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Location:
Tirukkovilur
near Tiruvannamalai
(Nadu Naadu)
Vishnu: Ulagalanda Perumal - Trivikrama
Taayaar: Poonkoval
Nachiyaar
Theertham:Pennaar, Krishna Theertham
Paasuram :Tirumangai, Poikaialwar, Bhootattalwar
Vimaanam:Sreekara Vimanam
Travel Base:Tiruvannamalai
Description: This Divyadesam
is a vast temple located at Tirukkovilur (near Tiruvannamalai),
which is also home to the Tirukkovalur Veerattam, an
ancient shrine glorified by the Tevaram hymns. This temple has a history
of royal patronage. Tirukkovilur is considered to be one of the Pancha
Krishnaranya shrines. This shrine represents the physical meeting point
of the first of the Alwars Poikaialwar, Bhutattalvar and Peyalwar. The
Divya Desams enshrining Trivikrama are Tiru Oorakam (Kanchipuram),
Tirukkovilur, Kaazhicheeraamavinnagaram
and Tiruneermalai.
Deities:
The Moolavar is an imposing image of Ulagalanda Perumal or Trivikrama,
with his foot raised, facing east. Taayaar here is known as Poonkoval
Nachiyaar in her own shrine. The Utsavar here is Aayanaar or Kovalan (Gopalan).
Legend
has it that Vishnu took the form of Vamana, to subdue the demon king Mahabali;
took on an enormous form and conquered the earth and the heavens and upon
being offered Mahabali's head as the resting point for his foot, banished
him to the netherworld. Legend has it that Mrikandu Maharishi worshipped
Vishnu here as Trivikrama.
The Temple:
This is a vast temple with an imposing Rajagopuram seen from a distance.
Covering an area of 5 acres, it has three prakarams.There is a small shrine
to Vamanar behind the image of Trivikrama. An Ardhamandapam, a Mahamandapam,
and the Pandya Mandapam are seen in front of the sanctum. There are shrines
to Lakshminarayanar, Lakshminarasimhar, Andal, Udayavar, Senai Mudaliyar,
Manavala Mamuni, Chakrattalwar, Poonkoyil Naachiyaar (Pushpavalli), Varadarajar
and Venugopalar here. There is also a Ramar temple behind the Taayar shrine.
The rear gopuram in a comparative state of disrepair is not used.
This temple was oringinally
a brick and mortar structure in the period of Parantaka Chola I (early
10th century); it was patronized by the great Chola rulers Raja Raja Chola
I and Raja Raja II. Rajendra Deva in the 11th century rebuilt it
of granite.
Legend
has it that the three Alwars (Poikaialwar, Bhutattalwar and Peyalwar)
took shelter in the hermitage of Mrikandu munivar, in cramped quarters
on a stormy night when they felt the overwhelming person
of the fourth person, who was none other than Perumaal, upon whom they
composed a hundred verses in praise. This is where the first verses of
the Alwars came into being.
Festivals:
Two worship services are offered each day here. The annual festival is
observed in the month of Pankuni. Vaikuntha Ekadasi in Margazhi and Manavaala
Mamuni Utsavam in the month of Aippasi are other festivals observed here.
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