Sri Devaraja Perumal Temple

Overview

Sri Devaraja Perumal Temple is located at Naimisaranyam in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and also revered as one of the 108 Divya Desam temples, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Sri Devaraja Perumal temple is glorified in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, a Vaishnava canon, and mangalaasan (devotional songs) were sang by the twelve azhwar saints. Thirumangai Alwar who is the only alwar who has done the Mangalasasanam on this sthala perumal explains about the life led by the human.

About Tthe Temple

This kshetram is said to be one of the 8 swayam Vyaktha kshetrams. The other swayam Vyaktha kshetram are Sri Rangam, Srimushnam, Salagramam, Thotadri (Vaanamamalai), Tirupathi, Pushkaram and Badri. Sri Devaraja Perumal temple is considered as Tapovanam (forest of penance), because the presiding deity Lord Deva Raja (Lord Vishnu) is believed to be reside over the forest.The ritual to the presiding deity is believed to be done to the forest. And the goddess of the temple is Pundarikavalli Thayaar. There are 9 tapovams. They are Dandakaranyam, Saindhavaranyam, Jambhukaranyam, Pushkararanyam, Utpalaranyam, Badrikaranyam, Gurujangalaranyam, Aruputharanyam and Naimisaranayam. It is belived that the perumal is found in the form of forest. And this Naimisaranyam is regarded as a holy forest. The sacred well, namely Chakra Kunda is believed to have started from the weapon of Vishnu, Chakra. There are shrines dedicated to Chakranarayana, Ganesh, Rama, Lakshman.

Pushkarani

1. Chakkara Theertham
2. Gomuki Nadhi
3. Nemi Theertham
4. Divya Visrantha Theertham

Sthala Viruksham

Tapovanam

Vimaanam

Sri Hari Vimaanam

About the Deity

The Moolavar of this Naimisaranyam Divyadesam is Devarajan. He is also named as "Sri Hari". Moolavar in Nindra thirukkolam facing his thirumugham towards east direction. Prathyaksham for Indiran, Sudharman, Devarishi, Soodhapuranikar and Vedavyasar. The thaayar of this Kshetram is Sri Hari Lakshmi. She is also named as "Pundareekavalli".

Legend and Stories

The Emperumaan of this sthalam is giving his seva as the entire form of the Vanam (forest). In the old age, all the Maha Rishis along with Sownakar went towards Brahma devan and asked him which is the best place suited for doing Yagam and tapas. As the answer, Brahma devan took a dharbai grasss and made it as a wheel shape and rolled the dharbai grass. Brahma devar said after he rolls the grass, the place where it stopped is said to be the ideal place for doing tapas and yagam. He rolled the wheel and it stops at a particular place in the Earth and that place is said to the place which is called as "Naimisaranyam". Nemi means chakkaram and Naimisam means the place where the chakkaram landed. Aaranyam means forest. Since Nemi, the Chakkaram which landed on Aaranya the forest, the sthalam is called as "Naimisaranyam". This Naimisaranyam is said to be the place where lots of Rishis and lots of yogis have done tapas and dhyanam and have explained the meaning of old puranas and vedams. The Emperumaan gives his seva as in the form of the forest and is found in whole of the forest. This sthala emperumaan, gives his seva with the name as "Sri Hari" along with Sri Hari lakshmi and gave his prathyaksham to Devendran, Sudharman, Devarishis, Soodhapuranikars and Vedavyasar.

Once, Balaramar, the brother of Sri Krishnar came to this sthalam. At that time, Soodhar was very busy creating puranas. He didnt notice the arrival of Balaramar. On seeing this, Balaramar got angry and hit him. He got into sin by comitting this. To get out the sin, he went to lots of Punya kshetras for an year and finally he came back to this kshetram and help the rishis and yogis, who were suffering from the frightening of a arakkan (Demon) by named "Vilvalan". All the rishis and yogis thanked Balaramar for making them to perform tapas in peace to reach the Emperumaan. Gayasooran, an arakkan did tapas in this sthalam. Sriman Narayanan gave his seva to him as he was fulfilled by his tapas. Sriman Narayanan asked him what varam he wants as a result of complete tapas. But, Gayasooran answered the Almighty, that he didnt want any varam from him and he was so strong powerful than Sriman Narayanan. On hearing this, Sriman Narayanan send his chakra to kill the asuran and his body was cut into 3 parts. The three parts are the Siro Gaya, (the head part), the Nambi Gaya (the middle part) and the Charana Gaya (the foot part). This sthalam, the Naimisaranyam is said to be the Nabhi Gaya. The Gaya Kshetram is said to be the Charana Gaya and Badri is said to be Siro Gaya. Offering prayers to forefathers in all these three sthalams is said to be so greatful. The sthala viruksham, the tree is Tapovanam and all the trees found in this sthalam are said to be sthala viruksham and because of this, the sthala viruksham is Tapovanam (Vanam means the entire forest). The Pushkarani of this sthalam are Gomukhi Nadhi and Chakkara theertham. On the shore of Chakkara theertham, separate sannadhis for Chakarathalwar, Vinayakar, Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha Piratti is found. On the way to Gomukhi Nadhi, a separate temple called as "Vyasa Ghat" is found. On the other side of this sthalam, a temple for Suka maharishi is found, where Suka Bhagavan is found as the bronze statue. Near to this Suka Maharishi temple, a temple for Hanuman is found on the top of the mountains which is known as the "Hanuman Ghat". He is found in standing position holding Sri Rama and Lakshmana in his two shoulders, in Vishwaroopa Kolam. One of Ahobila Mutt Jeyer attained Paramapadham in this sthalam and as his rememberance, his sannadhi and a mut of Ahobilam is opened in this sthalam. Ramanuja koodam, Vaanamamalai Jeeyar Mutt are also found, helping the bhaktas who come to this sthalam to get the seva of this sthalam Emperumaan. Thirumangai Alwar who is the only alwar who has done the Mangalasasanam on this sthala perumal explains about the life led by the human.

Festivals

Navaratri – September/October
Rama Navami – April
Krishna Jayanthi – August/September
Poornima day

Nearby Places to Visit

1. Alopi Devi Mandir
2. Ghuisarnath Temple
3. Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh
4. Kamakshi Devi Temple, Pratapgarh
5. Someshwar Mahadev Temple
6. Krishna Mandir, Barohiya
7. Chauharjan Devi Temple

Significance

Every new moon day, a large number of people purify themselves with a dip in the holy well. If the new moon falls on a Monday, it is believed that a holy bath in the well and offering to the presiding deity Lalitha will wash away all the sins committed in lifetime.

Accessibility

The Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow is the nearest airport. The district is traversed by meter gauge railway from Lucknow to Bareilly and on broad gauge train network connecting Gorakhpur and Delhi via Gonda, Burhwal, bypassing Lucknow and Hardoi. The National Highway No. 24 (Lucknow – Delhi) passes from the heart of Sitapur city. There are private and government buses ply to major cities.

Temple Address

Sri Devaraja Perumal Temple,
Thiru Naimisaranyam,
Lucknow,
Uttar Pradesh