- Vishnu
Thirumukkoodal Sri Appan Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple
- Palayaseevaram,Tamil Nadu
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Overview
The Appan Venkatesa Perumal Temple got its name as the three rivers, Palar (Ksheera Nadhi), Vegavathi (Saraswathi) and Cheyyar (Bahu Nadhi) merge together at this place. It is called Triveni Sangamam and is deemed as the equivalent to the Ganges. Taking a bath here is considered holy.
About The Temple
The temple is located on the banks of the river giving a scenic view. It is located in Pazhaya Seevaram on one side of the river and Sri Appan Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple on the other bank of the river. The temple has existed since at least the 9th century, and inscriptions show that it existed under the rule of the Pallava monarch, Nripatungavarman. Tirumukkudal was situated in the ancient territorial sub-division called Madhurantaka-Chaturvedimangalam, which was a part of Kalatur-kottam, a district of Jayamkonda-chola-mandalam. These epigraphs belong to various periods starting Raja Raja Chola 1, Rajendra Chola and others. The inscriptions tell a lot about the grants made by various kings to the temple where the temple enjoyed huge popularity. Also there are inscriptions belonging to the Veera Rajendra Chola (11th Century), mentioning about a Veda Patasala (Vedic School) which was existent at the temple premises. There are 3 Sthala Virukshams (holy trees) for this temple, which are Devadhaari, Vanni and Sandhanam (Sandal).
About The Deity
The main deity is the Trimurti, embodied in a single form as Appan (Brahma), Shiva, and Venkatesa Perumal (Narayana). The deity's crown gives the appearance of Lord Shiva's matted locks of hair, and He has a third eye on the forehead. Like Narayana, He holds the conch and chakra, as well as a lotus, and He stands on a lotus pedestal. Lord Brahma is said to be embodied in the lotus emblems, Shiva in the hair, and Narayana in the conch and chakra. The Lord here is said to have given dharshan to Brigu Maharishi, Markandeya and Bhumadevi (mother Earth). The Thaayaar (Goddess) here is Sri Alarmel Mangai Thaayaar for whom there is a separate shrine present at the temple. Other deities like Sri Varadhar, Sri Aandaal and Sri Anjaneyar (Hanuman) have separate shrines in the temple. Sri Anjaneyar is very special here. Whenever the Lord is carried out for procession, the first respects are paid to Sri Anjaneyar before the God is taken out.
Legend and Stories
This temple is said to be 1200 years old, as the oldest inscription found in this temple belongs to 9th Century. This temple is said to have built by a king ruling Thondai Mandalam (with capital as Kanchipuram), by name Raja Thondaimaan Chakravarthy. Then the king Thondaiman surrendered to Perumal at Thirupathi seeking ‘Moksha’. The Lord directed him to come to Thirumukkudal to grant Moksha to him. The king visited here to have dharshan of the Lord. Till then, the Lord here was said to be in ‘Sayana Kolam’ (reclining posture like Ranganathar). When the king visited here the Lord is said to have changed his posture and gave him dharshan in standing posture.
Festivals
Kanchipuram Sri Varadaraja Perumal’s Parvettai is a very popular festival here. Sri Varadharaja Perumal, Pazhaya Seevaram Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar and Appan Venkatesa Perumal give dharshan together here in this temple every year on the ‘Kaanum Pongal’ Day, which is said to be a delight to watch. Vaikunda Ekadasi is celebrated in a grand manner at this temple.
Significance
People worship Lord Anjaneyar here to come out of their heavy debts. Also peculiarly, Lord Anjaneyar is not offered ‘Vadai Malai’ here like other temples. Instead, he is offered the garland made of ‘Thenkuzhal’ (a kind of Murukku snack). People pray Lord Anjaneyar to come out of their debts and once their debts are settled, they come here and offer ‘Thenkuzhal Maalai’ to Him.
Accessibility
The nearest airport is at Chennai. The nearest major railway station is at Kanchipuram. Thirumukkoodal is located about 20 kms from Kanchipuram on the road going towards Chengalpattu.
Temple Address
Sri Appan Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple,
Thirumukkoodal, Kanchipuram,
Tamil Nadu, India, Pincode – 631606.
Significance
Devotees visit this temple to seek fulfillment of the following:-
- To pray for relief from the adverse effects of the nine planets (Navagrahas)
- For Deerga Sumangali Bagyam
- To pray for good marriage alliances
- To pray for children
- To pray for relief from the fear of the enemy
- To pray for relief from the fear of thieves
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 between 08.30 am to 11.30 am and 4 pm to 6 pm on weekdays. On Saturdays and Sundays the temple is open from 08.30 am till 1 pm and from 3 pm till 7 pm.