Shree Kannamangai Bhaktavatsalam Temple is one of the sacred 108 Vaisnava Divya Desams. The temple is located near the Thirucherai Temple, also one of the 108 Vaisnava Divya Desams, at the township of Thirukanna Mangai on the Kumbakonam-Thiruvarur road, Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu, near the towns of Kumbakonam and Mayavaram. The sacred place is between the two rivers - Odam Pokki to the South, and the Virutha Cauvery to the North. The Nayak kings are known to have renovated the temple in the 17th Century. The known history of construction and establishment is about 3000 years old. However, the story about the deities at the temple is much older. Before its construction, the kshetram and the sacred temple area was known as Shree Lakshmi Vanam.
The main deity, Moolavar, is Shri Bhaktavatsala Perumal, in a standing posture, and facing towards the East, while the deity brought out of the sanctum sanctorum for worship, Utsavar, or Urchavar, is Shri Perum Purakadal. Similarly, the Thayar, or Amman, (= the aspect of Mahalakshmi as consort to Shri Vishnu) is Shree Kannamangai and the Utsava Thayar is Shree Abhisheka Valli. There are also exquisite depictions of Vaikunthanathan and Lord Vishnu on Garuda. The depiction of Garuda is colossal in this temple.
The sacred temple pond is known as Darshana Pushkarini and is exceedingly beautiful. It is said that during Shree Vishnu's Vamana Avatar, Brahma conducted the abhishek to the raised foot of Vamana with the water from his kamandala. It was during this abhishek, that one of the drops of water fell at this sacred place, and created the pond, now known as Darshana Pushkarini. Later, during the wedding of Shree Mahalakshmi and Shree Vishnu, the lord offered the water of this sacred pond for the abhishek of Thayar, and therefore, she is known as Shree Abhisheka Valli.
Shri Bhaktavatsala Perumal at the
Shree Kannamangai Bhaktavatsalam Temple
Copyright with original webpage for photograph -
Shree Kannamangai at the
Shree Kannamangai Bhaktavatsalam Temple
Copyright with original webpage for photograph -
The story has its beginnings in the churning of the ocean by the devas and the asuras. Initially, the karpagam tree came up, and was followed by the sacred cow, kamadhenu. They were followed by the appearance of Shree Mahalakshmi. The goddess saw Shri Vishnu in his splendour and she was totally enamoured by his presence. She desired to win him in marriage and was absolutely determined.
It is said that Goddess Shree Mahalakshmi arrived here, at this sacred place, to conduct her penance in a secluded manner, away from all other disturbances. She had desired to attain the Lord Shri Vishnu as her companion, and was determined to obtain her desire. In agreement, Vishnu is known to have asked Vishwakshena to suggest a good day for the wedding. Vishwakshena is depicted with four hands in most Vaishnava temples. However, he is depicted here with only two hands, as he had come to present his respects to Shree Mahalakshmi and determine the date of the wedding. Hearing about the impending event, and wanting to be part of the sacred occasion, and join in the celebrations, all the Gods, the devas, began to congregate here for the wedding.
On the day of the wedding, Shri Vishnu granted his darshan to Shree Mahalakshmi, by coming out of the ocean of milk. Therefore, Shri Vishnu is also known here as Perum Para Kadal, as the word 'Kadal' means 'ocean' in Tamil. The wedding was solemnised in all its proper rituals, and the 90 crore devas (= muppodhu koti) were absolutely in awe of the occasion and were happy that they were allowed to witness the sacred event. They decided that they would continue to stay here and thereafter, as it is said, they took on the form of bees and are to be found in this manner within the sanctum of Thayar Shree Kannamangai.
Since the wedding of Shree Mahalakshmi and Shri Vishnu took place at this location, this sacred area is known as Shri Krishna Managala Kshetram. It is also said that Lord Shiva is protecting the sacred place from all four directions in four forms. There is also a mention that, similar to the Sthala Puranam about Shri Naan Maadhiya Perumal Kshetram, Chandra (= Moon) was relieved of his curse by the devas after his prayers to Lord Vishnu at the Sree Kannamangai Bhaktavatsalam Temple.
The Shree Kannamangal Bhaktavatasala Perumal Temple depicts the six major criteria of temple presentations, and these include - Vimana, Aaranya, Mandapa, Theertha Kshetra Mahatmayam, River and City Mahatmayam. These six criteria enable a temple or sacred place to be recognised as a saptha punya kshetra or sapthamrutha kshetra. It is said that Varuna, the great sage Romasa and all the devas have had darshan of Lord Vishnu in this temple.
There is also one unique story about the history of the name of the temple. It is quite recent. It is said that Acharya Nadhamunigal had a student called Tirukanna Mangai Andan. It was the job of this student to serve the Lord, clean the temple and place himself at Lord's feet, and recite the vedas. One day, as he was chanting the vedas, he is supposed to have suddenly taken the form of a dog, rushed into the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord, and merged with Perumal in the form of a flame (= jyoti). A festival is dedicated to him at this temple during Tiruvonam, in the month of Aani (= usually June-July). Therefore, this sacred place has been named after the student, as Tirukannamangai.
Contact address -
Shri Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple
Thiru Kannamangai,
Kudaivaasal Taluk,
Tiruvarur District 610104, Tamil Nadu
Aerial view of the Shree Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple and the Darshana Pushkarni pond
Copyright - Google Maps
Aerial view of the Shree Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple and the Darshana Pushkarni pond
and the nearby township of Thriu Kannamangai
Copyright - Google Maps
Aerial view of the Shree Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple and the Darshana Pushkarni pond
and the nearby township of Thriu Kannamangai at Kudaivasal Taluk, Tamil Nadu
Copyright - Google Maps
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