Thiruvellakulam

Thiruvellakulam is traditionally enumerated as number 35 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.

This temple lies about 7 miles to the south east of Sirkazhi in Tanjore District. The moolavar here is known as Srinivasa Perumal. He is also known as Annan Perumal i.e. Annan in Tamil means elder brother. He is seen in a standing posture facing east. The Thayar is known as Alarmel Mangai. The utsavar is known as Padmavathi. The theertham is known as Thiruvellakulam alias Sweta Pushkarini. The vimanam is known as Sweta Vimanam.

This temple is one of the eleven Thirupathis of Thirunangoor. It is also known as Then Tirupati i.e. the Tirupati of the South. People who are not able to go to Thiruvengadam i.e. Tirupati proper, believe that the vows meant for Srinivasa Perumal at Tirupati can be carried out at the Srinivasa Perumal temple at Thiruvellakulam itself.

The Perumal here is known as Annan Perumal as it is believed that He is the elder brother of Srinivasa Perumal at Tirupati. The close association between Tirupati (Thiruvengadam) and Thiruvellakulam is also reflected in the pasurams sung by the Alvars, To il-

Justrate, Thirumangai Alvar while snaing the praise of Lord Srinivasa of Tirumalai hills begins his pasuram addressing the Lord as “Kannar Kadal soozha” (in Tamil this means that He is like vast expanse of the ocean). The same Alvar while singing the praise of Thiru Vellakulam Perumal also addresses the God as “Kannar Kadal soogha”. He then continues to say the Lord at Tirupati “Vengada maamalai meya Anna” i.e. the brother who is residing at Venkada Maamalai and

then says “Thiruvella kulathu Anna Adiyen Idari kilaiyaye” (in Tamil this means ’O Brother of Thiruvellakulam! Please remove the difficulties of this slave of yours). Similarly, Nammalwar while singing the praise of Srinivasa Perumal at Tirupati refers to Him as “Alar Mel Mangai uraimarba!”(in Tamil this means that He is the Lord who has the Thayar on His chest). Thirumangai Alvar also, while referring to the Perumal at Thiruvellakulam,addresses Him as “Poovar Thirumagal Pulgiya marai marba!” (in Tamil this means that He is the Devadeva who has the Goddess seated on the lotus flower on His chest).

The Perumal is said to have appeared in this place before Sweta Raja, the son of king Dundumaran belonging to Surya vamsam. The story of this divya desam is related in the 15th adyayam in Padma puranam. Agastiya muni relates this story to Uparisaravasu, the King.