Sri Adikesavaperumal Temple
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The Sri Adikesavaperumal Temple(Malayalam: ശ്രീ ആദികേശവപെരുമാള് ക്ഷേത്രം) is a Hindu
temple located in Thiruvattar
, India
and is one of the 108 Divya desams, the holy sites of Hindu Vaishnavism
. The temple is a picturesque setting surrounded on three sides by rivers (River Kothai
, River Pahrali
and River Thamirabarani).
style architecture with wooden pillars, doors and roofs.
The lord is lying on his snake couch and has to be viewed through three doors. We could see Lord Shiva near Lord Adikesava Perumal inside the sannidhi. Deepalakshmis are many but none resembles the other. The Otraikkal Mandapam (single stone hall) made of a single stone 3 feet thick, is a marvel. Oorthuva Thandavam, Venugopala, Rathi, Manmatha, Lakshmana and Indrajit are excellently carved. The temple is also renowned for its murals.
This Temple is older than the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple
at Thiruvananthapuram
and one of the divya devams. The style and the architecture of this temple has been taken as the sample to construct the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple at Thiruvananthapuram. Thiruvananthapuram Sri Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple deity lies in the direction as to see the Thiruvattar Adi kesava deity. The main deity was originally covered with gold kavachams in which diamonds and other precious stones were embedded which the kerala kings had presented to the temple.There is also a small shrine for Lord Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy near the river and opposite to the Adikesavaperumal Temple. Nammalvar
had sung 11 pasurams in praise of AdiKesavaSwamy.
, Thiruvananthapuram
.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
temple located in Thiruvattar
Thiruvattar
Thiruvattaru is a panchayat town in Kanniyakumari district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-About the town:This town is situated 6 km north-east of Marthandam and 30 km north-west of Nagercoil. The two main rivers Pahrali River and Kothai surround the village and join in Moovattumugam,...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and is one of the 108 Divya desams, the holy sites of Hindu Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
. The temple is a picturesque setting surrounded on three sides by rivers (River Kothai
Kothai
Kothai is a river in the district of Kanyakumari which originates from the Kodayar Lake. Kothai is name of a female in Tamil. In Tamil it means " Beautiful girl of no mistakes"...
, River Pahrali
Pahrali
Pahrali River flows through the Kanyakumari District in southern India. It originates in the Mahendragiri hills. The Mathur Hanging Trough, the highest and longest aqueduct in Asia, was built over it near Mathur. Perunchani dam is constructed across Pahrali river....
and River Thamirabarani).
The temple
The temple architecture is KeralaKerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
style architecture with wooden pillars, doors and roofs.
The lord is lying on his snake couch and has to be viewed through three doors. We could see Lord Shiva near Lord Adikesava Perumal inside the sannidhi. Deepalakshmis are many but none resembles the other. The Otraikkal Mandapam (single stone hall) made of a single stone 3 feet thick, is a marvel. Oorthuva Thandavam, Venugopala, Rathi, Manmatha, Lakshmana and Indrajit are excellently carved. The temple is also renowned for its murals.
This Temple is older than the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple
Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple
Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Thiruvananthapuram, India. The shrine is currently run by a trust headed by the royal family of Travancore. The temple is one of 108 Divya Desams – principal centres of worship of the deity in Vaishnavism...
at Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
and one of the divya devams. The style and the architecture of this temple has been taken as the sample to construct the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple at Thiruvananthapuram. Thiruvananthapuram Sri Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple deity lies in the direction as to see the Thiruvattar Adi kesava deity. The main deity was originally covered with gold kavachams in which diamonds and other precious stones were embedded which the kerala kings had presented to the temple.There is also a small shrine for Lord Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy near the river and opposite to the Adikesavaperumal Temple. Nammalvar
Nammalvar
Nammalvar also Nammazhwar,Nammaazhvaar, Nammazhvar, Nammaalvaar, Nammalwar;Tamil: நம்மாழ்வார்) was one of the twelve Alvars, well known for his many hymns on devotion to Vishnu. Legend gives him the date 3102 B.C....
had sung 11 pasurams in praise of AdiKesavaSwamy.
Treasures
Thiruvattar and the surrounding places in Kanyakumari district were once ruled by Kerala kings. There are also proofs on this in these towns, for e.g. : padmanabhapuram palace near marthandam. During their rule, they were worshipping the deity of thiruvattar temple. However they changed the capital to Thiruvananthapuram during one of the Marthanda verma king's period after which Sri Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple attained more glory. The kings did not take away all the treasures from this temple. In fact, some of the treasures (i.e. the lords kavacham & precious stones) were left in this temple also which is not found now. This was in recent years (i.e. 15 - 20 yrs back) that the treasure was looted. The treasure here was also worth few crores. Its believed that it has been robbed by many people. The poojari who supported this committed suicide.Legend
The Lord AdiKesavaSwamy means 'Foremost Friend'. Legend says that Lord AdiKesavaSwamy defeated the demon Kesi. The demon's wife prayed to River Ganges and to River Thamirabarani and created a destruction. But it was in vain and she surrendered to the Lord. Thus, the formation of the rivers made in a circle came to be known as Thiruvattaru.Festivals and Prasadhams
Vaikunta Ekadesi is celebrated with pomp and glory. Paal Payasam (Milk Kheer), Aval and Appam are delicious prasadams at this temple. The pujas are done in the same manner as that of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy templeSri Padmanabhaswamy temple
Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Thiruvananthapuram, India. The shrine is currently run by a trust headed by the royal family of Travancore. The temple is one of 108 Divya Desams – principal centres of worship of the deity in Vaishnavism...
, Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
.
External links
- http://www.sriadikesava.org
- http://www.srivari.com/malayalatirupathigal/thiruvattaru.htm