Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple, Thiruvellarai – Legends
Sibi
Chakravarthy, Builder of this Temple:
As per
Hindu legend, when Sibi
Chakravarthy stayed there with
his warriors, a white boar crossed his path. He chased it and the boar hid
inside a hole. Markandeya, a
sage, was doing penance there and the king narrated the incident to him. The
sage asked the king to fill the hole with milk. While doing so, Hindu god Vishnu appeared before them. The sage asked the king to
bring 3700 Vaishnavites from
the north and build a temple on the site for Vishnu.
As
requested, the king took 3700 Vaishnavites and started building the temple.
While doing so, one of the Vaishnavites was killed in transit and the king was
concerned by the accident. Vishnu appeared incognito as Pundarikakshan, a
Vaishnavite, and requested to be counted among the 3700. The temple is said
to have been built by Sibi Chakravarthy, king of Ayodhya in Tretha Yuga 15 lakh
years ago. This temple is older than Srirangam temple.
The
belief is that Shibi brought 3700 Vaishnavites to this temple. Later, about 50
of them left from here for Melkote (Karnataka), several went to Kongu Nadu and
many others went to other temples to perform daily poojas there. Legend has it
that all the Vaishnavas who perform daily poojas in temples were originally
from Thiruvellarai. Belief is that Buddhists were in equal strength here at
Thiruvellarai along with Vaishnavites.
Thiru Vellarai:
The
word Vellarai means white rock. Owing to the presence of white rocks
in the region, the place is historically referred as Thiru Vellarai.
Lakshmi worshipped Lord Vishnu here:
According
to another legend Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, performed penance at the
temple, and Vishnu appeared before her as Sengamala Kannan. The presiding deity
has since been called "Thamarai Kannan", meaning the one who has eyes
resembling lotus; his consort is called "Pankacha Valli".
Lord Shiva worshiped
Pundarikakshan here:
Lord Shiva in form of Neelivaneswarar is believed to have worshiped Pundarikakshan to
absolve himself from the sin of holding Brahma's severed head. Vishnu appeared to both Shiva and
Brahma, adhering to their prayers.
Birthplace of Saint Uyyakondan Engal Azhwan:
Being
one of the 108 famous Vaishnava Divya Desams, this is the birth place of Saint
Uyyakondan Engal Azhwan.
Mother is having rights over Lord Vishnu here:
During a
conversation in Thiruparkadal-Ocean of Milk, Lord Vishnu praised Mother
Mahalakshmi that he was very happy to see all beings prosperous because of her
grace and offered a boon to Mother. Mother said that though she had no
greater boon than of sharing his chest, she would yet claim to have more rights
in the Milk Ocean, her place of birth. Lord said that as he was all in the
ocean, her prayer could not be granted there and advised her to come to earth
for the boon when the Lord would be granting darshan to Emperor Shibi.
Thiruvellarai, Older than Srirangam:
The
temple is considered the oldest of the Vaishnavite temples of South, older than
Srirangam. Whereas Srirangam was built during Rama’s period, Thiruvellarai
temple was built by Shibi, 4 generations older forefather of Rama. Hence the
name Aadhi Vellarai. According to the Puranas, 64 `Chathuryugas’ (the present
Kaliyuga being one among them) have passed since the Lord was enshrined here.
Naazhikettan Vayil:
The
goddess here is believed to have questioned the Lord about his later return in
the night and hence the doorway is called ‘Naazhikettan Vayil’.
Markandeya attained Moksham here:
Markandeya
was destined to die at 16. When Yama came to take him, he clutched on to the
Shiva Lingam at Thirukkadaiyur. Pleased with this, Lord Shiva blessed him that
he will remain there forever as 16. After enjoying life to the full, Markandeya
once again prayed to Lord Shiva asking for Moksham. He is guided by Shiva to go
to Thiruvellarai to invoke the blessing of Vishnu.
Only in three Divya Desams, Goddess get the first rights
over the Lord:
Answering
Sibi’s prayers was an invisible voice (Lord Vishnu) which asked him not to
pursue his quest to defeat Ravana and that he go back to his kingdom as time
had not come for Ravana to be defeated yet and that he himself will be born
later to defeat Ravana. A disappointed King Shibi pleads with the Lord that he
could not possibly go back empty handed, without fulfilling the purpose for
which he had come. The Lord asks Shibi to fulfill the wishes of Goddess Lakshmi
by building a temple here that would give her the first rights at all
festivities. Only in three Divya Desams does the Goddess get the first rights
over the Lord - Nachiyar temple in Thiru Naraiyur, Andal in Srivilliputhur and
here at Thiruvellarai.
Vaishnavite can get Moksham only after visiting
Thiruvellarai:
Another
belief is that no Vaishnavite can get Moksham without visiting Thiruvellarai.
Hence, there is this tradition at the temple to call ‘Thiruvellarai Kandeero –
Thiruvellarai Kanden Ayya’ (the devotees informing the Lord that they have seen
Thiruvellarai and that they are now ready/eligible for Moksham), a voice that
is said to echo to the Lord up there.
Ramanujar stayed here for short time:
Ramanujar
spent a few months here till the opposition to him subsides, after the
unfortunate incident of attempting to kill him by poison at Srirangam.
Pundarikakshan:
The
legend also has it that Pundarekan, a yogi established a garden here and
worshipped the Lord with the Tulsi leaves grown here. The Lord pleased with his
worship, gave darshan to him and came to be known as Pundarikakshan.
Senthamarai Kannan:
Pundarikaksha
Perumal is also known as Senthamarai Kannan (Krishna of the red lotus). Mahavishnu
wanted to do a pooja for Lord Shiva with 1000 lotuses at the temple in Thiruppaingneeli
(Thirupanjali). Sadly, there was one flower less than the total number. So,
Vishnu removed one of his eyes and substituted it for the missing flower making
it a 1000 and then performed the pooja. Shiva, pleased with his devotion, gave
the Chakrayudam (discus) to Vishnu. Siva told Vishnu to stay 5 kms away to the
northeast of Thirupaingili in a place called Thiruvellarai where he would be
called Senthamarai Kannan.
Nadaathoorammaal:
There is
an interesting story behind Engal Azhwan, the saint-poet, being called
Nadaathoramaal. Every day he used to offer milk to Perumal. As the milk was
hot, he would cool it by blowing air from his mouth and then give it to the
Lord. This action made Engalaazhvan’s mother call him Nadaathoorammaal (thoor:
blow).
Swetha Puri Nadhar:
The
Perumal here appeared to emperor Sibi as Swetha Varahan (white pig) and he is
called “Swetha Puri Nadhar” according to the temple history.
Goddess prayed here for union with Lord:
The
Goddess in this holy place is known by the beautiful names of Pankaya Selvi and
Shenbagavalli. According to legend She did penance here for union with the
Lord, who appeared as Krishna from a well known as `Poonkinaru,' long before
the Lord took the incarnation as Devaki's son in Mathura. That seems to be the
reason for Saint Periazhwar addressing the Lord here as child Krishna. Assuming
the role of Yasodha, he appeals to the Lord to allow him to apply `Kaappu' on him.
Other Names:
The
Place is also known as Swethagiri, Adhivellarai, Uthama Kshetram and Hita Kshetram.
People worshipped Lord Vishnu here:
Pundarikakshan
is believed to have appeared to Garuda (Vahana of Vishnu), Sibi Chakravarthy, Sage
Pundarika, Sage Markandeya and Hindu gods Bhoomadevi, Brahma and Shiva.
