Sri Pundarikashan Perumal Temple (Thiruvellarai)

Thiruvellarai is situated in Tamil Nadu near Trichy. It is located at a distance of 27 km from Trichy, en route to Turaiyur. This place has Sri Pundarikasha Perumal Temple, one of the 108 Divya desams.

thala Puranam

Vellarai means white rock. Since, this sthalam is situated 100 feet high in the top of the small mountain, which is white in colour, this sthalam is called "Thiru Vellarai"

Once when Sibi Chakravarthi has been tented here with his warriors here, a white boar crossed him. He chased It and the Boar finally went inside a hole. Saint Markandeya was under penance here and King Sibi narrated the incident that occurred here and the saint asked the king to perform a Milk Abhiseka to the hole. While doing so Lord Vishnu appeared before them. So Saint Markandeya asked Sibi Chakravarthy to bring 3700 Vaishnavites from North and build a temple here for Lord Vishnu. As requested Sibi Chakravarthy brought the 3700 Vaishnavites from the North and built the temple. While do so one of the Vaishnavite died and King Sibi was very much worried about it. Lord Vishnu again appeared Himself as a Vaishnavite and told King Sibi to count Him and make the numbering as 3700. Saint Naradhar's disciple Uyyakkondaar wrote "Sri Bhaashyam", which was left unfinished by him and was finally completed by Vishnu Sithaar. So this rock is called as "Uyyakkondaan Malai".

The two doors

There are two entrances to go to the Moolasthanam (Where Moolavar is seen). The two entrances are named as "Utharayana Vaasal" and "Dhakshanayana Vaasal". ("From Jan 15 to June 15 is through Utharayanya Vaasal and from then to next six month, is through Dhakshanaya Vaasal").

Sri Vishnu who is also named as "Maayavan" at the end of Dhakshinayana kaalam (Margazhi 15th) is named as "Thai Maatha Naayagan", at the start of Thai Month (Jan 15th)

The two gates in this temple represents human life (i.e) entering to the life and getting out of it is the other. In both these Vaasals when entering in to the life and when getting out of it, he could be able to feel the presence of Paramaathma. To make to understand this, he resembles himself as "Suriya Narayanan" at the state of Utharayanam and as "Govindan" at the end of Dhakshinayanan at the end of Maargazhi.

Perumal and Thayar

The Moolavar of this Sthalam is Pundarikashan. Moolavar in standing position facing east direction. Prathyaksham for Garudan, called as "Periya Thiruvadi", Sibi chakravarthy, Bhoomi Piratti, Maarkandeya Maharishi, Lord Brahma, Rudhran (Lord Shiva).

Thayaar here is Shenbagavalli. Also called as "Peri Pirattiyaar Lakshmi Devi". There is a separate sannadhi for Thaayar. Utsavar thaayar is named as "Pangajavalli".

Sriman Narayanan is giving dharshan to all living and non living things as Sooriya Narayanan. By extending his rays, he is giving security to the entire world. Sooriya Narayanan, is the person who is making the plants grow, making to rain, calculating the Jeevathmas paapans (sin) and punniyams (good things). He is revolving round the Earth to make good things happen and to destroy the bad things (or) evils. Lord Emperumaan, who turns himself has Suriya Bhaghvan, revolves round the universe and he flashes his rays to make all things live.

Details of the temple

The wall around this temple is very big and covering the entire area of the temple and the walls also has all the 7 theerthams. Alvars have sung in praise of this temple.

Mangalasasanam

This temple has been sung by Periyalwar (11 hymns) and Thirumangai Alwar (13 hymns)Vedantha Desikar in his Hamsa Sandesam has done Mangalaasasanam.

Pushkarani

1. Divya Theertham
2. Kanda Kshree Theertham
3. Chakkara Theertham
4. Chakkara Theertham
5. Pushkala Theertham
6. Padma Theertham
7. Varaaha Manikarnika Theertham

Vimanam

Vimalaakkruthi Vimaanam.

The 18 steps leading to the temple represent the 18 chapters of Bhagawat Gita.

Trivia

1. This temple has a big wall (Mathil sevar).
2. This is Birth place of Bhakthar Uyyakondaar.
3. The temple is situated on top of a Mountain which has a fall of white rocks and is 100 feet high.
4. In front of the big pillar in his temple, when one makes any sound, it replicates and echoes around the temple. Because of this, some of paasurams in Divyapprabhandhams are said for 2 or 3 times.

References

* [http://www.divyadesamonline.com/hindu/temples/trichy/tiruvellarai-temple.asp About the temple]
* [http://www.dinamalar.com/koil/249_pindakaatshan_thiruvellaarai_trichy.asp About the temple in Tamil]
* [http://www.srivari.com/chozhatirupathigal/thiruvellarai.htm Stala Puranam]
* [http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1955/2328/1600/23.0.jpgInside view of the temple]

Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiruvallarai