Sri Poonkoval Nachiar Sametha Sri Trivikrama Swamy Temple, Thirukovilur, Villupuram District

Sri Gurubhyo Namah! Sri Maha  Ganapathaye Namah!!

Sri Sadashiva Samarambham Sri Sankaracharya Madyamaam Asmat  Acharya Paryantam vande  Guru Paramparaam!!

I submit this humble attempt unto the lotus feet of his holiness Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswami of Sri Sarada Peetam , Sringeri

I felt it would be apt to start writing about my visits to Vishnu Temples with this temple as this is the place where the early Alwars, Poigai Alwar, Peyalwar , and Boodat Alwar Started to sing in praise of Lord Vishnu. This place is attributed to be the birth place of Divya Prabandams.

Presiding Deity-  Sri Trivikrama Swami / Sri Ulagalanda Perumal
Presiding Goddess - Sri Poonkoval Nachiar
Urchavar - Sri Dehaleesa Perumal
Stala Vriksham- Pinnai
Teertha - Dakshina Pinakini/ Then Pennai River, Chakra Theertham

 

The Temple’s main entrance is facing east, the East Side is having two Gopurams(Towers). The main gopuram is third tallest after the towers of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam and Sri Andal Temple, Srivilliputhur. The temple has been built and renovated by Cholas, Vijayanagara Empire , Nayaks of Madurai, the local Diwans and Local Cheiftains over a period of time.

The Legend has is that Sri Mahavishnu incarnated as Lord Vamana to chastise King Mahabali.  As per Srimad Bhagavata, Sri Vamana visited King Mahabali who was giving grants to various people as part the sacrificial fire worship. Sri Sukracharya being aware of the person who has come to receive the grant advised King Mahabali not to offer anything to the Dwarf Lord Sri Vamana, However King Mahabali did not heed to his Guru’s advise and offered Three Feet of Land to Lord Vamana. Lord Vamana expanded and measured the earth and the space with his two feet and asked King Mahabali as where is the third feet.  Having seen the lord’s vishwaroopa darshan and getting rid of his ignorance, King Mahabali offered his head to keep the foot.  Sri Trivikrama kept his foot on kings head and sent him to the nether world.   King Mahabali’s son Prince Namasu, become ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu.

Sage Mrikandu Maharishi who was doing penance on the banks of Dakshina Pinakini River wished to have the darshan of Trivikrama incarnation of Mahavishnu, prayed to lord.  Sri Mahavishnu to fulfill the devotee’s wish appeared in the form of Trivikrama with his consort.  This is the significance of this place Thirukovilur.

Another Legend has it that, the three early alwars of  Sri Vaishanva Sampradaya, has started the glorification of Lord Mahavishnu.  I was told that “ once upon a time, during day it has started to gather cloud and rain like as the world has come to end, Poigai alwar took refuge under a small shelter to protect himself from the harshness of the rain.  While he was standing there came another devotee named Peialwar, and the third was Boothatalwar. As there was heavy rain darkness prevailed everywhere, these three could barely see each other. As they were speaking about the glories of Lord Vishnu, they sensed that there is fourth person amidst themselves and listening to their conversation. They immediately sensed that it was none other than Sri Mahavishnu they started glorifying him with each one of them composing 100 songs” .Thus the literature later called Divya Prabandha came into existence.

The Legends:

1.       The Lord Trivikrama stands here with his right feet lifted measuring the space. Lord Brahma is offering Teertha on the Lotus feet of Lord Mahavishnu.

2.       Sri Durga Devi from her original abode of Sri Vindhya Mountains came here to be with her brother Sri Mahavishnu . This temple has  Shrine for Sri Durga Devi which is not common in Sri  Vishnu Temples.

3.       Lord Trivikrama is holding his conch Panchajanya in his right hand and his Chakra, Sudarsana in his left hand which is unusual as normally the Sudarsana is held in his right hand.

4.       Lord Trivikram is made of Dharu Tree.

5.       Inside the sanctum one can see Lord Trivikrama, Sri Lakshmi, Sri Brahma, Sri Mrikandu Maharishi along with his consort, The three early alwars Poigai Alwar, Pei Alwar, Boothath Alwar, King Mahabali, Prince Namasu Son of Mahabali is seen performing pooja at the feet of Lord Trivikrama.

 

The temple has shrines for Lord Rama, Sri Sudarshana, Sri Poonkoval Nachiar, Sri Vamana, Sri Durga Devi, Sri Varaha, Sri Krishna

This temple is one of the 5 Krishnaaranya Kshetras featuring in the 108 Divyadesams. The Krishna idol in the separate sanctum is said to be made of Saligrama Sila.

The temple has few mantaps called  Uri Adi Mantaps which are being encroached by some people who doesn’t value the value of the same.