Ulagalanda Perumaal Temple

The Ulagalanda Perumal Temple is loctated in Tirukkovilur and is dedicated to God Ulagalanda Perumal. This Divyadesam is a vast temple located at Tirukkovilur (near Tiruvannamalai), which is also home to the Tirukkovalur Veerattam, an ancient shrine glorified by the Tevaram hymns. This temple has a history of royal patronage. Tirukkovilur is considered to be one of the Pancha Krishnaranya shrines. This shrine represents the physical meeting point of the first of the Alwars Poikaialwar, Bhutattalvar and Peyalwar. The Divya Desams enshrining Trivikrama are Tiru Oorakam (Kanchipuram), Tirukkovilur, Kaazhicheeraamavinnagaram and Tiruneermalai. This is a vast temple with an imposing Rajagopuram which can be seen from a distance. Covering an area of 5 acres, it has three prakarams. There is a small shrine to Vamanar behind the image of Trivikrama. An Ardhamandapam, a Mahamandapam and the Pandya Mandapam are seen in front of the sanctum. There are shrines for Lakshminarayanar, Lakshminarasimhar, Andal, Udayavar, Senai Mudaliyar, Manavala Mamuni, Chakrattalwar, Poonkoyil Naachiyaar (Pushpavalli), Varadarajar and Venugopalar here. There is also a Ramar temple behind the Taayar shrine. The rear gopuram in a comparative state of disrepair is not used. The Moolavar is an imposing image of Ulagalanda Perumal or Trivikrama, with his foot raised, facing east. Taayaar here is known as Poonkoval Nachiyaar in her own shrine. The Utsavar here is Aayanaar or Kovalan (Gopalan). God Trivikrama Perumal graces the devotees from the sanctum under the Sri Chakra Vimana. God Venugopala plays the Kshetra Balaka role. There are shrines in the prakara for Gods Venugopala, Lakshmi Narayana, Lakshmi Raghava, Lakshmi Narasimha, Sri Rama and Sri Veera Anjaneya, Mother Sri Andal and Shukracharya, the Guru of Asuras. The tower of the temple is the third tallest in the state, the first at Sri Rangam, the second at Srivilliputhur. This is a 11 tier 192 feet tall tower. The temple area covers 5 acres. Even after crossing the main tower, there are residential parts. The place is praised as Nadu Nadu Tirupathi. There is a temple for God Vamana Murthy in Tirukakarai in Kerala. Vamanamurthi graces here from behind the presiding deity.