Thirukavithalam

Thirukavithalam is traditionally enumerated as number 25 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.

This place is one among the five Krishnaranya kshetrams. This is two miles from Papanasam Railway station in Thanjavur District. The moolavar here is known as Gajendra Varadhan. He is seen in a bhujanga sayana posture facing East. The Goddess is known as Ramamani Valli as also Potramaraiyal. The vimanam is known as Gaganakruti vimanam. God appeared to Lord Anjaneya and Gajendra, the elephant. The pushkarini is known as Gajendra pushkarini as also Kapila pushkarini.

Once upon a time, there was a queen by name Moopi. Her lineal descendents were known as Moopanars. This divya desam is under the trusteeship of the Mooppanar clan. Once upon a time, the Mooppanar family were poets, scholars and warriors. Hence it is that this place was knwon as Kavi sthalam ie. the place of poets. Over a period of time this has got corrupted as Kapisthalam.

Once upon a time, there was a Pandyan king by name Indradyumna. He was a great Vishnu Bhaktha. He entrusted his Kingdom to his ministers and withdrew into the forest to meditate on Vishnu. One day Agastya Muni passed by the parnasala of Indradyumna. The latter was so immersed in his meditation that he did not notice Agastya. Agastya was angry and cursed Indradyumna to become an elephant. Indradyumna became an elephant and roamed about the forest. He became the leader for a herd of elephants and came to be known as Gajendra i.e. King elephant. Even as an elephant he continued to worship Vishnu. He would have his bath in a tank, pluck a lotus flower and offer it to Vishnu. One day a crocodile in the tank caught its foot and was dragging it into the tank. Gajendra then shouted for help to Perumal. God heard His devotee’s cry for help and rushed on His Garuda vahanam. He let loose the chakra on the crocodile and killed it. This incident is said to have taken place in this divya desam. Hence it is that the moolavar is known as Gajendra Varadhan.

162 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desam - IIT

A copper plate dated S.1349 relating to the period of the rule of Vira Singaraya Deva Maharaya records that one Mullunayakan of Nallada village disposed of half the village for 125 pagodas to one Banumasetty. !