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About the Temple & Location:
This sthalam is situated 3 1/2 miles away from Sengannoor in the west. We can reach this Kshetram by getting down in Senganur railway station which is on the railway lane between Trivandrum (Thiruvanandhapuram) to Kollam via Ernakulam. There is no lodging facility.
Specials:
The speciality of this sthalam is, it was constructed and built by Bhiman, one of the Panja – Paandavaas.
The Thripuliyoor Mahavishnu Temple (also called Mayapiran temple) is a Hindu temple dedicated to MahaVishnu and located in Puliyoor, Alappuzha District, Kerala, South India. Constructed in the Kerala style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Maha Vishnu, who is worshipped as Mayapiran/Thripuliyoorappan. The nearest railway station to the temple is located in Chengannur, while the nearest airport is Trivandrum International airport.
It is one of the five ancient shrines in the Chengannur area of Kerala, connected with the legend of Mahabharata, where the five Pandavas are believed to have built one temple each; Thrichittatt Maha Vishnu Temple by Yudhishthira, Puliyoor Mahavishnu Temple by Bheema, Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple by Arjuna, Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu Temple by Nakula and Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple by Sahadeva.
The Aaaratu festival during the Tamil month of Margazhi and the Kavadiyattam during the month of Thai are the major festivals celebrated in the temple. The temple is open from 4 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 8 pm and is administered by the Travancore Devaswom Board of the Government of Kerala.
Legend
It is one of the five ancient shrines in the Chengannur area of Kerala, connected with the legend of Mahabharata. Legend has it that the Pandava princes, after crowning Parikshit as king of Hastinapura, left on a pilgrimage. On arriving on the banks of river Pamba, each one is believed to have installed idols of Krishna; Thrichittatt Maha Vishnu Temple by Yudhishthira, Puliyur Mahavishnu Temple by Bheema, Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple by Arjuna, Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu Temple by Nakula and Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple by Sahadeva.
It is said that this Place was constructed and built by Bhima, one of the Panja - Paandavaas. He worshipped this sthala perumal, Maayapiraan. Sapta Rishis - Atthri, Vasishtar, Kaasyapar, Gouthamar, Bharadwajar, Vishvamitra and Jamadagni got the seva of this Maayapiraan along with porkodi Naachiyaar and through Indra, it is said that all these Saptarishis got their Mukti towards the Emperumaan.
During the Mahabharata war, Bhima underwent penance worshipping the lord here. Bheema was the powerful among the five brothers and this temple is large indicating his largess. Also the Gatha, the weapon used by Bheema is believed to be present in the temple.(this Gatha was recently placed in the temple)
Architecture
Earliest references to this temple appear in the poems and hymns composed by the greatest of Alvar saints - Nammalvar, in circa 800 AD. Stone inscriptions in the temple date it back to the Second Chera Empire (800–1102 AD). Another of the Azhwars, ThirumangaiAzhwar has mentioned Thirupuliyur in one of his verses in his Siriya Thirumadal(2673,71).
The temple is located about 25 km from Ernakulam. The nearest railway stations are Aluva and Angamaly; the nearest airports are Cochin International Airport, and Nedumbassery Airport. The temple is in fact located less than 12 km from Nedumbassery airport. For travelling pilgrims, it is recommended that they stay at Angamaly or Nedumbassery and commute to the temple for Perumal Darshan, as the place has limited facilities for stay. The temple complex, enclosed in a large area with picturesque surroundings, holds the main sanctum dedicated to Lakshmana Perumal. The sanctum sanctorum of the main shrine houses the idol of Mahavishnu.
The temple is built in Kerala style architecture, common in all temples in the South Indian state of Kerala in Eastern axis. The temple has no gateway tower and has an arch from the main road. A rectangular wall around the temple, called Kshetra-Madilluka pierced by the gateways, encloses all the shrines of the temple. The metal plated flagpost or Dwajasthambam is located axial to the temple tower leading to the central sanctum. Chuttambalam is the outer pavilion within the temple walls. The central shrine and the associated hall is located in a rectangular structure called Nallambalam, which has pillared halls and corridors. Between the entrance of Nallambalam to the sanctum, there is a raised square platform called Namaskara Mandapa which has a pyramidal roof. Thevrapura, the kitchen used to cook offerings to the deity, is located on the left of Namaskara Mandapa from the entrance. Balithara is an altar used for making ritualistic offerings to demi-gods and the festive deities. The central shrine called Sreekovil houses the image of the presiding deity. It is on an elevated platform with a single door reached through five steps. As per Kerala rituals, only the main priest called Thantri and the second priest called Melsanthi alone can enter the Sree Kovil. The central shrine has a circular plan with the base built of granite, superstructure built of laterite and conical roof made of terracotta tile supported from inside by a wooden structure. The temple has shrines of Dakshinamurthy, Krishna, Bhagavathy and Ayyappa.
Festivals, religious importance and worship practices
The temple is open from 5 am to 10 am and 4 pm to 7 pm on all days leaving festive days. The two major festivals celebrated in the temple are Vaikunta Ekadasi and Thiruvonam. The main annual festival for ten days each year in the month of Medam (April/May). The temple is under the administration of the Travancore Devaswom Board. Mayapiran is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Nammazhwar and Thirumangai Alvar. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar. The Aaaratu festival during the Tamil month of Margazhi and the Kavadiyattam during the month of Thai are the major festivals celebrated in the temple. As per literary mention, Thripuliyoor was a division of a large town historically. One of the twelve regions was Kuttanad in which the temple is located. The Vimanam, the roof over the sanctum, is called Purushasukta Vimanam as the seven sages, the Saptarishis, performed penance.
Sthlapuranam :
It is said that this sthalam was constructed and built by Bhiman, one of the Panja – Paandavaas. He worshipped this sthala perumal, Maayapiraan. Sapta Rishis – Atthri, Vasishtar, Kaasyapar, Gouthamar, Bharadwaja, Vishwamitrar and Jamathakkini got the seva of this Maayapiraan along with porkodi Naachiyaar and through Indra, it is said that all these Sapta Rishis got their Mukti towards the Emperumaan.
Once, Virukshadharbi, who was the son of Sibhi Chakravarthy, ruled an empire where there was flood and there was no proper vegetation and the wealth and the beauty of the entire empire seems to be decreasing. At that time, the king thought, if any Dhaanam (things that are given to any rishis, Andhanars (or) devotees to increase any thing) is given to Sapta Rishis, it might increase the wealth and beauty of the Empire. As a result of this, he thought of giving the Dhaanam to Saptha rishis. But, Sapta Rishis did not accept his Dhaanam, Since if any flood (or) decrease in the wealth and health in the entire empire is due to some reasons of the ruling king. So, they found some problems with virukshadherbi and did not accept the Dhaanam.
But, he wants them to accept his Dhaanam, and as a result of this, he asks his palace officials to keep some gold inside the fruits and give them that, so that they will accept that and simultaneously his Dhaanam is also accepted. But, knowing the truth that some gold is placed inside the fruit through their Gnana Dhirusti, they did not accept the fruit either.
After the fruits which are given as Dhanam is being rejected by the Sapta Rishis, Virukshadharbi got angry on all 7 Rishis and tried them to kill and as a result of this cruel mind, he started an Yaagm in which a lady pisaasu known as (Arakki – female demon) by named “Kiruthyai” arise and he ordered the demon to kill all the sapta Rishis.
But, knowing this, the Emperumaan sent Indiran to destroy the Kiruthyai Arakki and thereby protect Sapta Rishis. Likewise, Indran killed the demon and all the Sapta Rishis got the seva of the Emperumaan and got their Mukthi.
This sthalam is constructed and perumal is done the pradhistai by Bhima. When seen from out, this temple is situated slightly above the surface. The temple is square in shape and we have to climb some steps and after climbing the steps, we can enter the temple. The Dhvajasthambham (Kodi Maram) i.e the Flag Pole is facing towards the East side and shining all the time.
After entering into the sthalam and while traveling along the pragharam, we can find a separate sannadhi for Bhuvaneshwari amman. Outside the Gharbhagriham (where moolavar is established), we can find Dhwara Balagars, on either side, we can also find a Ganapathy (Lord Ganesha) statue on the walls of the praharam.
The Moolavar is Maayapiran, who is found in Nindra Thirukkolam, is around 3 to 4 feet in height and in front of the Moolavar sannadhi, a beautiful mandapam in which lots of pillars are found with lots of sculptures are found.
Utsavams:
A grand Utsavam in Monthly Thiruvonam Nakshatra and in Avani month Janmashtami are celebrated in a grand manner.
Another grand festival during the Month of Thai (from Jan 15) is celebrated during which the temple Elephant is dressed beautifully and the Utsavar is seated on the Elephant and rounds around the Inner and outer Program.
The Moolavar of this sthalam is Maayapiran, in Nindra Thirukkolam facing his Thirumugham along the East direction.
Pratyaksham for Sapta Rishis (all the 7 Rishis).
Thayaar
The Thaayar of this sthalam is Porkodi Naachiyaar.
Mangalasasanam:
Nammalwar – 10 Paasurams.
Total 10.
Pushkarani:
Poonsunai theertham.
Pragnya saras.
Vimanam:
Purushothama Vimaanam.
