108 Divya Desams - 057. Thiruputkuzhi – Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple

[Vanakkam Subbu]

057. Thiruputkuzhi – Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple 

About the Temple & Location:

This Divyadesam is situated about 7 miles away from Kanchipuram in west direction. 1/2 Kilometer away from Baluchetty Chatram which is in between Chennai – Vellore highways. By travelling about 50 miles from Chennai, we can reach this sthalam. There is no proper lodging facility.

The temple is believed to be of significant antiquity and is believed to be initiated by the Pandyas, with later contributions at different times from Cholas and Thanjavur Nayaks. The temple has three inscriptions dating from the Chola period. The temple has a five-tiered rajagopuram (gateway tower) and enshrined within a granite wall. The complex contains all the shrines while the temple tank, is located to the west of the temple. The Brahmotsavam festival celebrated in the Tamil month of Masi (February - March), Theppotsavam (float festival) in Thai (January - February) are the major festivals celebrated in the temple.

Sthlapuranam :

Emperuman, Sriman Narayanan born to King Dasaratha as Sri Ramar, left all of his properties and went to the forest as told by his father. When they went to the forest, Seetha pirattiyaar asked for the deer, which was actually not the deer, but it was Maarisan, sent by Ravana. Then, Ravana came to Seetha piratti and took her along with him to Lanka, On the way to Lanka, Jadayu, the Eagle bird stopped him and fought with Ravana to release Seetha. But, in the end, Jatayu’s wings were cut by Ravana and fell down on the earth.

When Rama along with Lakshmana came there in search of Seetha Piratti, they found Jatayu fell down in the Land. Jatayu told that Ravana has took away Seetha along with him and on finally telling this, he died. Since, Lord Rama gave the Sthanam (level) to Jatayu as his father, he did all the final ceremony to it and stayed there for a while.

As suggested by Jatayu, the Perumal here gives his seva in the form in which he did the final funeral to Jatayu.

Jatayu belongs to Pul (a separate family of eagle ) family was buried in the pit (kuzhi) , this sthalam is called “Thiruppukuzhi”.

Ramayana which is one of the Great epic, explains to the world about caste interactions and human love to each other. It also seeds the brotherhood culture into all the hearts of human society.

Guhan, who is the hunter, Sugreev, who is a Monkey man and Vibhishana, who is the person belong to Arakka (Demon) family were treated as his own brothers by Sri Ramar.

Like this same way, Sabari, who was a old lady, who offered him with food and Agaligai, who became a stone because of Sabham, came back as a women, when Sri Rama’s feet was touched on that stone. Both were given the place of his mother. The Primary moral is that we can belong to any community (or) caste, but to attain God’s grace, out aathma should be pure and if it is in that way, we can attain it.

Treating, Guhan, Sugreev and Vibhishana as his brother and Sabari and Agaligai as his mother, Sri Ramar keeps Jatayu in his father’s stage and did all the final funeral. Since, he way away from his father’s and he could do the final ceremony to him, he kept Jatayu in his fathers place and did all the final thing to him.

Eagle is the bird which lives by eating dead bodies and the tissues. By doing the final ceremony to that kind of bird, Sri Rama’s great character of loving and helping does not stop only towards human, but it is even extended to the animals is well explained to the world.

In this sthalam, the Moolavar is Vijaya Raghava perumal. He holds Jadayu in his hands. Both the Naachiyaars, are found on both the sides, but in opposite manner.

In this temple, ladies who doesn't have children, gives the dhal, (Paruppu) to Madapalli (place where the Lord’s food is prepared). After its given, the dhal is soaked inside water and it is tied around their stomach and said to sleep. After waking up from their sleep, if the seed buds, it is confirmed that they will give birth to a child.

Special poojas are done on every Amavasya in a grand way.

Udayavar, Sri Ramanuja’s Guru, Yadava Pirakasar started to teach the vedanthams to his followers here.

The temple is believed to have been built by the Pandya kings during the 13th century, as seen from the stone inscriptions in the temple. The temple here is one among the 108 Divya Desams and is dedicated to Lord Vijayaraghava Swamy (Moolavar). There is a separate temple for Thayar in the form of Maragathavalli Thayar and a sannidhi for Sri Ramanuja. The central shrine houses the image of the presiding deity, Vijayaraghava sported with four hands. He is seen in a posture holding the bird Jatayu and performing the last rites. Sridevi and Bhudevi are sported along with their head facing earth. It is believed that the image is sported to indicate sorrow on the faces. Sridevi who is usually sported on the right side of Perumal is located to his left in this temple probably because of the sorrow created by the death of Jatayu. Ramanuja, the preceptor of Visishtadvaita philosophy had his early education at this temple. 

Jatayu, the eagle bird in Ramayana was killed by the demon king Ravana, while trying to save Sita during the abduction. Rama, the avatar of Vishnu and the hero of Ramayana, who was in search of his wife Sita arrived at this place. When Rama and Lakshmana went there in search of Sita, they find Jatayu mortally wounded in the forest.  The eagle Jatayu narrated the events to Rama before breathing his last. The presiding deity, Vijayaraghava Perumal is believed to have performed the last rites of Jataya at this place. The water body where Jatayu fell is called Jatayu Theertham. Jatayu belongs to the Pul (a separate family of eagle) family and was buried in a pit (Tamil kuzhi), hence this sthalam is called Thiruputkuzhi. The same legend is also associated with Thiru Pullaboothangudi Temple. 

The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Thirumangai Azhwar in one hymn. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. Thiruputkuzhi is believed to be the birthplace of Yadava Prakasa, the teacher of Vaishnava saint Ramanuja and also that of Pinpazhagiya Perumal Jeeyar. Vedanta Desika composed hymns praising the presiding deity. Thirumangai Azhwar has also reverred the temple in his verses.  The temple follows Pancharatra Agama and the worship practises are carried out by hereditary priests belonging to the Porakathi Bhattar sect. 

The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Usat kalam at 7 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m., Irandam kalam at 6:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 7:30 p.m. 

Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), nivedhanam (food offering) and deepa aradhanai (waving of lamps) for both Vijayaraghava Perumal and Maragathavalli. During the last step of worship, nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. The Brahmotsavam festival celebrated in the Tamil month of Masi (February - March), Theppotsavam (float festival) in Thai (January - February), Pavithrotsavam in Avani and Vaikunta Ekadasi celebrated during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) are the major festivals celebrated in the temple. Srisukta Homam, a religious practice, is performed in the temple with 108 lotus leaves on full moon days

Moolavar and Thayar:

The Perumal of this sthalam is Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal. Moolavar in found in Sitting position facing East direction.
Pratyaksham for Jataayu (Eagle).

Thaayar

Maragathavalli Thayar. She has her own temple.
Every year a grand festival is done for all the Perumals in this temple.

Sannadhis:
There is a seperate sannadhi for Jadayu.

Mangalasasanam:

• Thirumangai Alwar – 2 Pasurams.
  Total – 2 Paasurams.

Udayavar and Manavala Mamuni has done lot of Mangalasasanam here.

Pushkarani:

• Jadayu Pushkarani.
  Near this theertham, in Thai month Theppa utsavam is done in a very big manner and special poojas are done on every Amavasya.

Vimanam:
Vijaya Koti Vimanam.

Youtube link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCi7ToR7DTc

https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=1321316008316284&_rdr

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 Vanakkam Subbu