Venkatesa Perumal Temple (Melathiruppathi),
Mondipalayam, Tirupur
This
temple is counted among the noted Vishnu temples of Kongunadu. The image of the lord is
flat on the four sides and conical in the center. The form was first discovered
by one Kondamanaicker around 300 years ago. The devotee once sighted his cow
shedding her milk on a sand hill. Induced by curiosity, he dug it, when
manifested the image with Conch (Sangu) and Disc (Chakkram) as well as Saligrama and Chikandi (weapon).
Inspired
by the divine revolution, he ordered a temple to be built up for Sri Venkatachalapathi
enshrining the form. Devotees who have taken vows to make offering to the lord
of the seven hills can fulfill them in Mondipalayam, in the event of their
inability to go to Tirupati.
Sri
Venkatesa Perumal Temple is a prominent Vaishnavite temple situated at
Mondipalayam near Tiruppur. Devotees worship at this temple seeking a calm and
peaceful life. Lakshmi Hayagriva Homam, Sudarshana Homam and Lakshmi Narasimha
Homam are performed to the Lord. If the devotees cannot reach Tirumala Tirupati
then they visit this temple and hence it is known as Mela Tirupati. Ardha
Mandapam and Maha Mandapam are two mandapams within this temple.
Venkatesa
Perumal temple popularly called, as Melai Thirupathy is devoted to Lord Vishnu.
Situated in the northeastern hamlet Mondipalayam at a distance of 42 Km from
Coimbatore, and 18 Km from Avinashi, the temple comes under the Tiruppur district.
This age old temple believed to be built in the 16th century. Venkatesa Perumal
in the form of Swayambu being the primary deity in the sanctum along with
consorts Sri Devi and Bhudevi. The structure of this temple is example of the
ancient kongu architecture.
Idols of
Venugopal Swamy, Chakrathaazhwar, Anjaneya, Garuda, Alamelu Mangai, and
Saneeswarar are in separate shrines inside the temple complex. Outer Prakaram
of this temple abode the idols of 12 Azhwargal and footmark (Thiruvadi) of Sri
Rama. Brahmotsavam and Vaikunda Ekadasi are the major festival of this temple.
Geographical Position
Sri
Venkatesa Perumal Temple in Mondipalayam near Tiruppur is located at
11°17'39.7"N 77°09'52.5"E or 11.294370, 77.164581.
Location
This
temple is located in Tirupur District. The location of the temple is
approximately 45 kilometers from the city of Coimbatore in
Coimbatore-Sathyamangalam highway, 5 km east of Pasur village on the Annur
– Sathy Road. It can be reached from Tirupur (30 km away) through Avinashi. The temple is
27 km from Sathyamangalam through Punjai Puliampatti.
Legends
About
300 years ago Kondamanayakkar lived in Alathur Village. He is a staunch devotee
of Perumal. One day he got a dream and in that dream lord informed about a
certain place where he would make himself seen. When Kondamanayakkar went there
he found a Swayambu idol there.
Temple Speciality
Sri
Perumal graces in the temple in the form of a Salagrama Swayambumurthy. Sri Venkateswara
appears plain flat on four sides and as a Swayambu Linga with a plantain bud
form in the middle and sharp at the top. No Vaishnava temple has such a
feature.
The Temple
This
temple called Melai Tirupathi, an abode of Sri Venkatesa Perumal (Lord Balaji),
sits majestically in the middle of four streets. The “Dwajasthambam” is seen at
the entrance. The Bali Peetam and the Kodi Maram (flag post) are seen at the
entrance. Further ahead is “Garuda Azhwar” praying to the Lord with folded
hands facing the main deity. Ahead are the Maha Mandapam and the Ardha Mandapam. On entering, devotees have
a spiritual experience hearing the divine words “Om Namo Narayana” in their
hearts.
The main
deity is in the form of a Swayambu in the sanctum sanctorum. The Lord “Sri Venkatesa
Perumal” facing eastward gives his divine darshan to his devotees. As one continues to pray here,
devotees receive the darshan with the blessings of the Lord and experience an
inner calm and a flow of divine energy within.
Devotees
then come out to the inner “Prakaram” (corridor) of the temple. Moving clockwise, there is
the Sannidhi of “Venugopalaswami” and then a passage having the Sannidhi of “Chakrathaazhwar”
facing east. Coming back to the inner prakaram (outer courtyard)
is the Sannidhi of “Anjanayar” (Sri Hanuman). After the darshan of the Azhwars (the twelve mystic saints), one gets the grace of
“Thumbikkai Azhwar” (Lord Ganesa). The Sannidhi of “Alamelumangai Thayar” (Goddess Mahalakshmi) with the having a graceful smile and bestow blessings
with her four hands.
The next
Sannidhi has “Andal” in a standing posture facing east showering devotees
with her blessings. Moving forward we find the idols of Sri Tirupati Venkatachalapathi
followed by the ten incarnations (Dashavatara) of Lord Vishnu and Sri Srirangam Ranganathar. Across the idols one finds the “Lord’s Lotus feet” (Thiruvadi).
The traditional “Swarga Vaasal” which is opened every year on Vaikunta
Ekadashi which is blessed by
the Sannidhi of “Vaikunta Narayanamurthi” along with his consort “Lakshmi
Devi”. Finally after the darshan of “Saneeswarar” one can reach the
“Kodimaram”.
Moolasthanam:
The main
deity Venkatesa Perumal is in the form of Swayambu. The vision of the Lord and
his benign presence fill the devotee’s heart with peace and calm. The presiding
deity, (Utsava Moorthy) Sri Venkatesa Perumal gives us his darshan along with
his consorts, Sri Devi and Bhudevi. The main deity Venkatesa Perumal is in the form of
Swayambu resembled the shape of a banana flower.
Other Sannathis:
Excluding
Moolavar and Urchavar, there are Sri Venugopalan Sannathi, Sri Chakarathalwar
Sannathi, Sri Anjaneyar Sannathi, Alwargal Sannathi, Sri Thumbikaialwar
Sannathi, Sri Mahalakshmi Thayar Sannathi, Sri Andal Sannathi, Dasavatharam
Idols, Sri Vaikunta Nathar Sannathi, and Sri Saneeswaran Sannathi.
Temple Opening Time
The
temple is open from 6.30 p.m. to 12.45 p.m. and 3.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Poojas
Darshan
(open to the public) hours are from 6.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. On festival days the
temple opens at 4.30 a.m.
·
Adhikalai
Poojai: 6:00 AM
·
Uchikala
Poojai: 12:00
·
Saingalam:
6:00 PM
Thirukalyana Utsavam:
Performing
Thirukalyana Utsavam to the Lord in this temple is considered very
special. It is held at the same time (10.30 to 12.00 AM) as the Tirumala
Tirupathi temple.
The
uniqueness is that it is performed as a prayer (Venduthal) by the devotees
throughout the year. The wedding ceremony is held amidst recitation of Vedic
mantras.
It is
believed that performing Kalyana Utsavam to the Lord here will bring immense
peace and prosperity to the family of the devotees.
Satyanarayana Puja:
The
special pooja is performed every month on full moon day at around 5 PM . The
main homam performed for this is the Sudarshana homam which brings immense gratification to the devotees
performing it. The Sudarshana Chakra (the discus of the lord) is the one that
always protects his devotees.
It is
the main weapon (astram) adorning Lord Vishnu in all
his 10 incarnations. The Sudarshana Chakra is
the one which is known as the “Chakrathaazhwar”.
Devotees
performing this pooja will overcome their difficulties and will be blessed with
wealth, prosperity, progeny and happiness in their family.
Homams:
From
time immemorial Yagnas or Homams are performed by devotees to seek the grace of
the Lord and to grant happiness and prosperity to his bhaktas. A separate enclosure has been constructed at the
temple for performing Homams. These include
·
Sudarshana
Homam
·
Lakshmi
Narasimha Homam
·
Lakshmi Hayagrivar
Homam
These Homams
are performed every month (except in the Tamil month of Purattasi). Further details may be obtained by contacting the
temple office.
Bhajans:
Every
month on the 2nd and 4th Saturday (except in the Tamil month of Purattasi), bhajans are performed at the temple. They sing devoutly in
praise of Sriman Narayana and devotees join in the religious fervour. This
is followed by Annadhanam.
Thirumanjanam (Abhishekam):
Thirumanjanam
is performed for the mail deity (Moolavar) on all Saturdays at 7.00 AM and on
special days/festivals at the time fixed for the same. Thirumanjanam is
performed for all the other deities/Azhwars on the 1st Friday of every Tamil
month at about 9.00 AM. Devotees wishing to participate/contribute/donate for
the same may contact the temple office.
Festivals
Brahmotsavam
is celebrated twice a year for 10 days in the month of Thai (January-February)
and 11 days in Margazhi (December-January) which are the two main festivals
celebrated in the temples besides Vijayadasami, Ayudha Puja and Saraswathi Puja
in Purattasi (September-October), Tirukarthikai in November - December,
Vaikunda Ekadasi in December-January, Krishna Jayanthi in August-September, Sri
Rama Navami in Panguni (March-April) and Saturdays in the month of Purattasi
(September-October).
Purattasi Festival:
This festival
is celebrated with grandeur in the Tamil month of Purattasi (during
September/October months) for six consecutive Saturdays. People converge at the
temple from across India and overseas. During these days the temple presents a
sea of humanity immersed in Bhakthi for the Lord. These Saturdays at the temple begin
as early as 4.00 AM with an “Abhishekam” or “Thirumanjanam” Aradhanai for the
Lord.
The Maha
Deepaaradhanai is performed at noon. In the evening the Lord is taken along
with his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi on a majestic Garuda vahanam around the four streets of the temple in a
tastefully decorated floral palanquin (Pushpaka Pallakku). The unique feature
of this is the bhaktas fulfilling their vows by carrying an arrow shaped
“Meravanai”.
For
generations people have been following this custom where they remit money in
the name of their family members and receive this “Meravanai”. They accompany
the palanquin carrying it.
On these
days a special Hundi is placed here. It is believed that devotees who wish to
make their offerings to Tirupathi Balaji but who are unable to visit Tirupathi
Tirumala may place their offerings in this Hundi to receive his blessings.
The
entire day is very busy with special programs, bhajans, etc. Annadhanam (free
feeding), is carried out throughout the day. To facilitate the transportation
for pilgrims, several special buses ply from points in and around Coimbatore
and nearby places on these days.
Temple Chariot Festival:
This
festival commences in the Tamil month of Thai with the Dwajarohana the hoisting
of the Garudadwaja (flag with the emblem of black Garuda). Following this, the
festival is held for 11 days. The temple chariot is taken around the four
streets of the temple on the day of the “punarpoosam” (punarvasa) star.
On the
evenings of the festival, the Lord and the consorts are taken around the
streets of the temple on vahanams (vehicles) such as “ Anna Vahanam” (peacock),
“Simha Vahanam” (Narasimha), “Hanumantha Vahanam” (Hanuman), “Garuda Vahanam” (king of birds), “Pushpaka vimanam”,
“Yanai Vahanam” (elephant), “Kudirai Vahanam” (horse), “Sesha Vahanam” (Adishesha – Lord’s serpent).
Thirukalyana
Uthsavam is performed the day before the car festival and “Theppotsavam” (Pushkarani or
temple tank float) is performed on the day after the car festival. The
Garudadwaja is then lowered. The temple wears a very festive look and thousands
of devotees shouting “Govinda” throng the temple to participate in this unique
festival.
Management
Hereditary
trustees and officials of the HR and CE department of the government of Tamil
Nadu with active support from the devotees manage the activities of the temple.
Prayers
Devotees
who have taken vows to make offering to the lord of the seven hills can fulfill
them in Mondipalayam, in the event of their inability to go to Thirupathi.
Contact
Arulmigu
Venkatesa Perumal Temple
Mondipalayam,
Alathur (post),
Cheyur (via),
Avinashi (Taluk),
Tiruppur
District – 641655
Phone: 04296 – 289270
Contact:
Balaji Bhattar: 98422 29960
Connectivity
It is
located about 10kms from Puliampatti near Sathyamangalam is the three centuries
old Venkatesa Perumal temple in Mondipalayam. There are seven pits to be
crossed from Puliampatti before reaching the temple.
Mondipalayam
is accessible through Annur-Kanurpudur
bus route. Avinashi is the nearby railway station. The place is about 50 Kms.
from Coimbatore on the Avinashi-Mettupalayam road.
Point to
Point buses every 10minutes between Sathyamangalam and Coimbatore. Get down at Puliampatti
(25kms from Sathyamangalam/35kms from Coimbatore).
Auto to
Mondipalayam will cost Rs. 125-150. Buses are available for every 1hour between
Puliampatti and Mondipalayam. One can also get down at Sevur on the Coimbatore-Sathyamangalam
route (non-point to point buses). From Sevur, Mondipalayam is about 5kms east.