This temple lies in Thirunaangur of Tanjore district in Tamil Nadu. It’s about 7 miles away from Seerkazhi and is near to Thirunaangur.
Sthala Puranam:
Once there was a king named Swethan, the son of Thundu maran of the Surya dynasty. Fearing early death he sought the help of “Maruthuva Maharishi”, the son of Lord Surya the sun god. He instructed swethan to chant the “Mrithyunjaya Manthiram” by sitting under the Tree vilvam which was on the south bank of the pushkarani. Lord Narayanan presented himself before the king and blessed him with a long life.
This Kshetram is known as South Tirupathi. All the offering in due to the Thiruvenkadamudayan of Tirupathi can be offered here too.
At Thiruvinnagar, Lord Oppiliappan blesses along with Goddess Bhoodevi as an equivalent form of Lord varahaswamy and Bhoodevi as Tirumala Tirupathi. Also as an equivalent form of Lord Srinivasa and Padmavathi Thaayar, the Lord blesses us as Thiruvellakulam as Lord Srinivasa and Padmavathi.
As for the above stated reasons, both the Kshetrams are considered in equivalent with Tirumala Tirupathi.
Lord Srinivasa at Vellakulam has the qualities of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna. As lord Rama is the elder brother – Annan of Lord Krishna. So Lord Srinivasa bears the name Annan here.
As he saved the king Swethan from the death fear he shows himself as Varadharajan. So as the perumal stands as form representing all the yugams the Vimaanam too has a hint of this act as Thathuva Yodhaga Vimaanam.
The perumal thus has the names of elder and younger brother namely “Annan” and “Kannan”. Hence this temple is known as Annan Kovil. Also it is to be noted that the perumal is also called as Narayanan. Thus this name acts as a bridge between the similarity of Sri Rama and Venkata Krishna – Thiruvenkadamudayan for both of them were in search of their wives Seetha devi and Goddess Padmavathi respectively.
Vellam means flood and kulam means pond. Both the terms represent water only. As like Annan Kovil, this place has got its another name “Thiru Vellakulam” from the above similarity. It can also taken that Lord Rama, Balarama and Aadhi Vishnu are all of white colour. Lord Krishna is of Blue colour the colour of water in ponds and tanks. Taking Vellam as Vellai White colour it can also be said that the name Vellakulam was got by the above reason.
Specials:
1. This Divyadesam is known as “South Tirupathi”. All the offering in due to the Thiru Venkadamudayan of Tirupathi can be offered here too.
2. This sthalam is the avathara sthalam of Kumudhavalli Naachiyaar (wife of Thirumangai Alwar).
3. Whenever Thirumangai Alwar comes to this sthalam, he was given two coconuts smeared with turmeric powder. There is a great custom involved in this issue. (ie) whenever son-in-law comes to his wife’s place, he would be offered and greated along with the coconuts. Since, Thirumangai Alwar married Kumudhavalli Naachiyaar, he is offered along with two coconuts.
Architecture
Legend / Local stories
Vishnu appearing in eleven forms on Shiva request:
The legends of all the eleven temples of Thirunangur are closely associated with each other. As per legend, the Hindu god Shiva started dancing in fury at this place after the death of his consort Uma due to the yagna (sacrifice) of Daksha. Each time his lock of hair touched the ground; there were eleven other forms of Shiva who appeared. The celestial deities were worried that if the dance continues, it would result in decimation of entire creations. They prayed to Vishnu for help, who appeared at this place.
On seeing Vishnu, Shiva’s anger was reduced and he requested Vishnu to appear in eleven forms like he did. On his request, Vishnu appeared in eleven different forms at Thirunangur. Arimeya Vinnagaram literally translates to the place where Hari (another name of Vishnu) resides.
The eleven places where Vishnu appeared are believed to be where the eleven temples in Thirunangur are located. They are;
Thirukavalampadi Gopalakrishnan along with Rukmini and
Satyabama.
Thiruvannpurushothamam Purushothaman along with Purushothama
Naayaki.
Thiru Sempon Sei Kovil Perarulalan along with Allimaamalar
Naachiyar.
Thiru Devanar Thogai Deiva Naayagan along with Kadal Magal
Naachiyar.
Thiru Mani Koodam Varadharaja Perumal along with Thirumagal
Naachiyar and Bhoomi Piratti.
Thiru Paarthanpalli Thamarai Kelvan along with Thamarai
Naayaki, in standing posture in all the above
Kshetrams.
Thirumanimaada Kovil Narayana Gyana Nandha Vilaku along with
Pundarigavalli.
Thiruvaali Thirunagari Amrudhavalli Vedharajan, Narashimar along
with Amrudha Kada valli.
Thiru Vaigunda Vinnagaram Vaigunda Nadhan along with Periya Piratti.
Arimeya Vinnagaram Kudamaadu Koothan along with Amrudha Kada valli, in sitting posture in above 4 Kshetrams.
Thirutheythri Ambalam Shenkann Maal along with Sengamalavalli, in
sleeping posture of the type Bhujanga
Sayanam.
Vishnu blessed Swetharaja with long life:
Swetharaja, the son of Thunthumaran of Surya Vamsa had the life span of only 9 years initially but was later blessed by Lord Srinivasa for a long life, like Markandeya. He visited the temple, bathed in the Swetha pushkarani, started doing Mrutyunjaya Japam under vilva tree and got blessed.
Avathara Sthalam of Kumudhavalli, Consort of Thirumangai Azhwar:
This is the avatharastlam (birth place) of Sri Kumudha Valli Nachiyar, the one who was instrumental in converting the King Thirumangai to Thirumangai Azhwar.
Thirumangai Azhwar married Kumudhavalli in this Sthalam:
Thiru Mangai Mannan wanted to marry Kumudha Valli who belonged to the generation of the Devas. Mangai Mannan is said to have worked with utmost sincerity towards fulfilling each of Kumuda Valli’s conditions to marry him. It is believed that Mangai Mannan finally married Kumudhavalli at this place. Hence, there is a separate Sannidhi for Kumudha Valli at this temple.
Thirumangai Azhwar addressing Vishnu as Anna:
Thirumangai Azhvaar came here, had darshan of the Lord and praised him here as if he has seen Lord Srinivasa himself. His Paasurams also reflect the fact that the Lord is the elder brother of Tirupathi Srinivasa. Looked at as the elder brother of Tirupathi Srinivasa, it is believed that those who cannot go to Tirupathi can come here and ‘Annan’ is said to fulfill their wishes.
Lord here is seen together with the Goddess (Alar Mel Mangai) unlike in Tirupathi where he is seen alone. This is the only Divya Desam where the Perumal and Thaayar have the same names as in Tirupathi. All the offering in due to the Thiruvenkatamudayam of Tirupathi can be offered here too. It is also noteworthy that Saint Tirumangai Azhwar addressed only two Perumals as Anna in his hymns, Lord of Tirupathi and this Perumal.
Vishnu darshan to Manavala Mamunigal:
Lord Vishnu granted darshan to great scholar and Acharya Sri Manavala Mamunigal in this temple.
Moolavar:
The Moolavar of this Divyadesam is Sri Srinivasan. Also known as Kannan, Narayanan and Anna Perumal. He is giving his seva Nindra (Standing) Thirukkolam facing his thirumugham towards eest direction. Prathyaksham for Ekadesa Rudhirar and Swetha Rajan.
Thayaar:
The Thayaar found in this sthalam is Alarmel Mangai Naachiyar. The Utsavar Thaayar is Padmavathi. Also known as Poorar Thirumagal.
Mangalasasanam:
Thirumangaialwar – 10 Paasurams.
Total – 10 Paasurams.
Pushkarani:
Thiru Vellakulam.
Vimanam:
Thathuva Yodhaga Vimaanam.
