Temples in and Around Trichy - Sri Pundarikasha Perumal Temple,Thiruvellarai

Sri Pundarikashan Perumal Temple

Thiruvellarai is situated in Tamil Nadu near Tiruchirapalli [Trichy] It is located at a distance of 27 km from Trichy, en route to Turaiyur. This place has Sri Pundarikasha Perumal Temple, one of the 108 Divya Desams. 

Thiruvellarai Temple, the present main entrance 

Sthala Puranam:

Vellarai means White rock. Since, this sthalam is situated 100 feet high in the top of the small mountain, which is white in colour, this sthalam is called "Thiru Vellarai"

Once when Sibi Chakravarthi has been tented here with his warriors here, a white boar crossed him. He chased It and the Boar finally went inside a hole. Saint Markandeya was under penance here and King Sibi narrated the incident that occurred here and the saint asked the king to perform a Milk Abhiseka to the hole. While doing so Lord Vishnu appeared before them. So Saint Markandeya asked Sibi Chakravarthy to bring 3700 Vaishnavites from North and build a temple here for Lord Vishnu. As requested Sibi Chakravarthy brought the 3700 Vaishnavites from the North and built the temple. While do so one of the Vaishnavite died and King Sibi was very much worried about it. Lord Vishnu again appeared Himself as a Vaishnavite and told King Sibi to count Him and make the numbering as 3700.

Thiruvellarai Temple, the huge main rajagopuram in ruins 

Two Doors:

There are two entrances to go to the Moolasthanam [Where Moolavar is seen]. The two entrances are named as "Utharayana Vaasal" and "Dhakshanayana Vaasal". ["From Jan 15 to June 15 is through Utharayanya Vaasal and from then to next six month, is through Dhakshanaya Vaasal"].

Sri Vishnu who is also named as "Maayavan" at the end of Dhakshinayana kaalam [Margazhi 15th] is named as "Thai Maatha Naayagan", at the start of Thai Month [Jan 15th]

The two gates in this temple represents human life [i.e.] entering to the life and getting out of it is the other. In both these Vaasals when entering in to the life and when getting out of it, he could feel the presence of Paramaathma. To make to understand this, he resembles himself as "Suriya Narayanan" at the state of Utharayanam and as "Govindan" at the end of Dhakshinayanan at the end of Maargazhi.

Thiruvellarai - Moolavar and Utsavar

Perumal and Thaayar

The Moolavar of this Sthalam is Pundarikashan. Moolavar in standing position facing east direction. Prathyaksham for Garudan, called as "Periya Thiruvadi", Sibi chakravarthy, Bhoomi Piratti, Maarkandeya Maharishi, Lord Brahma, Rudhran [Lord Shiva].  

Thayaar here is Shenbagavalli. Also called as "Peri Pirattiyaar Lakshmi Devi". There is a separate sannadhi for Thaayar. Utsavar thaayar is named as "Pangajavalli".

Sriman Narayanan is giving dharshan to all living and non living things as Sooriya Narayanan. By extending his rays, he is giving security to the entire world. Sooriya Narayanan, is the person who is making the plants grow, making to rain, calculating the Jeevathmas paapans [sin] and punniyams [good things]. He is revolving round the Earth to make good things happen and to destroy the bad things [or] evils. Lord Emperumaan, who turns himself has Suriya Bhaghvan, revolves round the universe and he flashes his rays to make all things live.

Thiruvellarai Temple

Details of the Temple:

The wall around this temple is very big and covering the entire area of the temple and the walls also has all the 7 theerthams. Alvars have sung in praise of this temple.

Mangalasasanam

This temple has been sung by Periyalwar [11 hymns] and Thirumangai Alwar [13 hymns] Vedantha Desikar in his Hamsa Sandesam has done Mangalaasasanam

Pushkarani

1. Divya Theertham
2. Kanda Kshree Theertham
3. Chakkara Theertham
4. Chakkara Theertham
5. Pushkala Theertham
6. Padma Theertham
7. Varaaha Manikarnika Theertham]

Thiruvellarai Temple, inner gopuram and vimanam 

Vimalaakkruthi Vimaanam. 

The 18 steps leading to the temple represent the 18 chapters of Bhagawat Gita. AND NEXT FOUR STEP FOR 4 VEDAS.

1. This temple has a big wall [Mathil sevar].
2. This is Birth place of Bhakthar Uyyakondaar.
3. The temple is situated on top of a Mountain which has a fall of white rocks and is 100 feet high.
4. In front of the big pillar in his temple, when one makes any sound, it replicates and echoes around the temple. Because of this, some of paasurams in Divyapprabhandhams are said for 2 or 3 times.
5. It appears from hearsay that, the temple's Raja Gopuram is left unfinished due to a mishap that occurred when it was being constructed. The completion process has not been initiated from that incident.

6. Thiruvellarai is the Birth place of Swami Engalazhwan, a Disciple of Sri Ramanuja and Thirukurukai Piran pillan. Acharya Engalazhwan taught Sri Bhasyam to Sri Nadadhoor Ammal.