• Vishnu

Karungulam Perumal Temple

Overview


Karungulam is a village situated 8kms south-east of the town Krishnapuram, near Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. A hill known by the name Vagulagiri is located in the village, near the southern banks of the Thamirabarani river. According to ancient scriptures, the Vagulagiri hill was flourishing with beautiful Vakula flowers. The water in the pond surrounding this area was blackish in colour and hence the place got the name “Karungulam”.


About The Temple


The temple is quite ancient and is more than1000 years old. Vagulagiri is the first temple in this route and is located over a hillock at Karungulam. There are totally two temples on this hill with gopuram (Tower), one is located on the foot of the hill, while the other over the hill. The twin temple of Lord Venkatachalapathi and Lord Srinivasar with Sridevi and Bhoodevi besides is found on the hill top. Lord Venkatachalapathi here is in the form of two divine sandalwood sticks (Tharkals) that is considered to have come from Thirupathy. These divine sticks are used to drive ratha (car) during the temple festival. These sticks are placed close to each other and are consecrated in the Sanctum sanctorum.

Vagulagiri hills are located enroute Tirunelveli to Thiruchendur, on the banks of the river Thamirabharani. The temple is popularly called the Vagulagiri Kshetram. The presiding deity of this temple is Sri Venkatachalapathi.


Legend and Stories

Vagulagiri Mahatmiyam

Vagulagiri Mahatmiyam is a small palm chuvadi which claims the existence of gods at this hill. The Grantham script also elaborates the existence of gods in this temple. This was later translated into Tamil by Brammashri Venkatachala Shastrigal of this village.

Baagligam was a kingdom in ancient India in which Kalharam was a state. King Subakandan ruled this fertile and wealthy state, who was considered a abled and just leader. King Subakandan was suffering from a deep cancer like wound on his neck which was causing him severe pain.

No doctor from his region could find a cure for this disease. In the course of time, this condition worsened as the wound spread out, creating persistent and unbearable pain. As it is said rightly, what cannot be cured by doctors can be cured by our deep prayer towards God. The king who had immense faith and belief in Lord Venkateshwara of Thirupathi, set out on a Yathra (pilgrimage tour) to Thirupathi in order to worship him. He stayed at the place for a long time, performing prayers, and penances for relieving him the cureless condition.

The benevolent lord Venkateshwara appeared in his dreams and had asked him to erect a chariot made from the best variety of Sandalwood available in the nearby forest. He also instructed the king to take the two sticks that would remain after the completion of the chariot, to a village in southern India called Krishna Thadagam or Karungulam and to establish the sticks on a suitable place over the hills. The Lord also mentioned that he would grace that place in the form of those sticks. The Lord also is said to have revealed that these actions would bring a permanent cure to the king’s disease. The king acted accordingly and consecrated these sandal sticks in between the holy tamarind tree called Urangapuli and the existing Sri Srinivasa temple. From then on, both two deities, Lord Venkatachalapathi and Lord Srinivasa along with Sridevi and Bhoodevi are worshipped here in this temple. Sri Mahamago Upathyaya Krishna Shastrigal is the father of Sri Venkatachala Shastrigal. He was a great Sanskrit scholar and has written the Stala Puranam of Vedaranyam Temple called Vedharanya Mahathmiyam in Tamil.


Festivals


The chithirai festival celebrated for 10 days is thee most important festival celebrated in this Temple. Apart from this, Puratasi Sani and Garuda Sevai are also the other celebrated occasions. Pavithrothsavam is celebrated for three days in the month of July. A committee formed especially for this festival, organizes this festival every year. Vishnu Sahasranama Lakshrachana is performed annually and concludes with a grand Pushpanchali on the auspicious occasion of Masi Magam.


Significance


The main specialty of this Kshetra is that both the shrines, that of Lord Srinivasar and Lord Venkatachalapathi are located besides each other on the same hill. The temple is known to relieve those suffering from heart diseases. Devotees with Naga dosha and psychological problems like depression also worship this Lord for relief. A number of scholars and siddhars are said to have visited this temple and are believed to be present here in various forms. Great sage Agasthiyar has also visited this sacred temple several times.


How To Reach Thoothukudi

Airport

Tuticorin airport is the nearest airport to this temple, which is about 10 km away. Regular flights are available to Tuticorin from cities like Delhi , Mumbai and Chennai. Taxi or buses are available to reach the airport comfortably.


Railways

Tuticorin railway station is the closest station which has a number of trains connecting it to various places as Tirunelveli, Madurai, Chennai, Mysore and Bangalore.


Road

Frequent and regular bus services are available to Thoothukudi from various other towns and cities of the state.


Temple Address


Karungulam Perumal Temple,
Karungulam,
Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu.

Significance

Devotees visit this temple to seek fulfillment of the following:-

  • Fame
  • Freedom from diseases
  • Wealth
  • Courage
  • Relief from adverse effects from bad planetary aspects
  • Relief from bondage
Shlokas

Achutham Keyshavam Rama Narayanam Krishna Damodaram Vasudevam Harim Shridharam Madhavam Gopika Vallabham Janaki Nayakam Ramachandram Bhajey

Meaning -Oh Lord who cannot be perished, who also has names like Keshava, Rama, Damodara, Narayana, Sridhara, Madhava, Krishna, Ramachandra the beloved of Janaki, let me say your name regularly.

Vasudeva Sutham Devam Kamsa Chanoora Mardhanam Devaki Paramanandham Krishnam Vande Jagathgurum

Meaning -I bow to you O Krishna, the ultimate guru, Devaki and Vasudeva's son, and the destroyer of Kamsa and Chanur.

Adharam Madhuram Vadanam Madhuram Nayanam Madhuram Hasitam Madhuram Hridayam Madhuram Gamanam Madhuram Mathuraa Dhipate Rakhilam Madhuram

Meaning -Meaning - Sweet are Your lips, sweet is Your face, sweet are Your eyes, sweet is Your smile, sweet is Your heart, sweet is Your gait, O Lord of Mathura, everything about You is sweet.

Alokya Mathur Mukha Madarena Sthanyam Pibantham Saraseeruhaksham Sachinmayam Devam Anantha Roopam Balam Mukundam Manasa Smarami

Meaning -I think of this Balamukundan as the one who looks lovingly at his mother's face while taking milk from her, who has eyes similar to the red lotus, who is the embodiment of truth and intelligence and other forms.

Timings

The temple is open from 7.00 Am to 10.30 Am and from 5.00 PM to 8.00 PM.

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