Thirunarayanapuram near thottiam

THIRUNARAYANAPURAM NEAR THOTTIAM

                                        Sree vedanarayana Perumal

The temple at Thirunarayanapuram is unique in several ways that though the temple is NOT one of the 108 divya desams, the importance of the Lord by way of the temple history and connected to Tirunaraiyur Araiyar is noteworthy.  The temple is a little over  4 kms Southwest of Thottiam between Tiruchy and Namakkal. 

The temple is in the quiet and pictureque village of Thirunarayanapuram and can be reached by any bus plying to Kattuputhur from Trichirapalli.  Since I had first visited Mahendramangalam (where a Chandramouleeswarar temple is being built and also a small temple is being constructed for Adi Sankara) I went by an auto to this temple with arrangements to leave me back at Thottiam.

Vedanarayana Perumal temple history connected with King Mahabali Vaanavaraya who was taking to his army to Mysore for a battle and rested at this place.  Lord Vedanarayanan appeared in the dreams of the King and asked to build a temple for him here and also assured the King of his victory in the battle at Mysore.  The Vigraha was completely covered with sand and the same was taken out by the King and a temple was raised was this place.

Sree Vedanarayanan who is in a sayana rests his head on the four vedas.  The thayar here is known as Vedanayaki and has a separate Sannidhi.  Sree Anjaneya adorns the Dwajasthambam.


                                      Anjaneyar in Dwajasthambam

Lord Narayanan is said to have initiated the Education on Vedas to Brahma here and hence known as Vedanarayanan.  Having played the role of the Acharya and Brahma being the disciple this temple is also known as “Guru” and “Budhan” Sthalam.  Prahalathan who has seen the Lord as fiery Narasimhar prays to the Lord and sees him as Shanthaswaroopi here.

Thus the Vighraga of Sree Vedanarayan depicts all these aspects with Brahalatha as a 3 year old boy standing at the foot of the Lord. Sree Devi and Bhoodevi also are present at the foot of the sleeping lord and offering prayers. 

PARAMAPATHA VAASAL

Thiru Naraiyur Araiyur who was a fervent devotee of the Lord was directed to seek him by prayers to attain Moksha and he along with his wife and 6 children were worshipping the Lord along the banks of river Cauvery and reached this place. The Lord tested him here with a fire in the palm leaves covering over him and in his effort to quench the fire and not to reach the Lord, Araiyar threw his children but to no avail.   Then as he threw himself, the Lord appeared and gave moksham to the entire family.   Hence this place is also known as Pillai Thirunaraiyur Araiyar Abhimana Kshetram.

More info can be had in the site:

http://www.thirunarayanapuram.com/index.php

and also can be contacted at:

ARULMIGU VEDANARAYANA PERUMAL THIRUKOVIL

Thirunarayanapuram,
Balasamudram Via,
Thottiyam Taluk,
Trichy Districts,
Tamilnadu. India. Pin - 621 203.

Phone-04326-254338

E-mail : info@thirunarayanapuram.com