Sri Adhikesava Perumal Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desam temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located at Thiruvattar, Kanyakumari district of Tamilnadu. This temple is built in Dravidian style of architecture and is one of the historic thirteen Divya Desams of Malai Nadu (Kerala). The temple is located in a grand setting surrounded on three sides by the rivers Kothai, Pahrali and Thamirabarani. Saint Nammazhwar has sung eleven pasurams (hymns) in praise of this temple. There are also references to Thiruvattaar in the famous Sangam literature ‘Pura Naanooru’, thus helping us deduce the age of the temple to be older than 2000 years at least. Since Lord Vishnu resides here in a reclining position and is surrounded by rivers, the temple is called as ‘The Srirangam of Chera Kingdom’.
The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Sri Adhikesava Perumal, lying on Adisesha facing west. As in Tiruvananthapuram, the deity is viewed through three openings in the sanctum. Lord Shiva is located near the presiding deity along with carved images of Lord Venugopala, Goddess Rathi, Lord Manmatha, Lord Lakshmana and Indrajit. The deity is seen sleeping in maaru sayananam (opposite direction – from right to left) who measures 22 feet and is made out of 16008 salagramams. The temple is constructed in such a manner that the Sun’s rays fall on the feet of the deity’s image from the third to the 8th day of the Tamil month of Panguni and on the 3rd and the 4th days of the Tamil month of Purattaasi. Worship protocols followed here are the same as those of Kerala.
According to legend, Lord Adikesava defeated the demon Kesi. The demon’s wife prayed to the River Ganges and River Thamirabarani who came in spate for support. On seeing this, Bhoodevi (Mother Earth) simply raised the ground level where Perumal was reclining causing both rivers to go around the Lord. Realizing their fault, Ganga and Tamirabarani then started flowing in a circular fashion around the Lord in a symbolic gesture of garlanding the Lord. Hence, this place came to called Thiru ‘Vatta-aaru’. Lord Parasurama is said to have undertaken penance at this place and performed daily poojas for Adhikesavan. Chaitanya Maha Prabhu visited the temple in 1510 AD.
There is also a small temple dedicated to Lord Lakshminarasimha next to this temple.
Key facts about the temple
| Dhivyadesam No. | 87 |
| Dhivyadesam Name | Thiruvattar |
| Main Deity | Aadhikesava Perumal, Maragathavalli |
| Location | Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu (Malai Nadu) |
| Architecture Style | Dravidian (Kerala Style) |
| Temple Age | 2000 – 3000 years |
| Azwars who did Mangalasasanam | Nammazhwar |
| Divyaprabandam reference |
Thiruvaimozhi (3722 – 3732: 11 verses) |
| Unique Specialties |
Called Srirangam of Chera kingdom Son’s rays fall on the feet of the deity on certain months |
| Prayers made for |
To make one free from worldly attachments |
| Popular Events |
Brahmotsavam – Iyppasi (Oct – Nov) Vaikunta Ekadesi (Dec – Jan) |
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Rangarajan has been blogging for over 12 years now on various topics. With Thedal, he becomes one with the universe and he is hoping that his search will help him discover the eternal truth. Please join him as he traverses through the universe across temples, philosophies and science!