sri Andal had lauded the Perumal of the temple in their mangala sasanam songs.

Garuda was coming back from the milk sea (Parkadal in Tamil and Ksheera Samudra in Sanskrit) with nectar to free his mom. While flying over this temple, he gladly thought he was conveying the nectar which others can't do. He lost his vitality and fell on the ocean. Understanding his habit, Garuda sat on a stone in the ocean and performed compensation on Lord Vishnu to excuse him. Ruler not just absolved Garuda and acknowledged him as His Vahan. This occasion is commended on the full moon day in Masi-February-March. The people who visit the temple welcome Perumal by saying welcome home Mappillai (son-in-law).

At the point when the cleric opened the entryways of the temple the following day, he discovered pongal adhering to mouth of Perumal and educated the matter to ruler and others. They comprehended that Lord had acknowledged the pongal nivedhana put together by Munayadharaian. Since that day, Pongal nivedhna is offered to Lord at the night puja known as a Munayadharian Pongal. numerous years back, sages performed atonement on Lord Vishnu giving up sustenance and rest and in this manner were physically decreased as slight as paddy stalks. Very nearly they lost human structure. A ruler Uparisiravasu by name favored with the Astakshara Mantra Upadesa from Lord himself was going through this spot with his men. As they were eager, they started to cut the sages for sustenance mixing up them as paddy stalks. Ruler raced to their salvage in the appearance of a little kid and vanquished the lord and his men. As his armed force couldn't avoid the kid, he at long last connected the Astakshara Mantra to win over him. The Mantra basically surrendered at Boy's feet. Understanding that the kid was none other than Lord Himself, the ruler fell at his feet and asked His absolution. Ruler exonerated the lord and showed up before him as Neelamega Perumal. The lord assembled this temple with the assistance of Viswakarma the awesome stone carver. Perumal consented to stay here at the ruler's solicitation.

Festival

Six worship services are offered each day. The Bhramotsavam is celebrated in the month of Vaikasi, and the Mahotsavam in the month of Maasi, where the festival image of Sowrirajan is taken to the seashore on a golden garuda mount, where fishermen join the celebration. The adhyayana utsavam is celebrated in the month of Margazhi. The first day of each tamil month, the ekadasis and the hasta asterism are all celebrated in this temple.13 day Masi Magam Utsav-with Theerthavari in the sea on the 10th day of Masi full moon-poornima day in February-March is the most important festival in the temple. The other festival is the 13 day Vaikasi Brahmmotsav on Poornima Anusha star day with Lord coming in procession remembering the wedding event of Lord with Padmini Nayaki the daughter of Vasu. The festival concludes with Theerthavari in Nitya Pushkarini. 10 day, day festival (Pagal Pathu in Tamil) begins on the second day of Amavasya-new moon day in Margazhi covering December-January with Lord’s procession. The night festival in the same month (Rappathu in Tamil) begins with Vaikunda Ekadasi day. As the temple is praised as Vaikunda on Earth –Bhooloka Vaikundam, as established in the words of Saint Nammazhwar, there is no special Sorgavasal as traditionally seen in Perumal Temples. First day of all Tamil months; Ekadasi the 11th day of new moon or full moon days; Chitra poornima in April-May; Tiruvadipooram in July-August; Navarathri in September-October; Tirukarthikai in November-December; Panguni Uthiram in March-April; Deepavali, Makar Sankranthi; Tamil and English New Year days are also observed as festival days in the temple with special pujas to Lord.

Temple Timings

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Significance

People pray to Perumal seeking wedding and child boon. As the very name of Perumal indicates the alluring of hair beauty, many pray for beautiful hair style and cure from hair fall. People also pray for total cure from threatening diseases. As Lord’s view fall on the Navagrahas the nine planets in this Vaishnava temple, all adverse aspects of planets are removed. Perumal grants all boons to devotees such as employment opportunities, progress in trade, promotions etc. to His devotees. Those seeking wedding boon offer Archana Mala, perform Tirumanjanam, offer nivedhana with Parivattam and Sowrimudi used mostly by women with short hair. Other commitments include offering vastras, tulsi garlands, pujas with dressing-alankaras. Two time puja is dedicated Sri Anjaneya with Vadamala. Devotees also contribute for the renovation of the temple.

Nearby Places to Visit

Kayaroganeswarar Temple
Thanthondreeswarar Temple
Neelakandeswarar Temple
Pallavaneswarar Temple
Aranyeswarar Temple
Naganathar Temple

Accessibility

Airport

The closest airport is in Trichy.

Railways

The closest railway station is in Nannilam.

Roads

The devotee should reach Tirupugalur from Mayiladuthurai via Channanallur. Tirukannapuram temple is further 2 km from here. Buses from Nannilam and Nagapattinam also run through Tirupugalur. Tirukannapuram is 18 km from Tiruvarur, 8 km from Nannilam and 2 km from Tirupugalur.

Address

Sri Sowriraja Perumal Temple,
Tirukannapuram-609 704.
Nagapattinam district.