Keezha thiruvenkatanathapuram

INTRODUCTION:Keezha thiruvenkatanathapuram is about 10 km from Tirunelveli, a district head quarter in Tamilnadu, South India. There are 3 different routes from Tirunelveli to reach this place. The village is located on a hillock and the temple is located at an elevated plane surface. Even though these roads are narrow, they are navigable and every day mini bus service (Route No. 6A and 6B from Tirunelveli) is in operation which goes up to the temple entrance.

The temple is located in "Keezha Thiruvengadanathapuram", which is half a kilometer from the famous "Then Thirupathi Shri Venkataachalapathy temple". Due to the presence of abundant Red Soil in and around the temple, this place got the name "Sengani", where "Sen" meaning "Red" and "Kani" meaning "Land" in Tamil. The name was later changed to "Sangani". This temple lies to the east of "Then Thirupathi Perumal".

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MORPHOLOGY OF THE TEMPLE:

The temple is situated at the bank of the river “Thamirabharani”. This is an ancient temple. It was built by the king “Verapandian” in the 12th century. To the northern side of this temple lies “Kubera vassal” through which devotees enter. This is followed by “Maha mandapam, Artha mandapam and karpagraha”. Over the “karpagraha” lies the double tier flight. The bamboo tree is the “sthala virusha”. (Main tree of the temple)

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LORD’S NAMES AND HISTORY:

The lord was placed in this location by “Saint Brughu”. The mulavar (statue) “Shri varada raja perumal” with his four hands lies in the centre with “Sridevi” to the right and “Bhumadevi” to the left. He has “chakra and dhanaregai (money yielding line)” in his right hands and “sangu and kadayutham” in his lefts hands. It is a belief that we would never be in trouble due to lack of money, if we get the money blessed by keeping it in his dhanaregai. “Shri varada raja perumal, sridevi and Chakrathalvar” are present in the karpagraha . “Sannathi karudan and anjenayar” are also present in this temple.

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LORD’S BLESSES:

Once in the 14th century happened a miracle which led to the fame of the god. A king who ruled Nellai in the 14th century came to the temple to get blessings from the lord, but the priest was unavailable due to illness. At that time the lord disguised himself as the priest and performed the pooja, saving the priest from the king’s punishment. So the lord is often called "Vaazha Veikum Perumal”(The one who saves). All the devotees who pray to the lord whole heartedly would surely be blessed by him.

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BEHIND THE NAME:

The lord here is called “thenn kanchi” (thenn- south and kanchi- name of a place). This lord gives all the blessings that we can get from the lord in Kancipuram for which the lord in Nellai is called as “thenn kanchi”.

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SUKRA STHALA:

Since the lord has all the positives in his “Dana regai”, this sthala is called as sukra sthala. (Sthala-place)

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PRAYERS AND OFFERINGS:

Tonsuring (Offerering hair to the lord), “anga pradhkshanam (rolling round the temple), tuhla baram (offering fruits, gold, coconut etc.. for one’s body weight), Abhishegam, marriage to the lord, lifting of the lord, etc., are the offerings commonly done here. Many get married in this temple with the lord’s blessings. Food items like pongal, sweet pongal, kesari etc., are offered to the god. It is believed that we could achieve what we think of when we go round the temple for 1008 times during the period of Kartigai(15th of November to December normally). Keezha Thiruvengadanathapuram is 9 kilometers from Tirunelveli junction. The No. 6 bus is available only at fixed hours. It would be convenient to hire an Auto rickshaw to reach the temple easily.

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POOJAS:

According to “thenn kalai vaikanasa agamm” the following poojas and timings are followed:

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TEMPLE TIMINGS:

Morning-Evening- Monday to Friday, 7:00 - 11:00 and 17:00 - 19:30. Saturday, 6:00 - 13:00 and 17:00 - 20:30. Sunday, 7:00 - 12:00 and 17:00 - 20:00.

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KEEZHA THIRUPATHI:

It resembles the thirupathi. Near this temple about ¼ Km. to the east lies the “thenn kalahasthi” temple which crowns Lord Shiva. First Lord Shiva is prayed followed by varadharaja perumal and then the thenn thirupathi perumal.

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NOTES:

The temple was in to act from 17.06.2005, i.e. “kumba abishekam” took place on 17.06.2005. And the temple runs with the support of devotees.

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