• Vishnu

Sundararaja Perumal Temple

Overview


The ancient Sundararaja Perumal temple is located 4 kms North West of Thiruvayaru on the Northern bank of the Cauvery in Perumpuliyur. The temple’s legend dates back to the period of Thirumazhisai Azhvaar and is located 16 km from Tanjore nearby Thillaisthanam. The main deity is Sundararaja Perumal and goddess is Soundaravalli Thayar. There are separate shrines for Yoga Narasimhar, Sri Govindarajar with Ubhaya Nachiyars and Chakrathaazhvaar.


About The Temple


Inside the temple, there are inscriptions in Telugu and Tulu. The temple was renovated during the Chola and Nayak rule, and nearby there is an ancient Shiva temple.


About The Deity


God Sundararaja Perumal is in standing posture facing west. Goddess Sundaravalli Thaayar is facing east. There is a separate shrine for Narasimha facing south.


Legend and Stories


After praising Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam, Thirumazhisai Azhvaar left for Thirukkudanthai where at Sarangapani Koil he asked if the Lord was tired after his long trip to Sri Lanka and if that was the reason he did not wake up to greet the Azhvaar. Thirumazhisai Azhvaar stayed here at Perumpuliyur, during the long trip across the Cauvery from Srirangam to Kumbakonam, sitting on a Thinnai. While relaxing, he heard Vedic chanting at the beautiful agraharam (colony). As he forward, they though he was an unknown outsider immediately stopped chanting. Dissappointed, Thirumazhisai Azhvaar came back to the place where he was previously relaxing. The scholars forgot the verses and seeing this, Thirumazhi Azhvaar just plucked a couple of paddy grains and cut it into two and they immediately remembered the particular verse. Thirumazhisai Azhvaar sang asking the Lord to appear and Sundararaja Perumal provided darshan on the chest of Thirumazhisai Azhvaar showing his greatness. Immediately they honoured him in the best way. Thirumazhisai Azhvaar made his way to Thiru Kudanthai.
In memory of this, the Lord here is seen in a West facing posture, a testimony that the Lord changed direction to greet Thirumazhisai Azhvaar. At the western entrance, is a Sudarshana Sannidhi (stone) where Lord Sundararajan first appeared to Thirumazhisai Azhvaar.
Vyakra Maha Rishi performed penance here. Since his right leg was like a tiger’s leg, the place came to be called ‘perum’ puliyur. There is a huge temple tank south of the temple.


Festivals


10 day Brahmotsavam in Chitrai with Chariot festival on Chitra Pournami,Vaikunta Ekadesi,Puratasi Thirumanjanam and Procession and Thirumanjanam on Deepavali


Rare Facts


Three days in Panguni, on March 17, 18 and 19, Sun’s rays fall on Lord Sundararajan in the evening during sun set, a very unique occurrence at this temple.
Vana Bhojanam was a special festive occasion in Karthigai in centuries gone by signifying that this was a forest and that people used to gather during festive occasions here at this temple.


Accessibility


Airport

The nearest airport is in Trichy.

Railways

Pasupatikovil and Titte Railway Stations are the very nearby railway stations to Perumpuliyur. However, Thanjavar Railway Station is major railway station 13 KM near to Perumpuliyur.

Road

Perumpuliyur is a small village 3kms North of Thillai Sthanam off the Thiruvayaru- Kallanai Highway. Buses are available to the temple from Thiruvayaru.


Temple Address


Sundararaja Perumal Temple,
State Highway 27, Perumpuliyur,
Thiruvaiyaru taluk, Thanjavur district,
Tamil Nadu,Tamil Nadu - 613204

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

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.

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.

Timings

The temple is open from 06:30 am to 12:00 pm and from 04:00 pm to 07:00 pm.

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