Thiruvelliyankudi is traditionally enumerated as number 28 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.
This is a place which is of special significance to one among the Navagraha deities viz. Sukra Baghavan. There are temples for each of these Navagrahas in Tanjore District itself. Suryanar Koil is the place where there is a temple for Lord Surya i.e. the Sun God. At Indalur there is the temple for the Moon God i.e. Chandran. Vaidheeswaran koil is for Sevvai i.e. Mars. Thiruvankadu for Budha, Alangudi for Guru, Thiru Velliangudi for Sukra, Thiru Nallar for Sani (Saturn), Sri Vanchiyam for Rahu and Kethu. Thus, all the nine grahas have nine holy places where the people can offer special prayers and try to get over any malefic influence cast by the aspecting of these grahas with reference to their horoscopes.
As stated earlier, this place is where prominence is given to Sukra. As Sukra stands for silver, this place is known as Velliyan kudi i.e. the place where Velli i.e. silver ie. Sukra resides. This is 3 miles east of Mayavaram railway station. It is located to the east of Cholapuram. This place is believed to have been in existence in all the four yugas. It is known varyingly as Brahmapuram, Parasara kshetram, Indrapuram, Bhargavpuram. While singing the pasurams in praise of this place, Thirumangai Alvar referred to this place along with Thirumaliruncholai as Koil. In vaishnavite sampradayam, the word ’koil’*is used while referring to the most important of the temples. Thus, it is only the Srirangam temple that is usually referred to as koil. As Thirumangai Alvar has referred to this temple as koil, this place is believed to have great divine significance. Senganathur the birth place of Peri Vacham Pillai is about 3/4 mile from this shrine. God is believd to have appeared to Sukran, Brahma, Indra, Parasara, Bhargava, Markandeya, Rishis and also to Mayanan, the demon.
The moolavar here is known as Kolavil Raman. He is seen in a Bhujanga sayanam posture facing east. The utsvar is known as Srungara Sundaran. The Goddess is known as Maragathavalli. There are four theerthams here known as Sukra theertham, Brahma theertham, Indra theertham and Parasara theertham. The sthala viruksham is Kadali viruksham
(sevvazhai i.e. vazhai plantain). In the inner prakara in the ground even today this plantain tree can be seen. The Alvar has also sung about this sthala viruksham in his pasuram. The vimanam is Pushkalavarthaka vimanam. This temple was renovated ten years ago, thanks to the efforts taken by Srimad Andavan of Peria Ashramam at Tiruchy.
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దివ్యదేశం: తిరువెళ్ళియంగుడి. పూర్తి వివరణ త్వరలో.