அஹோபிலம்

Srirangam

Tirupati

Thirukkannapuram

Thirukkannapuram, is my native town and hence has a special place in my heart. That I happened to visit this temple after fifty years is another story. The main deity here is Neelamega Perumal and the utsavar is Sowrirajan. He is accompanied by Sridevi, Bhoodevi, Andal and Padmini Nachiyar.
Thirukkannapuram- How to get there

Thirukkannapuram falls in the Tanjore district on the Mayavaram -Thiruvarur railway line. Four kms from Nannilam station, you will reach Tiruppugalur and about a km from here is one of the 108 Divyadesams - Tirukkannapuram. This Divyadesam is also one of the five Krishna kshetrams.
Here alone the Lord dwells in the complete form of ashtakshara manthra "ॐ नमो नारायणाय ". Thirukkannapuram is also known as saptha (seven) Punya Kshetram.

Apart from these glorious features, this temple has some that are exclusive.

The Lord in this temple is known as Sowrirajan and sports a long hair to go with the name. Legend says that the temple priest, on one night, gave the Lord's garland to his beloved. Sometime later, there was a message that the king would be coming over to the temple shortly. The priest got back the garland and offered it to the king when he arrived.

The king found a strand of hair in the garland and was furious. The priest, to save himself said that it was the Lord's hair. The king came the next morning to check it out and sure enough to save his devotee, the Lord was there with a long hair.

Another unique feature is a dish of rice and lentil called pongal. The "muniyodharan pongal" is unparalleled in taste. Here goes the story behind it. Muniyadharan was a tax collector in the Chola kingdom. Once, he asked his beloved to make pongal and came to the temple to offer to the Lord. The temple gates were closed by then. So he offered it from outside. Next day morning, the priest found, the remains of pongal on the Lord. Since then the pongal is offered to the Lord at the end of the day's rituals.

On the 7th day of the Vaikhasi (May- June) Brahmotsavam, the Lord is taken out in procession three times. The first procession begins at 5 p.m and after going round the Veethis (streets), the Lord returns to the temple. In the second procession that starts around 10 p.m, the Lord is taken out on a decorated flat bed chariot. The third procession starts at around 4 a.m. the next day, wherein the Lord is is attired in white clothes and a rudrakshamala. The Lord is brought to the outer mandap to the accompaniment of traditional beats. Siria thirumadal, a part of Divya Prabandham is recited.The Lord is then taken back to the temple after arthi .
The first one represents, the Lord Srimannaryana himself, the second Brahma and the third Lord Shiva. This is also to indicate that all forms are His embodiments.

Uparisravasu, king of the fisherfolk was a great devotee of Lord Sowrirajan. Lord married his daughter Padmini, to honour his devotion.
Till today, the Lord is taken with all parephernalia to the beach (near karaikal) where the fisherfolk show their devotion with their offerings. The Lord stays overnight with them before He returns to the temple.

Unlike in other temples, the vimana of the temple cannot be seen only from outside the temple at two points, one in the northern and the other in the southern streets. The utpalavataka vimana is named after the rishis who are believed to be sorrounding it.

Prayoga chakram, 100 pasurams by Thirmangaiazhwar in Periya thirumozhi, a scar on the forehead of the utsavar are a few more.

The list is endless. Hope there will a second part of this very soon.
All those who have visited the temple/ belong to this wonderful divyadesam are welcome to add their posts, comments and suggestions.

Divyadesams - List

Srivaishnava shrines that were sung about by Azhvars (divine saints) are called divya desams - says wikipedia

There are in all 108 Divyadesams, of which 106 are on this planet and the other two are thirupaarkadal and thiruparamapadham.
Every vaishnavite considers it as his utmost duty to undertake a pilgrimage to each of these 106 divyadesams.

Here is a list of 108 Divyadesams.

Thondai Naadu
1. Thiruvallikeni
2. Thiruvallore
3. Thirunindravur
4. Thirukkadalmallai
5. Thirneermalai
6. Thiruvidaventhai
7. Thirukkadigai
8. Thirukkatchi
9. Ashtabuyakaram
10. Thirutthanka
11. Thiruvelukkai
12. Thiruneeragam
13. Thioruppadagamn
14. Nilathingal Thundam
15. Thiru Ooragam
16. Thiruvekka
17. Thirukkaragam
18. Thiurkkaarvaanam
19. Thirukalvanoor
20. Thiruppavalavannam
21. Parameswara Vinnagarm
22. Thirupputkuzhi
Nadu Naadu
23. Thirukkoviloor
24.Thiruvaheendrapuram
Pandiya Naadu
25. Thirukkurungudi
26. Thirukulandai
27. Thirukkolur
28. Thirupulingudi
29.Thenthiruporai
30. Thiruvaramangai
31. Thrutholai Villimangalam
32. Srivaikuntam
33. Thiruvaraguna Mangai
34. Thiruvilliputtur
35. Thirumogur
36. Thirutthangal
37. Thirukkodal
38. Thirumaliruncholai
39. Thirukkoshtiyur
40. Thirupullani
41. Thirukkurugur
42. Thirumaiyam
Malai Naadu
43. Thiruvananthapuram
44. Thirunavai
45. Thiruvithuvakodu
46. Thirukatkarai
47. Thirumoozhikkaalam
48. Thiruvallavazh
49. Thirukkadithaanam
50. Thiruchengunnur
51. Thiruppuliyur
52. Thiruvaranvilai
53. Thiruvanvandur
54. Thiruvattaru
55. Thiruvanparisaram
Chozha Naadu
56. Srirangam
57. Thirukkozhi (Uraiyur)
58. Thirkkarambanur
59. Thiru Vellarai
60. Thiru Anbil
61. Thirupper Nagar
62. Thirukandiyur
63. Thirukkoodalur
64. Thirukavithalam
65. Thiru Pullamboothangudi
66. Thiru Aadanur
67. Thirukudanthai (Kumbakonam)
68. Thiru Viinnagar
69. Thirunaraiyur (Natchiar Kovil)
70. Thiruccherai
71. Thirunagai
72. Thanjai Maamanik Kovil
73. Thirukkannamangai
74. Thirukkannapuram
75. Thirukkannangudi
76. Nandipura Vinnagaram
77. Thiruvelliangudi
78. Thiruvazhundur
79. Thiruchiru Puliyur
80.Thalaisanga Nanmadhiyam
81. Thiru Indalur
82. Thirukkavalampadi
83. Kazhi Srirama Vinnagaram (Sirkazhi)
84. Thiru Arimeya Vinnagaram
85.Thiruvan Purudothamam
86.Thirusemponsei Kovil
87. Thirumanimada Kovil
88. Thiru Vaikuntha Vinnagaram
89. Thiruvali-Thirunagari
90. Thiruthevanar Thogai
91. Thirutthetriambalam
92. Thirumanikkoodam
93. Thiru Vellakkulam
94. Thirupparthan Palli
95. Thiruchitra Koodam (Chidambaram)
Vada Naadu
96. Thiru Ayodhi
97. Thiru Naimissaranyam
98. Thirupreeti
99. Thiruvadariyashramam (Badrinath)
100. Shalagramam (Nepal)
101. Thiru Dwarakai
102. Singavel Kundram (Ahobilam)
103. Thiruvengadam (Tiruppathi)
104. Thirukandamennum Kadinagar (Devaprayagai)
105. Thiru Vadamadurai (Mathura)
106. Thiruvaipadi (Gokulam)

I intend writing about each of the divyadesams. This effort is to give the right information to devotees and help those who wish to visit these shrines.
This blog is open to all those who wish to contribute, about any divyadesams they have visited.

I begin my first, with Thirukkannapuram.- my native