Sunday, March 18, 2018

Jagannatha Perumal Temple, Thirumazhisai – The Temple

Jagannatha Perumal Temple, Thirumazhisai – The Temple
The temple is built in Dravidian architecture occupies around 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) and has two precincts. The temple has a rectangular plan surrounded by 10 ft (3.0 m) high walls, pierced by a five-tier gopuram, the gateway tower. Dwajasthambam, Palipeedam and a short deepa sthambam are situated immediately after the 5 tier Rajagopuram. Presiding Deity is called as Jagannatha Perumal.



The presiding deity housed in the east facing sanctum, is an image made of granite seen in seated posture with his right leg bent and left leg left hanging. The images of Rukmini and Satyabhama are located on either of his sides. All the three idols are big, wide, and gigantic, and they are in sitting posture. The idols of the saints Markandeya and Brighu are also seen in the sanctum itself.



Urchavars of Jagannatha Perumal with Satyabhama and Rukmini, Brugu maharishi and Markandeya maharishi are in front of moolavar. Other Urchavars are kept in Arthamandapam. The walls of the temple have the niche images of Ganesh, Vishnu and Vaishnavi. Near the sanctum, next to the shrine of Tirumazhisai Alwar, there is a shrine for Kannan (Krishna). The idol is too beautiful.



The shrine of Garuda facing Jagannatha Perumal, the eagle mount of Vishnu, is located axial to the central shrine. The central shrine is approached through Mahamandapam, the worship hall and a narrow Ardha mandapam. The Mahamandapam has a twenty-eight-pillared hall with sculptured pillars depicting Vaishnava mythology. The flag post is located behind the shrine of Garuda, axial to the central shrine and the gateway tower. 



There are images of Azhwars in the worship hall on both sides. The vimana, tower above the sanctum sanctorum is called Jagannatha Vimana. The vimana, has stucco images of Hayagriva, Lakshmi Narasimha and Garuda. The northern side of the Mahamandapam has the shrine of Thirumalisai Azhwar, which houses the image of the Azhwar in seated posture facing south with his hands sported with praying gesture. A special feature is that he is seen with a third eye.



Mother is called as Thirumangaivalli and her shrine is situated in the second precinct. There are other shrines in the temple dedicated to Lakshmi Narasimha, Manavala Mamunigal and Andal. Lord Vinayaka graces on the wall of the sanctum sanctorum with the two serpent planets Rahu and Ketu on his belly. Devotees pray here for relief from the adverse aspects of these planets. Special pujas are performed in the shrine on Vinayaka Chaturthi day.



There is a four-pillared hall in front of the gopuram having sculpted images in the pillars from the Vijayanagara period. There is a Kalayana Mandapa, Vahana Mandapa for housing the divine vehicles and a Paramapada Vasal. Sthala Vriksham is Parijatham. There is a huge temple tank called Brugu Pushkarini on the Eastern side of the temple that is currently brimming with water.