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Location:
Tiruvattar
near Kuzhitturai (Kanyakumari)
(Malai Naadu)
Vishnu: Aadi kesava Perumal
Taayaar: Maragatavalli
Theertham:Vattar
Paasuram :Nammalwar
Vimaanam:Ashtanga Vimanam
Travel Base:Kanyakumari
Description This ancient temple
located in Kanyakumari district, on the railroad between Kanyakumari and
Tiruvanandapuram, has been glorified by a decad of 11
verses composed by Nammalwar in the first millennium CE. The architecture
here, as with several other temples in Kanyakumari district resembles
that of the Temples of Kerala. Worship protocols followed here are also
the same as those of Kerala. This temple is an important center of worship
and is referred to as Aadi Anantam and Dakshina Vaikuntham.
The deity
Aadi Kesava Perumal in a reclining posture faces west. As in Tiruvanandapuram,
the deity is viewed through three openings in the sanctum. The sanctum
has been designed so that the rays of the setting sun illuminate the face
of the deity.
Legend
has it that Vishnu vanquished the demons Kesa and Kesi, (hence the name
Aadi Kesan) and took abode on the coils of Aadi Seshan here at Tiruvattaar.
Kesi took on the form of the Tamraparani river. Shiva is believed to have
taken on 12 forms to witness the battle between Vishnu and Kesi, and worship
Vishnu. A pilgrimage to all of the 12 Shiva temples is considered complete
after visiting this temple at Tiruvattaar.
The temple:
The sanctum faces west, although the main entrance is on the east. There
are also shrines to Adi Kesava, Venkatachalapati and Taayaar. The flag
staff of copper was built by the Travancore royal family. The circumambulatory
passage around the sanctum (Sri Balippuram) is lined with 224 granite
pillars, each one of which carries sculptured images of Deepa Lakshmi.
Interestingly, no two of these images are alike. The balipeetha mandapam
has life sized images of Lakshmana, Indrajit, Nataraja, Vishnu and Bhrama,
Rathi and Manmathan. The sanctum has beautiful wooden carvings. There
is also a shrine to Tiruvambadi Krishnan.
Festivals:
The Kerala tantram is the protocol of worship conducted here, by Namboodris
of Kerala. Four services are offered each day. There are two annual festivals,
the first one in the month of Aippasi, where the Teerthavari (Aarattu)
is held in the river Tamraparani near the Shiva Tali. The Golden Garuda
Sevai is held during both these festivals. Krishna Jayanthi, Vaikuntha
Ekadasi, Aavani Tiruvonam, Kalabham in the month of Thai, and the Perunthamritu
poojai (Aadi and Thai) on the eve of the summer and winter solstices are
some of the festivals celebrated here.
Legend hs it that
an army of invaders from North India, were miraculously turned away by
a swarm of wasps, in answer to prayers by the Maharaja of Kottayam (17th
century). Legend also has it that the festival image was stolen by the
armies of the Nawab of Arcot and that a mysterious ailment which gripped
the Nawab's wife was cured, only after he returned the image to the temple.
A special service by name 'tiru Alla Poojai' is offered suring the annual
festivals here. It is also believed that the festival image being returned
by him, got stuck to the ground near the Shiva temple, and that it came
unstuck only after a decision was made to carry out the Aaraattu near
the very spot.
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