Kshetram #4 - Thiruvellarai

Recently, we started on a quick 2 day pilgrimage tour down to Trichy with focus on "The Kovil" aka Srirangam kshetram, the first of 108 divya desams. After a wonderful darshan, my brother decided that we cover nearby divyadesams.. Thus our journey to 2,3,4,5,6 began..

I was completely awed by the temple architecture at the kshetram #4 - Thiruvellarai. The temple must be around a 1000 years old. The temple is a big temple with the praharams being very long.The shrine that gets its name as there are lots of white rocks in that place. The main deity is called Pundarikaakshan and his consort - Pankajavalli. This deity is very different from all other deities in other places. It is said that the 18 steps you climb before getting Lord's darshan is the eighteen chapters from Bhagvad Gita. Lord Vishnu in standing posture with both the sides - Chandran(Moon) and Suryan(Sun),  Periya thiruvadi - Garudan, Markandeyar, Goddess Lakshmi, Sibi chakravarthy(the priest there refered as human form of aadi seshan). The sanctum sanctorum is about 50 feet high. Goddess Lakshmi has the first right in this temple. There are only 3 temples where thaayar has the first right - Srivilliputhur, Naachiyar Kovil and Thiruvellarai. There is a separate sannidhi for thaayar amidst Chakkrathaazhwar, Hanuman.

One must definitely visit the temple at least for its size and the primary deity's beauty. This temple is about 15 kms from Srirangam. Periyaazhwar has sung 11 pasurams on this deity.

Signing off,

SPH