Irattai Thiruppathy

Irattai Thiruppathy Temples
Images of Devapiran temple and Aravindalochanar temple
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Tuticorin
Deity	Aravindalosanar, Devapiran (Vishnu) Karunthadankanni,Vakshasthala Lakshmi (Lakshmi)
Features	Tower: Kumuda Temple tank: Varuna
Location
Location	Thirutholavallimangalam
State	Tamil Nadu
Country	India
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates	8°36′37″N77°58′22″E / 8.61028°N 77.97278°E / 8.61028; 77.97278 Coordinates: 8°36′37″N77°58′22″E / 8.61028°N 77.97278°E / 8.61028; 77.97278
Architecture
Type	Dravidian architecture
Monument(s)	2

Irattai Tirupati Temple refers to two temples of the Nava Tirupathi, namely Devapiran temple and Aravindalochanar temple dedicated to Vishnu located in Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamil Nadu, India in the banks of Thamiraparani river. All these 9 temples are classified as "Divya Desams", the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints Alwars. ^[1] The two temples are located adjacent to each other. All these 9 temples of the Navatirupathi are also classified as "Divya Desams", the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars. ^[2] The Irattai Tirupathi is also known Ketu Sthalam. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temples are dedicated to Vishnu who is worshipped as Devapiran and Aravindalochanar and Lakshmi as Varagunavalli and Karuthadankanni.

A granite wall surrounds both the temples, enclosing all their shrines. The rajagopuram , the temple's gateway tower has a flat structure. The temples follows Thenkalai tradition of worship. Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temples, of which the ten-day annual Vaikanda Ekadasi during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December - January) and the Nammazhwar birth celebrations with Garudasevai with all nine temple of Navatirupathi, being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Legend

Shrines of the temples

As per Hindu legend, the place finds mention in Brahmanda Purana and Padma Purana where it is called Kedara Nilaya. Once a sage named Suprabha wanted to perform penance and in his search for land, he ploughed at this place. He found a balance (tola) and a bow (vil), which, when he lifted, turned into a couple. The couple were cursed by Kubera once for insulting them. Since the bow and balance were redeemed to their original form, the place is called Tolavillimangalam. The sage Suprabha continued to perform penance, at the end of which, the Devas received the share of offering (Havibhaga). Vishnu was pleased by the devotion of the sage and since he appeared with Devas, he came to be known as Devapiran. The sage continued to perform penance at this temple and while walking down the river with lotus pond, he found Vishnu following him. At the request of the sage, Vishnu resided in this place as Aravindalochanar (the one who appeared from lotuses). As per another legend, the Ashwinidevadas wanted the share of the offerings made by men. They prayed to Brahma who redirected them to pray at this place. The twins came to the place and performed penance at this place. They had a dip in the tank, which came to be known as Asvini Tirtha. Vishnu appeared to them bearing lotus flowers in his had and granted their wishes. ^{[3] [4]}

Architecture

It is understood from the inscriptions from the temples that they have been a part of a series of temples built by Pandyas and expanded by Madurai Nayaks. The temples occupies an area of 1 acre (0.40 ha) and is surrounded by a granite wall. The rajagopuram , the temple's gateway tower, is a flat structure, unlike other South Indian temples, which have a conical elevated structure. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and halls. The sanctum of each of the temples houses the images of Devapiran and Aravindalocha facing east. The images are made of Saligrama stone. The hall preceding the sanctum, the Artha Mandapam houses the festival image of presiding deities along with the images of Sridevi and Bhudevi on either of his sides. The Mahamandapa has shrines for Senai Mudaliyar, Garuda, Venugopala, Manavalamamunigal and Azhwars. ^{[5] [6]}

Festivals and religious importance

The Garuda Sevai utsavam(festival) in the month of Vaikasi(May-Jun) witnesses 9 Garudasevai , a spectacular event in which festival image idols from the Nava Tirupathis shrines in the area are brought on Garuda vahana (sacred vehicle). An idol of Nammalvar is also brought here on an Anna Vahanam (palanquin) and his paasurams (verses) dedicated to each of these 9 temples are recited. The utsavar (festival deity) of Nammalvar is taken in a palanquin to each of the 9 temples, through the paddy fields in the area. The paasurams(poems) dedicated to each of the 9 Divyadesams are chanted in the respective shrines. This is the most important of the festivals in this area, and it draws thousands of visitors. ^{[7] [8]}

The temples follow the traditions of the Thenkalai sect of Vaishnavite tradition and follows Pancharathra aagama. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 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 Aravindalochanar and Devapiran. During the last step of worship, nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. ^[6]

Religious significance

Pillared halls in the temple

Brahmanda Purana one of the eighteen sacred texts of Hinduism and written by Veda Vyasa contains a chapter called Navathirupathi Mahatmeeyam. Vaikunta Mahatmeeyam is another work in Sanskrit that glorifies the temple and is a part of Tamraparani Sthalapurana available only in palm manuscripts. ^[9] The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham , the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Nammazhwar. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam , one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. The temple is also classified as a Navatirupathi, the nine temples revered by Nammazhwar located in the banks of Tamiraparani river. The temple is next only to Alwarthirunagari Temple in terms of importance among the nine Navatirupathi temple. ^{[5] [6]} Nammazhwar makes a reference about the temple in his works in Thirvaimozhi. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar. The temple also forms a series of Navagraha temples where each of the nine planetary deities of one of the temples of Navatirupathi. There are two temples, one a north temple and other a south temple. Both the temples have two prakarams (closed precincts of a temple). It is referred to as Ketu sthalam, a location for the snake deity, Ketu. ^{[10] [5]}

References

1. 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu. M. S. Ramesh, Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam.
2. Ramesh, M.S. (1993). 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams volume one Divyadesams in Tondai Nadu. Tirpuati: Tirupati Tirumala Devastanams.
3. R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001). An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam (1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 509–10.
4. A., Radha; Dr. G., Paranthaman (2020). "Dasavatharam and Navagrahas in Historical Perspective". Tamil Journal of Temple Studies. 1: 42–4.
5. M., Rajagopalan (1993). 15 Vaishnava Temples of Tamil Nadu. Chennai, India: Govindaswamy Printers. pp. 155–159.
6. "Sri Aravindalochanar temple". Dinamalar. 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
7. Suriya (2015). Jothirlingam: The Indian Temple Guide. Partridge Publishing. p. 30. ISBN   9781482847864.
8. Anantharaman, Ambujam (2006). Temples of South India. East West Books (Madras). pp. 33–43. ISBN   978-81-88661-42-8.
9. V., Meena. Temples in South India. Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. pp. 8–9.
10. "Amazing posture at Srivaikuntam". The Hindu . 15 November 2001. Archived from the original on 29 January 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2015.