Kalyana Prasanna Venkataramanar Temple, Mohanur,
Namakkal
Kalyana
Prasanna Venkataramanar Temple is one of the famous temples located in
Mohanur. Padmavathi Thayar is the consort for Kalyana Prasanna
Venkataramanar. This temple is believed to be 500 years old. Mohanur is located
in Namakkal district of Tamilnadu. It is a small village situated on the bank
of river Cauvery. This town panchayat is located 19 km from Namakkal and 13 km
from Karur. Satyanarayana Pooja will be conducted every Thiruvonam star day
in this temple. Mohanur is having a special feature where river Cauvery is
flowing from north to south direction.
Legends
A
staunch Lord Venkatachalapathy devotee was living in this place. As he had
a paralytic attack he could not go to Tirupati for Lord’s darshan. He
reached Cauvery with great difficulty to end his life. A snake appeared
from an ant-hill near the bank of the river. Something prompted the
devotee to change his suicide thoughts and he returned home. Lord appeared
in his dream and said that He was in the ant-hill in idol form. When the
anthill was demolished, the idol was found. The devotee and others installed
Lord with Sridevi and Bhoodevi in wedding form. Later, a shrine was built
for Padmavathi Thayar. Lord was named Kalayana Prasanna Venkataramanar.
The
Temple
Lord
Perumal graces the devotees from under the Vedasrunga Vimana. As the
temple was built with the blessings of Lord of Tirupathi, a festival called “A
Day in Tirupathi” is celebrated on a Sunday during Navarathri in September-October. From
the opening of the temple in the early morning till the end of the day, all
pujas are performed according Tirupati procedures. The Alankarams too
shall be as to Lord Venkatachalapathi.
As the
presiding deity, the procession deity too has significance. Generally,
Mother Lakshmi will be on the chest of the procession deity in Vishnu
temples. Here, there is a triangle on his chest with Lakshmi rekha. There
is a shrine for Lord Dhanvanthari behind the sanctum sanctorum. On the
roof of the shrine are the wooden sculptures of Navagrahas. Lord Narasimha
is opposite in the Goshta. It is the faith of the devotees that their
ailments can be cured by praying these Lords.
An
herbal mixture is offered as nivedhana. Abishek is done with water mixed
with dry ginger powder, powdered jaggery, gingelly oil and herbals and offered
as Prasad to devotees. Sri Satyanarayana Puja is performed on every Thiruvonam
star day. Devotees offer coconuts without stripping the cover part called
Mattai Thengai in Tamil. They take back the coconut after the puja and
keep it in their puja room for worship seeking prosperity.
Lord
Lakshmi Hayagriva has his shrine on the Goshta wall. Opposite to Him
graces Mother Medha Saraswathi without her Veena. Special pujas are performed
to Lord Lakshmi Hayagriva on Thursdays and Poornima – full moon days. Students
offer honey abishek to Lord and worship Mother Saraswathi to gain excellence in
their academic pursuit.
Though
Laksharchanas are conducted to many Gods for various reasons on various
occasions, this is the only temple in India that conducts Lakshrachana for the
success of the entire student community of the country during the annual
examinations.
The
temple is situated on the banks of Cauvery flowing southward from north.
Bathing in this spot is considered very holy. There is a shrine for Mother
Cauvery too. On Aadi Perukku day in July-August and in Aipasi
month-October-November, abishek is offered to Mother Cauvery with her own River
water.
Lord
Navaneethakrishna with Mothers Bama and Rukmini graces in the front mandapam
with butter in his hands. There are shrines for Sri Andal and Chakarathzhwar. The
sacred tree of the temple is Vilwa. Lord Vinayaka and Anjaneya are under
the Vanni tree in the temple complex. The general faith is that works
started with prayer to Lord Vinayaka and ending it with prayer to Sri Anjaneya
would be very successful. There is another shrine for Sri Anjaneya
opposite the temple.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 7.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
Lord
Prasanna Venkataramana Perumal graces the devotees on the Garuda Vahana on
Purattasi Saturdays in September-October and on Thiruvonam star days. During
Navarathri festival times, on a Sunday a festival called” A day in Tirupathi”
is celebrated here. On that festival time they follow the same procedures as in
Tirumala and deity will be having same Alankaram as of Venkatachalapathy.
Another remarkable pooja performing here is the Sathyanarayana pooja on every
Thiruvonam star, birth star of Maha Vishnu.
On the
particular day Thirumanjanam is offered to the Lord on morning and at evening
Sathyanarayana Pooja is performed. The greatness of the pooja is that devotees
place coconuts without stripping the outer cover in that pooja and pray to God
to fulfill their requirements. In that pooja they do aavaahanam of
Sathyanarayana swamy in that coconut and give it back to the devotees. They
have to keep the coconut in the pooja room and should pray to the lord for
their needs. It is believed that within three to five months their wishes are
fulfilled.
After
that coconut should be placed back again in the temple on a Thiruvonam star day
with the outer cover stripped. It is said that many people got their wishes
fulfilled with this worship. It is popularly called” Mattai Thengai Vazhipadu”
in Tamil. Usually this pooja is performed at evening but for the last four or
five months this is performed in the morning also.
Prayers
People
pray to gain excellence in education, for family prosperity and healthy life
without any ailments. Devotees perform Thirumanjanam to Perumal and offer Tulsi
garlands and vastras.
Contact
Sri
Kalyana Prasanna Venkataramanar Temple,
Mohanur,
Namakkal District
Phone: +91 – 4286 - 256
100
Mobile: +91 – 94429 57143
Connectivity
Mohanur
is 18 kms far from Namakkal. The temple is 1 km from the bus stand. Autos are
available. Mohanur can be reachable either from Namakkal or Karur. Lot of town buses and
long route buses are available to Mohanur from Namakkal. Mohanur
is having newly constructed railway station. However there is no train service
available as of now. So nearby railway station is Karur. From Karur one can
catch bus or taxi to reach Mohanur. Nearest Railway Station is located at
Salem, Namakkal and Karur. Nearest Airport is located at Trichy.
