Thiruputkuzhi

Thiruputkuzhi
Thiruputkuzhi
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geography
Coordinates 12°52′21″N 79°37′08″E / 12.87250°N 79.61889°E / 12.87250; 79.61889Coordinates: 12°52′21″N 79°37′08″E / 12.87250°N 79.61889°E / 12.87250; 79.61889
Country India
State Tamil Nadu
District Kanchipuram
Location Tamil Nadu, India
Culture
Primary deity Vijayaraghavaswamy (Vishnu)
Consort Margathavalli Thayar (Lakshmi)
Architecture
Architectural styles Dravidian architecture

Thiruputkuzhi is a small temple town in Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated about 7 miles west of Kanchipuram and half a kilometre from Baluchetti Chattiram which lies on the Chennai - Vellore highway.

Architecture

The temple is believed to have been built by the Pandya kings during the 13th century, as seen from the stone inscriptions in the temple.[1] The temple here is one among the 108 Divya Desams and is dedicated to Lord Vijayaraghavaswamy (Moolavar). There is a separate temple for Thayar in the form of Margathavalli Thayar and a sannidhi for Sri Ramanuja as well.

Legend

Temple Tank

Legend says that Sri Rama left all of his properties and went to the forest as ordered by his father. While in the forest, Sita spots a golden deer and requests Rama to catch it for her. The deer however is a demon sent by Ravana to lure Rama and Lakshmana, so that he could carry away Sita. With Rama and Lakshmana out in search of the deer, Ravana abducts Sita and takes her along with him to Lanka. On the way to Lanka, Jatayu the vulture stops Ravana and fights with him to release Sita, but Ravana cuts Jatayu's wings and he falls down to the earth.

When Rama and Lakshmana go there in search of Sita, they find Jatayu mortally wounded in the forest. Jatayu tells them about Ravana and Sita, and then dies. Sri Rama then performs the last rites for Jatayu. As suggested by Jatayu, the Perumal here gives his seva in the form in which he performed the final funeral of Jatayu.[2]

Jatayu belongs to the Pul (a separate family of eagle) family and was buried in a pit (Tamil kuzhi), hence this sthalam is called Thiruputkuzhi. The eagle Jatayu narrated the events to Rama before breathing his last. The presiding deity, Vijayaraghava Perumal is believed to have performed the last rites of Jataya at this place. The water body where Jatayu fell is called Jatayu Theertham.[1]

Religious importance

Temple Gopuram

Thiruputkuzhi is believed to be the birthplace of Yadavaprakasa, the teacher of Vaishanava saint Ramanuja and also that of Pinpazhagiya Perumal Jeeyar. Vedanta Desikar composed hymns praising the presiding deity. Thirumangai Azhwar has also reverred the temple in his verses.[1]

The temple follows Pancharaktha Agama and the worship practises are carried out by hereditary priests belonging to the Porakathi Bhattar sect.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 C., Chandramouli (2003). Temples of Tamil Nadu Kancheepuram District. Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu.
  2. ↑ K.V., Raman; T., Padmaja (6–8 July 1991). "Indian Epic Values: Rāmāyaṇa and Its Impact : Proceedings of the 8th International Rāmāyaạ Conference". Peeters Publishers: 86. ISBN 9789068317015. Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help)

External

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