- Vishnu
Sri Chendraya Perumal Temple
- Palaya Vathalagundu,Tamil Nadu
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Overview
The Chendraya Perumal Temple is located in Kottaipati and is dedicated to God Krishna. This temple is situated on a hill and has 500 steps and 48 pillars comprising a Mandalam (48 days). The temple history can be found carved on the Kodi maram or flag post. The mandap to the right of the sanctum sanctorum known as the Chitra Ratha Mandap has a platform where God Krishna is believed to have drunk milk.
About the Temple
Perumal here is quite different from other Vishnu temples. He is being worshipped as a child, because, He came here as a child. Hence, there are no consorts with Him. Yet He appears with a twisted moustache and beard. He does not hold His discus and conch. The procession deity graces with Mothers Rukmini and Satyabhama. People sing bajans – Krishna Leela and Ramavatara glory on Saturdays. During Onam, a three day special Yagasala pujas are performed. The garland worn by Sri Andal in Srivilliputhur temple is brought to this temple to be offered to the Lord.
A three day festival is celebrated in the temple every alternate year in Panguni month (March-April). Lord Chendraya leaves the hill for the plains on the night of the fourth Friday where special pujas and celebrations take place. A special folklore called Thevarattam occupies the celebrations. It is woven on a story.
When Lord Shiva picked off one of the five heads of Lord Brahma, it stuck into His hands. To release it, Lord Shiva went to Indraloka, where Lord Vishnu entered the Indra court as clown wearing a girl’s skirt and blouse, with beard and moustache, wearing pearls and a drum in His hands. Everyone in the court burst into a boisterous laughter. The head of Brahma also laughed and fell down. This dance is called Thevarattam. During this programme, it is said that the idols also dances.
On Saturday, next day, Lord’s wedding festival with Rukmini and Satyabhama is celebrated when women sing the Nalungu songs wearing only saris. They spill turmeric water on the Lord as the Gopikas did in Gokulam.
The last day-third day festival is observed on the philosophy that nothing could be taken by a person when he/she expires however prosperous and happy their life was during their earthly life time. To emphasize this philosophy, Lord is placed in a hut, replacing all His gorgeous dresses with saffron clothes. He returns back to His hill temple in the same dress.
Sri Krishna Jayanti: Special pujas are performed in the temple on Sri Krishna Jayanti – Lord Krishna’s birthday. Lord is placed in a cradle and honey is fed in his tongue. Also they place in the shrine of the Lord a medicine made of palm sugar, garlic, asafoetida etc., as given to women after delivering the child. Devotees also offer popular preparations of Tamilnadu as Murukku, Cheedai, Athirasam and sweets so dear to Lord Krishna. Women also celebrate the birth of the Lord with a dance called kittipandhu.
Legend and Stories
Chennama Naicker, a Krishna devotee belonging to Krishnadevaraya dynasty was living here grazing the cow herds. While returning home one day, he found one cow missing. He found the cow near the hill with a boy drinking its milk. He was stunned to see a cow that had not delivered a calf was feeding a boy and concluded that it should be an act of God and hid himself to see what would happen further. The boy called Naicker and granted His darshan. He told Naicker that He wished to stay in the hill and asked him to build a temple for Him. As Lord Vishnu goes to the devotee (Chendru) directly Himself, He was named Chendru Aaya (gracing) Perumal.
Festivals
Special pujas are performed on Vaikunda Ekadasi day in December-January. Onam and Purattasi Saturdays in September-October are observed as festival days in the temple.
How to Reach Sri Chendraya Perumal temple
Road
The Nearest Bus stop is Palaya Vathalagundu.
Railways
The Nearest Railway station is Dindigul Railway Station.
Airport
The Nearest Airport is Madurai, Trichy Airport.
Temple Address
Sri Chendraya Perumal temple,
Palaya Vathalagundu,
Dindigul, Tamil Nadu - 624202.
Significance
Devotees visit this temple to seek fulfillment of the following:-
- Child boon
- Prosperity
- Marriage boon
- High farm yield
Shlokas
Achutham Keyshavam Rama Narayanam Krishna Damodaram Vasudevam Harim Shridharam Madhavam Gopika Vallabham Janaki Nayakam Ramachandram Bhajey
Meaning -Oh Lord who cannot be perished, who also has names like Keshava, Rama, Damodara, Narayana, Sridhara, Madhava, Krishna, Ramachandra the beloved of Janaki, let me say your name regularly.
Vasudeva Sutham Devam Kamsa Chanoora Mardhanam Devaki Paramanandham Krishnam Vande Jagathgurum
Meaning -I bow to you O Krishna, the ultimate guru, Devaki and Vasudeva's son, and the destroyer of Kamsa and Chanur.
Adharam Madhuram Vadanam Madhuram Nayanam Madhuram Hasitam Madhuram Hridayam Madhuram Gamanam Madhuram Mathuraa Dhipate Rakhilam Madhuram
Meaning -Meaning - Sweet are Your lips, sweet is Your face, sweet are Your eyes, sweet is Your smile, sweet is Your heart, sweet is Your gait, O Lord of Mathura, everything about You is sweet.
Alokya Mathur Mukha Madarena Sthanyam Pibantham Saraseeruhaksham Sachinmayam Devam Anantha Roopam Balam Mukundam Manasa Smarami
Meaning -I think of this Balamukundan as the one who looks lovingly at his mother's face while taking milk from her, who has eyes similar to the red lotus, who is the embodiment of truth and intelligence and other forms.
Timings
The temple is open from 8.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. continuously and from 5.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. on Saturdays.