Sundararaja
Perumal Temple, Vempathur, Sivaganga
Sundararaja Perumal
Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Vempathur in Sivaganga
District of Tamilnadu. It is believed that the temple was built during
Kulasekara Pandya. Great Poets like Kambar visited this place and composed
poems.
This
Temple is located about 35kms East of Madurai and 4kms North of Tirupachethi.
The temple in its current form is said to date back to the 13th Century AD
and to the rule of Kulasekara Pandya. The Moolavar deity is a Mooligai idol and
is seen in a Abhaya Varada posture blessing the devotees.
Legends
Vinayaga accepting the Patta from Pandiyan King:
There
was severe drought in Pandya kingdom during the rule of Kulasekara Pandian due
to failure of monsoon. His wife was the daughter of Chola
king. Finding that Chola region was too fertile and green, he asked
his chola father-in-law the secret of his country’s prosperity and sought his
advice to make his kingdom rich. Chola king suggested that he should bring
2008 Brahmins from Kasi and perform a yajna for rains and restoration of
prosperity. Pandya followed the advice. 2008 Brahmins were brought from
Kasi and the Yajna was conducted as per rules.
Rains
poured in and the country recovered from the drought. When Pandya offered
lands to the Brahmins in their own name and presented the pattas, the last
Brahmin Ganapathy by name was found absent. The king was
sad. After a short while, Lord Vinayaka himself appeared there in
the guise of the Brahmin and accepted the patta. That piece of land is
Vembattur. It is believed that this 2008 Ganapathy is teaching Vedas from
his shrine on the bank of a tank here. Majority of the people in the
place are well educated and are scholars in Vedas and medical science.
Saivites as Priests in this Vishnu Temple:
Several
Centuries ago, over 500 Vaishnavite scholars and priests had been brought in
from Tiruvellarai (near Srirangam) to the Pandya Kingdom to spread Vedas and
Vaishnavism. About 150 of them had moved into Vempathur with just as many going
to Sikkal and hundreds of them had stayed back at Perunkarnunai, the Avathara
Sthalam of Selva Nambi. All of them had a Kudumi in their head and
hence were referred to as ‘Poorva Sikha Sozhiya Srivaishnavas’.
Over a
period of time, all of them at Vempathur had converted to Saivites. Hence, the
priests at this Perumal temple are Saivites. Also, an interesting feature here
is that Vibhuthi is provided as the sacred Prasadam every evening after a
presentation of Sahasranamam.
Lord Bhoo Varaha emergence from Earth:
It is
also believed that Lord Bhoo Varaha emerged from the earth and was installed
here inside the temple to the North of Sundararaja Perumal Sannidhi. Belief is
that Lord Bhoo Varaha fulfills the wishes of those devotees who place their
prayers on a white paper at his feet.
The
Temple
Presiding
deity is Sundararaja Perumal with Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. Perumal appears
majestically tall. The idol of Perumal is made before the advent of sculpture
arts and used stone only as instruments. Lord welcomes the devotees with his
left hand and blesses by the right. Though Perumal is said to be the Lord
of Wealth, He is Lord of both wealth and wisdom.
There
are epigraphic evidences showing that Kavi Chakravarthi Kamban and Poet Kalamega
worshipped this Perumal. Lord 2008 Vinayaka graces the devotees from a
shrine at the border of the place. There are shrines for Lords Lakshmi
Narayana, Lakshmi Narasimha, Lakshmi Hayagriva and Lakshmi Bhuvaraha. It
is noteworthy that all four Lords grace together.
It is
said that worshipping the Lords together brings in freedom from financial
problems, good education and poetic skills. There are also shrines for
Vinayaka, Karuppannasami, Garuda Bhagwan, Sri Anjaneya, and the ten avatars-murthis
of Sundararaja Perumal with his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Literary
mention
It is
also noteworthy that renowned Sangam poets had dedicated their verses to
Perumal – Vembathur Kumaranar the 157th verse in Agananooru and the 317th verse
in Purananooru, Vembathur Kannan Koothanar the 362nd verse in Kurunthogai
are in worship of Perumal.
Great
Poets like Kambar, Avvaiyar and Otta Koothar (contemporary of Kambar) have
visited this temple and composed poems. Rajendra Chozhan built the front
mandapa here so the great poets could sit in peace and compose their works and
spread their Tamil poetry. There is a Hayagriva Sannidhi in front of whom it is
believe that Poet Kamban sat and composed songs.
Inspired
poet Kaviraja Pandit worshipped this Perumal and rendered the Tamil version of
Ananda Lahari and Soundarya Lahari of Bhagwan Sri Adi Sankara. With the
blessings of Perumal, he had also authored Manamadurai Ananda Nayaki Malai,
Gnana Ula on Mela Kodumanur Lord Muruga. Honoring his poetic Mastery, Mother
Meenakshi served the Pandit as his daughter when he visited Kasi. He
belongs to 11th Century.
Devotees
may note that Vembathur Perumal blesses them with such mastery in poetry with
such honour that Meenakshi Herself offers her services to them. U Ve Swaminatha
Iyer in his Thiruvilayadal Purana makes a detailed reference to this place and
the Vedic recitals that used to take place here.
Festivals
·
Aavani
Thiruvonam
·
Vaikunta
Ekadesi
·
Procession
in Karthigai
·
Hanuman
Jayanthi
Prayers
Perumal
of the temple belong to a very ancient age. Praying to this Perumal
ensures high academic achievements and poetic skill to the devotees, it is
strongly believed. Devotees pray here before admitting children to general
schools, Vedic schools and colleges for higher education. They also
pray for job opportunities commensurate with their education. Realizing their
wishes, devotees perform Thirumanjanam to Perumal and Mother offering vastras.
Contact
Sri
Sundararaja Perumal Temple,
Vempathur,
Sivaganga District
Phone: +91- 4575- 236
284 / 236 337
Mobile: +91 - 97903 25083
/ 98409 35113/ 97915 83169
Connectivity
One can
take the Madurai – Rameswaram Bus from Mattuthavani Bus Stand in Madurai. Get
down at Tirupachethi (about 30kms from Madurai) after Tirupuvanam. From Tirupachethi,
take an auto to Vempathur (about 6kms). There are also mini buses/share auto
from Tirupacheti. Nearest Railway Station is located at Madurai and Nearest
Airport is located at Madurai.
References
