108 Divya Desams !! Thiruvellarai - Sri Pundarikasha Perumal Temple !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!






Thiruvellarai Sri Pundarikasha Perumal Temple is 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu located in Trichirapalli in the District of Tamilnadu.  It is situated 27kms away from Trichy. 



This is one of the oldest temples built in Dravidian architectural style situated on the hill top of 100ft height, this hill is white in color thus the place has got its name Vellarai.  The temple inscriptions reveals the details of Pallava, Vijayanagara and Hoysalas period.  This temple occupies vast piece of land with 7 sacred temple tanks and it is surrounded by a massive wall. There are two entrances to this temple to reach the sanctum sanctorum known as Utharayana Vasal and Dakshinayana Vasal.  During Utharayana Punyakala the Utharanayan Vasal remains open for the devotees and Lord gives dharshan as Suryanaraya Perumal.   Utharayana Punyakala is highly auspicious for all the rituals and ceremonies.   During Dakshinayana Punyakala the Dakshinayana Vasal remains open for the devotees and Lord gives dharshan to his devotees as Govinda.  Dakshinayana Punyakala is the time to worship Lord and engage in selfless service to Lord.  This is the birth place of Bakthar Uyyakondar, a passionate devotee of Lord Pundarikasha.  This temple also enshrines the sannidhis of Sage Markandeya and Goddess Bhoo Devi built during the period of King Pallava Malla Nandivarman II and King Rajaraja I respectively.



Presiding deity – Sri Pundarikasha Perumal/ Mayavan/Thaimatha Nayakan with his consort Goddess Sembakavalli Thayar/Periya Pirattiyar/Pangaya Selvi , Utsavar – Pankajavalli Thayar.



Mangalasasanam – Udayavar Sri Ramanujar, Sri Vedanta Desikar, Periya Alwar, Thirumangai Alwar



Prathyaksham to – Garuda Alwar, Bhumi Piratti, Sage Markandeya, Sibi Chakravarthy,  Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva



Pushkarani – Padma Theertham, Chakkra Theertham, Pushkala Theertham, Divya Theertham, Kandashree Theertham and Varaha Gandha Theertham



Vimanam – Vimalakruthi Vimanam



Festivals – Chithirai Utsavam, Chaitra Pournami, Gajendra Mosksham, Avani Utsavam, Panguni Brahmostavam,



The legend has that Sibi Chakravarthy of Ikshuvaku Dynasty with his warriors happened to be in this sacred land, a white boar moved crosswise of him.  They began to chase the white boar and it disappeared swiftly into a small opening on the ground.  At this point of time, Sage Markandeya was underwent severe penance praying to Lord Vishnu here.  Sibi Chakravarthy narrated the mystifying incident to Sage Markandeya.  Sage advised Sibi Chakravarthy to perform a sacred bath with milk to this hole where the white board was hidden.  The most compassionate Lord appeared before them as Lord Pundarikasha.  Sage Markandeya recommended Sibi Chakravary to build a temple in this place with 3700 priests from North to sanctify the Idol of Lord Pundarikasha.  While the entire process of building of temple was on progress, one of the priests died and Sibi Chakravarthy was deeply disappointed at this.  Lord appeared in his dream and consoled him that he would be present amongst the priests as a replacement of the deceased and Sibi Chakravarthy was extremely happy at the mercy of Lord.  This temple is dedicated to Lord Swetha Varaha, as the Lord appeared in this very land in the form of a white boar known as Swetha Varaha Kshetram.



Another legend has that Sage Pundarikasha worshipped Lord Vishnu and Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi constructing a beautiful Vrindavan – Garden of array of flowers of alluring nature and Tulsi in this land.  Lord pleased at the devotion of Sage and gave dharshan to him.  Sage requested Lord to remain in this holy land and the compassionate Lord continued to stay in this sacred land as Pundarikasha Perumal. 



This temple remains open from 7.00AM to   1.15PM in the morning and 3.30PM to 8.00PM in the evenings.

Contact details - Sri S Ramesh Battacharyar Swamin - 9443183618
1/36, Sannidhi Street, Thiruvellarai, Thirichirapally.

Jai Sriman Narayana !!







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