The Moolavar is Pundarikakshan, seen standing facing east. The thayar is known as Shengabavalli, Pankaja selvi, vimanam is Vimalakruthi vimanam, seven theerthams.
god appeared to Garudar, Sibi Chakravarthi, Bhoodevi, Markandeya rishi, Brahma Rudra and Indra.
the temple is said to have been built by Sibi chakravarthy the forefathers of Rama. In treta yuga Sibi Chakravarthy is said to be ruling at Ayodhya, he had heard of the atrocities of Ravana the King of Lanka. He is said to have decided to punish Ravana and so assembled his army and proceeded towards Lanka. The army had reached the Area Neelikavanam near svethagiri and decided to rest there for a while. here an unusual event provoked the kings curiosity as he was resting enjoying the coolness of the place. he saw a white boar rushing about the place the king followed the boar as it seemed unusual and behaving so too. as he was following the boar it vanished into a bush. the king got the bush cleared. he came upon Markandeya rishi and Bhoomi devi doing penance there. he is said to have heard a asareeri voice which said "O Sibi Raja, I will be born as the son of Dasaratha. I will destroy Ravana at that time. The king is said to have had a dialogue with the voice and requested to what his future course of action should be. He was advised to build a temple for Perumal at Svethagiri, and that the Lord would be appearing there. he built a temple and Markandeya rishi arranged for all the religious functions to be performed there by bringing 3700 brahmin families from a place Antarvedi village which lies some where between Ganga and Yamuna. these people came to be known as thiruvellarai Vaishnavas.
Ramanujacharya is said to have taken 52 families to Melkote when he wanted some priests to render service to Tirunarayana. another 64 families went to Kongu nadu (Erode today). In Alwar Thirunagari in Thirunelveli district some of the Sri vaishnavas are known as Thiruvellaraiyaar. Hence the original 3700 families who Markandeya rishi is said to have brought from antaravedi seem to be scattered today in places like Srivilliputtur, Thirukoshtiyur, Vembathur, Kidaram, Perunkarunai.
God is said to have promised thayar that she would get Sengol Paripalanam at this place hence when ever the deity is taken out in procession the idol of the thayar precedes the Lord, even to Moolasthanam.
a particular entrance to the temple is known as Nazhi Ketta vasal. It is said that one day there was a delay in Perumal returning after his rounds in the village. the goddesses is said to have asked him as to why he was delayed at this particular entrance. on getting the suitable reason he entered the temple precincts.
The Moolavar on top of the hill has to be approached by climbing 59 steps. these steps have a significance here.
The first 18 steps are said to represent the Gita.
The next four steps represent the four vedas.
after crossing these one reaches the Bali peetam. here the Bali peetam is considered holy and powerful. the devotees who offer prayers to the lord and when their prayers are answered promise to do Thirumanjanam to the Bali peetam and offer Pongal to both the Bali peetam and the perumal at the temple as thanks giving. after the bali peetam five steps which represents the pancha bhoothams. after crossing this one comes to the Nezhi Kettai vasal. then one has to go round the hill in a pradakshina form. we find two entrances to approach the temple. these are known as Utharayana and Dakshinayana entrances. from the first day of Adi to the end of Markazhi July to Dec the Dakshinayana vasal is kept open and from the beginning to thai to the end of Ani Jan to June the Uttarayana vasal is kept open. thus the path taken by the sun has a great significance to approach the Perumal. after crossing this vasal there are eight steps which are said to represent Ashtakshara, then comes 24 steps which represent the 24 aksharas in Gayathri mantram.
In the Moolasthanam we find to the right of Perumal is Sun God and to the left is the Moon god. both are facing the perumal. To the right Garuda and the left Adiseshan are seen in human form. To the right side Markandeya and the left side Bhoomippiratti are seen in a seated posture as if they are doing tapas. the disc is in the prayoga form. In the front of the Moolavar Pankaja Nayaki and Pundarika utsavar idols are also seen.
As one comes down after the dharshan there is a Chithirai mandapam. sculptures of Surya, chandra, Indra, Garuda, Iravatham, Brahma, siva, along with Pundarikakshan all very beautiful can be seen.
In the street where the Ratha is drawn there is a tank which is known as Mother in law, daughter in law tank known as Marupati kinaru or chakra theertham this is in the swastik shape. the construction is such that if one is having a bath in one wing and another in the other wing they cannot see each other.
Ramanuja is said to have stayed in this place for twelve years. One day the goddesses is said to have asked Perumal what he proposes to do to the sanyasi who was staying in that place for so long. God is said to have replied that the Goddesses could send to him as prasad, food after she had partaken of it. since that day the food is taken to the Udayavar sannidhi with Melam and thalam as neivedhyam.this custom is followed even today. this sannidhi is in the street where the tank is. there is a udayavar kulam where Ramanuja is said to have had his bath. there is another tank too called Paal ootru kulam. god is said to have used this water to apply the vaishnavite caste mark. the water here is very clear and tastes of tender coconut water.
The five tanks are Padma theertham, Kusahasti teertham, Kandha Pushkarini teertham, varaha teertham and Mani Karnika teertham. a person who wishes to be blessed with progeny must have his bath in these pushkarinis.
Thiruvellarai is famous for a host of acharyas. Perialwar calls the god here as Gnana sundar, Desikar refers to the lord as Swayam Prakasa. Thirumangai Alwar refers to the lord as most precious golden one who is safe up in the hills. Veeyakkondan and Engalalavan. Nathamunis sishyas Pundarikakshan and Kurugai Kavalappar. Nathamuni named Pundarikakshan as Uyyakkondan.
Engalalvan also known as Vishnu chittar. it is he who helped Udayavar complete the Sri Bhasyam and thus he was lovingly called Engalalavan by Ramanuaja. Nadadur ammal learnt the sri bhasyam kalakshepam from Engal alavan who also adopted Nadadur ammal as his son. Nadadur ammal is said to have built a statue for his teacher and left it in the care of Engal alavan's daughters family.
god appeared to Garudar, Sibi Chakravarthi, Bhoodevi, Markandeya rishi, Brahma Rudra and Indra.
the temple is said to have been built by Sibi chakravarthy the forefathers of Rama. In treta yuga Sibi Chakravarthy is said to be ruling at Ayodhya, he had heard of the atrocities of Ravana the King of Lanka. He is said to have decided to punish Ravana and so assembled his army and proceeded towards Lanka. The army had reached the Area Neelikavanam near svethagiri and decided to rest there for a while. here an unusual event provoked the kings curiosity as he was resting enjoying the coolness of the place. he saw a white boar rushing about the place the king followed the boar as it seemed unusual and behaving so too. as he was following the boar it vanished into a bush. the king got the bush cleared. he came upon Markandeya rishi and Bhoomi devi doing penance there. he is said to have heard a asareeri voice which said "O Sibi Raja, I will be born as the son of Dasaratha. I will destroy Ravana at that time. The king is said to have had a dialogue with the voice and requested to what his future course of action should be. He was advised to build a temple for Perumal at Svethagiri, and that the Lord would be appearing there. he built a temple and Markandeya rishi arranged for all the religious functions to be performed there by bringing 3700 brahmin families from a place Antarvedi village which lies some where between Ganga and Yamuna. these people came to be known as thiruvellarai Vaishnavas.
Ramanujacharya is said to have taken 52 families to Melkote when he wanted some priests to render service to Tirunarayana. another 64 families went to Kongu nadu (Erode today). In Alwar Thirunagari in Thirunelveli district some of the Sri vaishnavas are known as Thiruvellaraiyaar. Hence the original 3700 families who Markandeya rishi is said to have brought from antaravedi seem to be scattered today in places like Srivilliputtur, Thirukoshtiyur, Vembathur, Kidaram, Perunkarunai.
God is said to have promised thayar that she would get Sengol Paripalanam at this place hence when ever the deity is taken out in procession the idol of the thayar precedes the Lord, even to Moolasthanam.
a particular entrance to the temple is known as Nazhi Ketta vasal. It is said that one day there was a delay in Perumal returning after his rounds in the village. the goddesses is said to have asked him as to why he was delayed at this particular entrance. on getting the suitable reason he entered the temple precincts.
The Moolavar on top of the hill has to be approached by climbing 59 steps. these steps have a significance here.
The first 18 steps are said to represent the Gita.
The next four steps represent the four vedas.
after crossing these one reaches the Bali peetam. here the Bali peetam is considered holy and powerful. the devotees who offer prayers to the lord and when their prayers are answered promise to do Thirumanjanam to the Bali peetam and offer Pongal to both the Bali peetam and the perumal at the temple as thanks giving. after the bali peetam five steps which represents the pancha bhoothams. after crossing this one comes to the Nezhi Kettai vasal. then one has to go round the hill in a pradakshina form. we find two entrances to approach the temple. these are known as Utharayana and Dakshinayana entrances. from the first day of Adi to the end of Markazhi July to Dec the Dakshinayana vasal is kept open and from the beginning to thai to the end of Ani Jan to June the Uttarayana vasal is kept open. thus the path taken by the sun has a great significance to approach the Perumal. after crossing this vasal there are eight steps which are said to represent Ashtakshara, then comes 24 steps which represent the 24 aksharas in Gayathri mantram.
In the Moolasthanam we find to the right of Perumal is Sun God and to the left is the Moon god. both are facing the perumal. To the right Garuda and the left Adiseshan are seen in human form. To the right side Markandeya and the left side Bhoomippiratti are seen in a seated posture as if they are doing tapas. the disc is in the prayoga form. In the front of the Moolavar Pankaja Nayaki and Pundarika utsavar idols are also seen.
As one comes down after the dharshan there is a Chithirai mandapam. sculptures of Surya, chandra, Indra, Garuda, Iravatham, Brahma, siva, along with Pundarikakshan all very beautiful can be seen.
In the street where the Ratha is drawn there is a tank which is known as Mother in law, daughter in law tank known as Marupati kinaru or chakra theertham this is in the swastik shape. the construction is such that if one is having a bath in one wing and another in the other wing they cannot see each other.
Ramanuja is said to have stayed in this place for twelve years. One day the goddesses is said to have asked Perumal what he proposes to do to the sanyasi who was staying in that place for so long. God is said to have replied that the Goddesses could send to him as prasad, food after she had partaken of it. since that day the food is taken to the Udayavar sannidhi with Melam and thalam as neivedhyam.this custom is followed even today. this sannidhi is in the street where the tank is. there is a udayavar kulam where Ramanuja is said to have had his bath. there is another tank too called Paal ootru kulam. god is said to have used this water to apply the vaishnavite caste mark. the water here is very clear and tastes of tender coconut water.
The five tanks are Padma theertham, Kusahasti teertham, Kandha Pushkarini teertham, varaha teertham and Mani Karnika teertham. a person who wishes to be blessed with progeny must have his bath in these pushkarinis.
Thiruvellarai is famous for a host of acharyas. Perialwar calls the god here as Gnana sundar, Desikar refers to the lord as Swayam Prakasa. Thirumangai Alwar refers to the lord as most precious golden one who is safe up in the hills. Veeyakkondan and Engalalavan. Nathamunis sishyas Pundarikakshan and Kurugai Kavalappar. Nathamuni named Pundarikakshan as Uyyakkondan.
Engalalvan also known as Vishnu chittar. it is he who helped Udayavar complete the Sri Bhasyam and thus he was lovingly called Engalalavan by Ramanuaja. Nadadur ammal learnt the sri bhasyam kalakshepam from Engal alavan who also adopted Nadadur ammal as his son. Nadadur ammal is said to have built a statue for his teacher and left it in the care of Engal alavan's daughters family.
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