Ahad Sabri at 09:46, 8 January 2026

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{{Short description|Perumal temple in Mayiladuthurai district, Tamil Nadu, India}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Devaadi Raja Perumal temple
| image = Therazhunthur 3.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates = {{coord|11|02|47|N|79|34|46|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}

| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Mayiladuthurai district|Mayiladuthurai]]
| location = [[Therazhundur]]
| deity = Devaadi Raja Perumal<br />([[Vishnu]])
Sengamalavalli<br />([[Lakshmi]]), Amaruviappan

| facade_direction=
| temple_tank =
| tower =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
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}}

The '''Devaadi Raja Perumal temple''' ({{Langx|ta|தேவாதிராஜன் பெருமாள் கோயில்}}) (also called '''Amaruviappan temple''') in [[Therazhundur]], a village in [[Mayiladuthurai district]] of the [[South India]]n state of [[Tamil Nadu]], is dedicated to the Hindu god [[Vishnu]]. Constructed in the [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian style of architecture]], the temple is glorified in the ''[[Divya Prabandha|Naalayira Divya Prabandham]]'', the early medieval [[Tamil literature|Tamil]] canon of the [[Alvars|Alvar]] saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 ''[[Divyadesam|Divya Desams]]'' dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Amaruviappan, and his consort [[Lakshmi]] as Sengamalavalli Thayar.<ref>{{cite book|title=108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu|last= M. S. |first=Ramesh|publisher= Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam|year=1993}}</ref> The original structure of the temple was built by the [[Karikala Chola]] during the 1st century CE, with later additions from the [[Cholas]] during the 11th century.

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple tank is located opposite to the temple, outside the main entrance. The temple follows [[Vadakalai]] tradition of worship. Six daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Vaikasi Brahmotsavam during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] of ''Vaikasi'' (during May - June), and [[Vaikuntha Ekadashi]] during ''Margali'' (December - January) being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
[[File:Therazhunthur 8.jpg|200px|left|thumb|[[Pushkarni|Temple tank]], located in front of the temple]]
According to the temple's [[sthala purana]], [[Uparichara Vasu]], a king, obtained boons after severe penance for years from [[Brahma]] that would enable him to fly with his chariot. While flying at this place, his [[Temple car|chariot]] (locally called ''ther'') fell in waters and splashed on sage [[Agasthya|Agastya]] who was doing penance. The chariot got stuck in the place and hence it came to be known as Theranzhundur (where the chariot got immersed). Another variant, Uparichara Vasu ruled in favour of celestial deities against the sages and the sages cursed that his chariot would not any further and it got stuck in the place. A third variant notes that the king did not heed the request of her queen to get down to worship Vishnu at this place while flying in his chariot and on account of divine powers his chariot was held at this place.<ref name=hindu2>{{cite news|title=King with a flying chariot|url=http://www.thehindu.com/fr/2004/10/22/stories/2004102202840600.htm|date=22 October 2004|last=T.A.|first=Srinivasan|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=5 March 2016}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

As per Hindu legend, Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, drove the cattle belonging to [[Krishna]], an [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]]. Krishna created another herd in the meanwhile. Realising that the herd belonged to Krishna, Brahma apologized and wished Krishna to set his abode at this place. Since Krishna appeared for the cattle and settled here, the presiding deity is called Amaruviappan (the one who is flanked by cattle). Following the legend, the presiding deity in the sanctum is portrayed with cattle surrounding him. As per another legend, [[Prahlada]], an ardent devotee of Vishnu feared [[Narasimha]], the avatar that killed [[Hiranyakshipu|Hiranyakakashipu]], the asura father of Prahlada. Amaruviappan appeared to console Prahalad. There is another belief that [[Kaveri]], the river goddess prayed Amaruviappan to relieve herself off the curse by sage Agastya.<ref name=R>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|page=442}}</ref> Vishnu was pleased by the devotion of Kaveri and appeared here to please her devotion.<ref>{{cite book|title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated|publisher=Asian Educational Services|page=533|last=Ayyar|first=P. V. Jagadisa|isbn=9788120601512|location=New Delhi|year=1982|ref=Ayyar}}</ref>

==Architecture==
{{Multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
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| total_width = 350
| width1 = 2530 | height1 = 1536
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|image1=Therazhunthur 2.jpg
|image2=Therazhunthur 5.jpg
|footer=Images of shrines in the temple
|footer_align=center
}}
Amaruviappan temple is located in [[Therazhundur]], a village located {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Mayiladuthurai]] in [[Mayiladuthurai district]]. The temple is believed to have been built by [[Karikala Chola]] during the 1st century CE, with additions in the later century. The temple tank is located in front of the temple and the temple is approached to the roads in the embankment. The temple has a five tiered ''raja[[gopuram]]'', the gateway tower that pierces the granite concentric walls. The central shrine houses the image of Devadi raja Perumal in standing posture and the festival deity Amaruviappan, housed under the Garuda Vimanam. There are also other images of cattle and sages in the sanctum. There is a separate shrine of Sengamalavalli, the consort of Amaruviappan in the second precinct. There are separate shrines for [[Agastya]], [[Narasimha]], [[Rama]], [[Vishvaksena]], [[Hanuman]], and the [[Azhwars|Alvars]].<ref name=hindu1/> [[Adisesha|Adishesha]], Surya Prabhai, [[Indra]] Vimanam, horse and elephant are the mounts used for Amaruviappan. For the goddess, the mounts used are the [[Yali (Hindu Mythology)|yali]], [[swan]], [[elephant]], and [[lion]]. The sub-temples of this shrine are Govindarajar temple.<ref>''Census of India, 1961, Volume 9, Issue 7''.India. Office of the Registrar, India. Office of the Registrar General</ref> There are two water bodies associated with the temple along with river [[Kaveri]], namely Darsa Pushkarani located in front of the temple and Gajendra Pushkarani in the northern side.<ref name=hindu2/>

==Religious importance==
Amaruviappan temple is revered in ''[[Nalayira Divya Prabhandam|Naalayira Divya Prabhandam]]'', the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by [[Thirumangai Azhwar|Thirumangai Alvar]]. The temple is classified as a ''[[Divyadesam|Divya Desam]]'', one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. Thirumangai Alvar has glorified the powers of Sengamalavalli Thayar. The temple also finds mention in later works by [[Nathamuni]], Thirukachi Nambi, [[Ramanuja]] and [[Manavala Mamunigal]]. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like ''108 Tirupathi Anthathi'' by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar.<ref name=dinamalar/> The temple is also one of the Pancha Krishnaranaya Kshetrams, the five divine places for [[Krishna]], an avatar of Vishnu. Devaadi Raja Perumal is believed to be a representation of "Rakshakathvam", the divine protection rendered to true devotees of Vishnu.<ref name=hindu2/>

==Worship practices and festivals==
The temple follows [[Vadakalai]] tradition of worship{{citation needed|date=March 2016}} based on [[Pancharatra]] Agamic tradition. The temple is open from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: ''Ushathkalam'' at 8 a.m., ''Kalasanthi'' at 10:00 a.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 5:00 p.m. and ''Ardha Jamam'' at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Nithyakalyana Perumal and his consort Sengamalavalli. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. Various festivals are celebrated in the temple, with the Vaikasi Brahmotsavam during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] of ''Vaikasi'' (during May - June), Thiruvonam and [[Vaikuntha Ekadashi]] during ''Margali'' (December - January) being the most prominent.<ref name=dinamalar>{{cite web|title=Sri Devadhirajan temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=272|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=31 May 2014|year=2014}}</ref> During the Brahmotsavam festival, the festival deities of Devaadi Raja Perumal and Sengamalavalli is taken in procession around the streets of the temple. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref name=hindu1>{{cite news|title=In need of funds|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/in-need-of-funds/article657414.ece|work=The Hindu|date=20 February 2009|access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050123233000/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/10/22/stories/2004102202840600.htm Article about the temple]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPcxAarXhlA Panguni Uthram Thayar Thirukalyanam video]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpLChmGr0oU&feature=PlayList&p=D2C3D3F382E39CB8&index=0&playnext=1 Discourse by Shri U. Ve Velukudi Krishnan]

== Gallery ==
<gallery class="center">
File:Teralundur amaruviappan temple1.jpg|Entrance
File:Teralundur amaruviappan temple2.jpg|Bali peetam and flagpost
File:Teralundur amaruviappan temple3.jpg|Rajagopuram
File:Teralundur amaruviappan temple4.jpg|Vimana of presiding deity
File:Teralundur amaruviappan temple5.jpg|Alvar shrine
File:Teralundur amaruviappan temple6.jpg|Andal shrine
</gallery>

{{commons category}}
{{Famous Vishnu temples}}

[[Category:Divya Desams| ]]
[[Category:Vishnu temples in Mayiladuthurai district]]

Devaadi Raja Perumal temple - Revision history

Ahad Sabri at 09:46, 8 January 2026