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Temple Speciality

Temple Name

Sthalam

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Uthamar Kovil (also known as Thirukkarambanoor or Bhikshandar Kovil) in Uthamarkoil, a village in the outskirts of Tiruchirappalli in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Trimurti Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th&ndash;9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Purushothaman Perumal (also called as Purushothamar) and his consort Lakshmi as Poornavalli Thayar.

Purushottamar is believed to have appeared to Hindu gods Brahma and Shiva, to relieve Shiva off his sins committed while cutting one of Brahma&#39;s heads. The temple is one of the few historical temples in India where the images of the Trimurti, Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma are housed in the same premises. It is one of the two temples in Chola Nadu where the trinity can be seen in the same premises, the other being Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal Temple at Thirukkandiyur.

The temple is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas of the late 8th century AD, with later contributions from Vijayanagar kings and Madurai Nayaks. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines, while the temple tank is located outside the main gateway.

Six daily rituals and four yearly festivals are held at the temple for each of trinities. The major festival of the temple, the Brahmotsavam, is celebrated during the Tamil month of Kartigai (November &ndash; December) when festival images of both Purushotamar and Bikshadanar are carried together in the streets surrounding the temple. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

As per Hindu legend, the temple is believed to have been constructed by Janaka, the king of Janakapuri and the father of the goddess Sita. Thirumangai Azhwar is believed to have resided in the temple to build the surrounding walls of the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple. The temple is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas of the late 8th century AD, with later contributions from Vijayanagar kings and Madurai Nayaks. During the war between British and French in 1751, the temple acted as an infantry for both the troops.There was no damage done to the temple during the war.

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temples has images and separate shrines for Purushottamar (Vishnu), Bhikshadanar (Shiva), Brahma and their respective consorts Poornavalli (Lakshmi), Soundaraya Parvati and Saraswati. This is one of the few historical Hindu temples in the world, where the Hindu Trimurti are worshipped along with their consorts in six separate shrines within the same temple complex. The central shrine facing East houses the image of Vishnu, as Purushottamar, in reclining posture with the discus in one hand. The roof or vimana of the central shrine is called Udhyoga Vimana. There are two shrines located to the south east, each housing the image of Poornavalli and Mahalakshmi. The Shiva shrine, located behind Vishnu&#39;s, houses the lingam (aniconic form of Shiva) as Bhikshadanar. The granite images of the deities Ganesha (son of Shiva and god of wisdom), Murugan (son of Shiva and god of war), Nandi (the bull and vehicle of Shiva) and Navagraha (nine planetary deities) are located in the hall leading to the Shiva sanctum. As in other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the first precinct of the Shiva shrine has images of Dakshinamurthy (Shiva as the Teacher), Durga (warrior-goddess) and Chandikeswarar (a saint and devotee of Shiva). The shrines of Brahma and his consort Saraswati are located in the south west corner of the temple complex.

The Sapthaguru or seven gurus (teachers) are identified in the temple. The seven are Bhikshadanar (representing Sadasiva Guru, Shiva as a guru), Brahma (Brahma Guru), Soundarya Parvati (Shakti Guru, the Goddess as a guru), Brihaspati (Deva Guru, the teacher of the gods), Varadarajaperumal (Vishnu Guru), Murugan (Gnana Guru, the guru of knowledge) and Shukra (Asura Guru, the guru of demons).

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Puranam

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As per Hindu legend, the god Vishnu emerged as a Kadamba tree here, giving the name Kathambanur, which later became Karambanur. The name Karambanur is mentioned by Thirumangai Azhwar in Nalayira Divya Prabandam, in which he refers to the presiding deity as &quot;Karambanur Uthaman&quot;. The temple is commonly called &quot;Uthamar Kovil&quot; derived from the presiding deity.

The temple is also called Bhikshandar Kovil as the god Shiva is present in the form of Bhikshandar (a mendicant) and believed to have attained cure by worshiping Vishnu at this place.As per Hindu legend, once Vishnu wanted to test the devotion of the god Brahma

. He raised as a Kadamba tree in the place; Brahma worshipped him with thirumanjanam (ablution). The water from the ablution filled a tank nearby, which came to be known as &quot;Kathamba Theertham&quot;. Vishnu was satisfied with the devotion of Brahma and gave a boon to Brahma to have a shrine in this place. Shiva wanted to expiate the sin for decapitating a head of Brahma and went on a pilgrimage. Here, Vishnu requested his consort Lakshmi to give alms to Shiva. Shiva&#39;s grail was filled by the alms and Lakshmi came to be known as Poornavalli Thayar (the one who filled the grail).

As per another legend, Brahma and Shiva both had originally five heads. Parvati, the wife of Shiva, once got confused and worshipped Brahma, instead of her husband. Shiva got enraged and cut off one of Brahma&#39;s heads; the head stuck in Shiva&#39;s hand due to Brahma&#39;s curse. To atone for the sin, Shiva worshipped Vishnu here; Shiva was fully relieved of the curse after worshipping Vishnu at Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal Temple.

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Brahma in the form of living Vanni tree:

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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rajushanthi/5234500918/"><img alt="Brahma as Vanni Tree" src="https://i0.wp.com/farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5234500918_c5ef2a1a9d_m.jpg" style="height:250px; width:242px" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rajushanthi/5233920043/"><img alt="Brahma - Vanni Tree 4" src="https://i0.wp.com/farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5233920043_9e856c9239_m.jpg" style="height:240px; width:180px" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rajushanthi/5234505940/"><img alt="Brahma as Vanni Tree 1" src="https://i0.wp.com/farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5234505940_346c31aa3a_m.jpg" style="height:180px; width:240px" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rajushanthi/5234506914/"><img alt="Brahma - Vanni Tree 2" src="https://i0.wp.com/farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5234506914_c6ab059f2a_m.jpg" style="height:180px; width:240px" /></a>&nbsp;

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Shiva shrine:

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Temple:

&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rajushanthi/5233915911/"><img alt="Shiva shrine Vimanams" src="https://i0.wp.com/farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5233915911_f20c1dd4a9.jpg" style="height:180px; width:240px" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rajushanthi/5234509004/"><img alt="IMG_0878" src="https://i0.wp.com/farm6.static.flickr.com/5001/5234509004_3b43300251_m.jpg" style="height:180px; width:240px" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rajushanthi/5234510432/"><img alt="Ambal shrine Nandhi" src="https://i0.wp.com/farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5234510432_163296fea0_m.jpg" style="height:180px; width:240px" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rajushanthi/5233919537/"><img alt="Ambal shrine Vimanam" src="https://i0.wp.com/farm6.static.flickr.com/5168/5233919537_fca7d2f009_m.jpg" style="height:180px; width:240px" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rajushanthi/5233920633/"><img alt="Shiva shrine Vimanams 1" src="https://i0.wp.com/farm6.static.flickr.com/5281/5233920633_7be7828d01_m.jpg" style="height:180px; width:240px" /></a>

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Varnam

Uthamar Kovil is one of the two temples in Chola Nadu where the trinity can be seen in the same premises, the other being Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal Temple at Thirukkandiyur. Trimurti in Hindu mythology refers to the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction. They are personified by the forms of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva, the destroyer.

The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th&ndash;9th century Vaishnava canon, by Thirumangai Alvar in ten hymns. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book.Thirumangai Alvar have sung in praise of the perumal in this temple with one Pasuram (hymn).

Periyavachan Pillai, who translated the verses of Thirumangai Alvar, glorifies the temple as &quot;the one without doors where devotees can always visit and worship&quot;.

Highlights

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Lord Shiva in the form of Swayambu lingam in the names of Magudeswarar, Paandi Kodumudi Nathar, Malaikozhundheeswarar etc., with Goddess in the names of Soundhravalli, Soudambikai, Vadivudainayagi.

Lord Mahavishnu is in the name of Veera Narayana Perumal in sayana posture with Goddess Thirumangai Nachiyar (Maha Lakshmi).

The 3000 years old living Vanni tree itself is considered Lord Brahma of this temple and has no Goddess part.

Theertham:&nbsp;Holy river Cauveri with other Holy water origins inside the temple Bharadhwaja Theertham, Brahma Theertham and Deva Theertham.

Sthala Viruksham (Sacred Tree):&nbsp;Vanni Tree

<ul>
	<li>One of the very few temples which enshrines all the three moorthies &ndash; Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva &ndash; in exclusive shrines with legendary significance (The other one I know is Uthamar Koil near Trichy).</li>
	<li>A highly popular parihara sthalam from ancient times itself</li>
	<li>The Holy and Mystic Vanni Tree, said to be 3000 years old is a living tree with one side of the tree having thorns and the other side without it. The tree is a male version without flower and fruit.</li>
	<li>During the last week of Aavani Tamil Month and the first week of Panguni Tamil Month, the sun light enters through the aperture of the Rajagopuram and falls on Lord Magudeshwara.</li>
	<li>The river Cauvery which flows Southward from Karnataka, turns 90 degrees in front of the temple and flows Eastward.</li>
	<li>One of the 275 important Shiva temples glorified by Thevara hymns. Sambandhar sung 11 songs,&nbsp; Appar sung 5 songs&nbsp; and Sundharar sung 10 songs on Lord Magudeshwara of this temple. Sundarar composed his Namachivaaya Patikam here.</li>
	<li>Saint Arunagirinathar sung &ldquo;Thirupugazh&rdquo; on Lord Muruga of this temple.</li>
</ul>

In a show of strength battle between Aadhi Sesha and Vaayu (God of &lsquo;air&rsquo;), some pieces of the holy Meru Kailash was thrown into five different places and these apex pieces change into five Swayambu linga Sivasthalas of different types of precious stones as follows:

EMERALD &ndash; Thiru eengoi malai (near Musiri) , RED &ndash; Thiruvannamalai ,&nbsp;BLUE DIAMOND &ndash; Pothiigai, Kuttraalam , MANICKAM &ndash; Sivaaya Malai, Rathnagiri, Ayyarmalai (Kulitalai) , DIAMOND &ndash; Kodumudi

While all the other four are in the form of hills, the apex at Kodumudi is in the form of lingam, i.e., the lingam here is considered to be the tip of a hill (Kodumudi is 482 feet above sea level).

Brahma&nbsp;(in the form of Vanni tree) and&nbsp;Vishnu who are enshrined here, are said to have worshipped&nbsp;Shiva (Magudeshwarar).&nbsp;Worshipped by Garudan, Pandu and others

Agasthyar got the marriage dharshan of Lord Shiva here.Bharadwajar got the dharshan of Lord shiva&rsquo;s dance here and there is also a Bharadwaja theertham inside the temple.

This is the place where river Cauvery was relieved of the curse of Sage Agasthiar (he had captured her in a kamandalam). Vinayagar, at the behest of Lord Shiva, took the form of a white crow and dropped down the kamandalam here liberating the Cauvery to continue her flow. Surprisingly, in support of this legend, the river Cauvery which flows southwards till here takes an exact 90 degree East turn here. &nbsp;The vinayagar here in the inner pariharam of Shiva shrine is named as &ldquo;Kaviri Kanda Vinayagar&rdquo;. It seems there is a rock in the middle of the river here that has the rock cut image of this legend.

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Sevas/Festivals

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The temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The priests of the Bhikshadanar shrine belong to the Shaiva community, while the priests of Purushothamar are from Vaishnava community. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; Ushathkalam at 5:30 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:30 p.m.

The Shaiva and Vaishnava sects have their own rituals. The ritual of Bhikshadanar comprises four steps: abhisheka (sacred bath), alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Bhikshadanar and Soundarya Parvati. The worship is held amidst religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred texts) read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast.

There are weekly rituals like somavaram (Monday) and sukravaram (Friday), fortnightly rituals like pradosham and monthly festivals like amavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi for Bhikshadanar. The major festival of the temple, the Brahmotsavam, is celebrated during the Tamil month of Kartigai (November &ndash; December) when festival images of both Purushothamar and Bhikshadanar are carried together in the streets surrounding the temple. Kadambha

Thiruvizha is a festival celebrated in the temple when the festival image of Ranganatha (a form of Vishnu) is brought to the Kadambha tank of the temple for Theerthavari. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

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Parihara Sthalam:

This is a highly popular parihara sthalam from ancient times itself. Pariharam for marriages and child birth are the most conducted ones apart from many others.

Parihara Poojas / Homams Done here are:

Marriage obstacles, Swayamvara / Parvathi homam,&nbsp;Navagraha dhoshams for each graham, Rahu Kethu Preethi,&nbsp;Sevvai Pariharam,&nbsp;Mrithyanja homam (to get rid of death fear),&nbsp;Prithyangara homam (to get rid of the evil effects from enemies), Dhanvanthri homam (for illness), Gubera Lakshmi Pooja, Durga Soolani homam (to get rid of curse by ladies), Ayushya Homam, Navagraha homams, Ganapathy homam, Pithru Saba homam, Brahma Harthi dosha nivarana homam, Sudharsana homam and many others.

It is said the people suffering from mental illness, after doing the pariharam here, should go to Gunaseelam in the Trichy &ndash; Musiri route immediately and continue the pariharam the next day morning by taking a dip before sun rise at the Cauvery there for best cure.&nbsp;

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