Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Adhi Kesava Perumal Temple, Koovathur, Kanchipuram

Adhi Kesava Perumal Temple, Koovathur, Kanchipuram
Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal Temple is located in Koovathur, which is about 8 KM from Kalpakkam on the ECR road. This temple is Pithru Dosha Parihara Sthalam. Sri Aadhikesava perumal with Sridevi and Bhoodevi on his two sides is in standing posture. Sri Veda Goshar, a puranic sage had the privilege of Dharshan of Sri Aadhikesava perumal appearing before him in person.

Legends
Adhi Kesava Perumal darshan to Anjaneya:
After the end of the war, Lord Sri Rama, to make amends for killing Ravana, decided to perform Shiva Puja and asked Anjaneya to bring a Shivalinga for the purpose. As Anjaneya delayed a little to return back with the Shivalinga, mother Sita made one with sand to begin the pujas as scheduled. Anjaneya was angry with Mother Sita as his Shivalinga could not be used for the puja.  He immediately recovered and felt that he had done wrong to mother and began going places to cleanse himself of the sin – anger.  
When he reached this place and bathed in the wells, Lord Adhi Kesava Perumal granted him darshan and blessed him.  Sri Anjaneya begged Lord that after a bath, these wells should save those committing sins against their parents, abusing women (as they would be more in number in this Kaliyuga) and may be pardoned by Lord, according to beliefs.
Dharma Curse on Women in his empire:
Another legend relates a story of Mahabharata. After the war, Dharma came to know that Karna, killed in the war was his elder brother. Angered that his mother Kunthi had not divulged the fact to him, he cursed that no woman could withhold any secret from others. The curse came down upon all women in his empire.
The suffering faced by women boomeranged on Dharma and pushed him in eternal misery. Lord Krishna took pity on him and advised Dharma to worship Aadhikesava perumal. Accordingly Dharma came to this sacred temple and by his grace he was cured of his ills.
Holy Rivers exists as Wells in this Temple:
Eight holy rivers of India – Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswathi, Sarayu, Godavari, Narmada, Tungabhadra and Cauvery performed penance on Lord Perumal here for cleansing themselves of the sins set on them. Lord granted them darshan and wish in this holy soil. They still exist in the temples as wells, according to sthala Purana – local history. 
Pithru Dosha Parihara Sthalam:
Above all this temple is an ideal spot for washing away of all ancestral curses. Every year as per Tamil Calendar, during the first day of Vaikasi, Avani, Karthigai, and Masi, people with such problems can come here and bathe in the sacred tanks of this temple and worship Sri Adhikesavaperumal, with gift to poor, and wash off the sins incurred from the ancestors.
Greatness of Temple
The antiquity of the presence of Perumal goes far back to Treta Yuga when Lord took his Rama Avatar, according to beliefs.  Lord Adhi Kesava Perumal granted darshan to Sri Anjaneya in Treta Yuga and to Yudhishthira in Dwapara Yuga.  8 holy rivers of this country performed penance here and had been relieved of their doshas in this place by Lord Perumal accompanied by Maragathavalli Thayar. They had chosen this place as 8 holy wells to worship Lord forever.

The names of the rivers are written on the wells in the prakara. The Sarayu well is opposite to Anjaneya shrine. The word Koovam in Tamil means well. Hence this place got its name as Koovathur.
The Temple
Lord Aadhikesava Perumal appears majestically in his standing posture. Mother Maragatha Valli Thayar shrine is on the right of Lord and on the left is the shrine of Mother Andal.  The temple has separate sanctum sanctorum for Sri Maragathavalli, the main consort of perumal.

Besides the “Dwarabalagar”, there are eight small segments which house Sri Vinayagar, 12 Alwars, Chakkarathalwar, Andal, Narasimhar, and Durga Devi with eight arms, Garuda and Anjaneya. Periyazhvar had sung in praise of Sri Aadhikesava perumal of this temple. The temple has two time puja, one in the morning and one in the evening. Temple Tank is called as Gajendra Pushkarani.

Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
Vaikunda Ekadasi is grandly celebrated in the temple in December-January.
Prayers
Devotees bathe in the sacred well of the temple for relief from sins and worship Perumal and Thayar. Realizing their wishes, devotees perform Thirumanjanam to Perumal and Thayar.
Contact
Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal Temple,
Koovathur, Kanchipuram,
Tamilnadu, India
Mobile: 9790846554 / 9841044567
Connectivity
Koovathur is 9 km far from Kalpakkam on the Chennai – Pondicherry East Coast Road. All buses from Chennai to Pondicherry on ECR will stop at Koovathur. Nearest Railway Station & Airport is located at Chennai. 

References