Adikesava Perumal Temple, Sriperumpudur – Legends
Chella Pillai Utsavam:
Once, a
king from Delhi took the idol of Narayanapuram to please his daughter. Ramanuja
went to Delhi to recover the idol and the idol is believed to have fallen on
his lap as a child by divine powers as a child. The Chella Pillai Utsavam is
held every year commemorating the event.
Story behind the name Boodhapuri:
The
place is known as Aranyaranam and Boodhapuri. In the Kailasha Lord Shiva once dancing
and Lord Shiva was deeply involved in dancing and he was doing Avesha Narthanam
and suddenly his robes fell down, seeing this all the Bhootha ganas laughed.
Then Shiva becomes very angry on his Bhootha Ganas and curses them that
they should go to Bhoo Loka and do Nithya vasam. Then Bhootha ganas realize
their mistakes , they repent and pray to Shiva for his mercy ,
Shiva tells once I have given the shapa (Curse) I cannot take it back, so
please go to Brahma ask for Pariharam.
Then
Brahma tells that please go to the Punya Bhoomi of Great Bharatha Varusham, Go
to a place known as Arunaranyam Kshetram which is situated in between
Thiruvenkatam Hills and Sathayavratha Kshetram (Kanchi) and pray to Lord Maha
Vishnu for Saapa Vimochanam. As instructed by the Brahma comes to Arunaranyam
Kshetram and then Lord Narayana is pleased with Bhootha ganas. Then he calls
the Shiva and tells him to take back the Bhootha ganas back in Kailasha. Then he
instructed Ananthaalwan (Adhi Seshan) to create a Sarasu, and then instructs
the Bhootha Ganas to take bath in the Sarasu and get relieved of the curse.
Then they
Request the Lord also to stay in this Kshetram and bless the world. Then they
do Pradhakshinam to Lord Adhi Kesavan (Lord Maha Vishnu). Then they build a
Temple, small town and they did Usthavam to Lord Adhi Kesavan and they got rid
of the shapa (curse). In those days it was known as Bhoodhapuri and later on it
became Sriperambhoothur and now it is Sriperumpudur.
Avathara Sthalam of Ramanuja:
Once
there lived a great King named Hareetha Maharaja, he was the grandson of King Ambarisha
and he is the decedent of Ramar. He was passing by a dense forest, then he
hears a shrill moaning of a cow, he goes in the direction where the voice was
coming, he sees that a Tiger has caught the cow and was about to kill the Cow,
and the Kohathi Dosham is going to take place and since he is Kshatriya
and a King he thinks that it is his duty to protect the weakling, and
there is no sin in killing the tiger, He aims at Tiger, meanwhile tiger thinks
i should do something that King also suffers with that he kills the Cow, and
King Hareetha kills the tiger. Since he has seen the Kohathi taking place, the
Dosham comes to him, he is worried, then suddenly he hears Asareeri (Divine
Voice) and asks him to proceed to Sathayavratha Kshetram and take bath in Anantha
Sarasu and worship Lord Adhi Kesava, your sins will vanish.
Then he
goes back to Ayodhya and Consults Vashista Maharishi and, he tells about the
Sriperumpudur's Mahatmiyam and narrates how Bhootha Ganas got rid of the Saapa
and also the route. King Hareetha makes alternative arrangement to run the
Kingdom and proceeds to Sriperumpudur. Then he takes bath in Anantha Sarasu and
prays to Lord Adhi Kesavan. Then finally Lord Vishnu appears before Hareetha
Maharaja and instructs him all the Mantras which will help in getting rid of
the Dosham, He also tells all these years you were Kshatriya and due to my
blessings now you will become Brahmin and henceforth your descendants also will
become Brahmin (even today his decedents are from his Gothra and they are known
as Hareetha Gothra), He also gives the Upadesha of all Mantras.
Then Hareetha
Maharaja rebuilds the Adhi Kesava temple and does consecration of the temple on
an auspicious day, then he hears the Divine voice (Asareeri) that in near
future great soul will be born in your Vamsa (Descendant) who will lead the
world to greater height of Gyana and Bhakti, and that Great Soul is none other
than Ramanuja. Then in year CE 1017 On a Thursday, in the Tamil Month of
Chitrai, Sukla Paksha Panchami, in the constellation of Aridra
(Thiruvadirai) Asuri Keshavacharya and Kanthimathi were blessed
with the Child and were named as Ramanuja. He was later given the title of
Bashyakara, Emperumanar, Elayai Alwan, Yathirajar, Udayavar etc.
There is
a mandapam in front of the temple where Sri Ramanuja was born. During
the 10 day Chithirai festival during April-May, Acharya graces from this mandapam. On
his birth star day, he is placed in a cradle as a child and fed with milk in a
conch. During this festival, the Parivattam turban linen – is
brought from 36 Vaishnava shrines-Divya Desas – as a courtesy to the Acharya.
Than Uganda Thirumeni:
He
toured the length and breadth of Bharatha Desha to preach
the Vishistadvaita. Then Just few days before leaving the mortal coil and
going to Vaikunta, His disciple Mudhaliandan’s Son Kanthadai Annan got a Archa
Vigraham of Ramanuja and presented before him, then Swami hugged the Moorthy
and transferred all his power to it, then Udayavar instructed to the Prathistai
of this Vigraham on Tamil Month Thai on Constellation of Pushya Star at
Sriperumpudur, This Vigraham is what we see in Sriperumpudur and it is known as
Than Uganda Thirumeni. Ramanujar’s Vigraha, Divine archa-vigraha made of 5
metals including gold, silver, bronze, copper and iron.
Story behind Ramanuja gracing in White Robes during
Chithirai Festival:
Ramanuja (1017–1137 CE) was a Hindu theologian,
philosopher, and scriptural exegete, born in a Tamil family at Sriperumpudur. Vaishnavites, see him one of the most important acharya
(teacher) of their tradition and as the leading
expounder of Vishishtadvaita, one of the classical interpretations of the Vedic
philosophy. Ramanuja grew up
under the tutelage of Tirumalai Nambi, who was working in Tirumala Venkateswara Temple.
A king
wanted to take vengeance on Sri Ramanuja and planned to punish
him. Knowing the king’s plans, a disciple, Koorathalwar, wearing the
saffron went to the king. Sri Ramanuja escaped in white robes. The
king blinded Koorathalwar for failing his plans. With a view to respect
the disciple who lost his eyes for him, Sri Ramanuja graces in white robes on
one day during the Chithirai festival.
Lizard Structure:
There is
a lizard sculpture behind Sri Ramanuja’s shrine. People worship this
lizard for relief from sins.
Ramanuja rebirth as Manavala Mamunigal:
Acharya
Sri Ramanuja lived a full circle of life spanning 120 years. (A full life means
that a person should undergo the prescribed period of all the planets in his
life that covers 120 years, not a day less.) Sri Ramanuja, in next his
birth was born as Manavala Mamunigal who taught the meaning of commentaries on
scriptures. His idol is seen on a pillar in the temple. There
is also a separate temple for Acharya Sri Manavala Mamunigal outside the
temple.
Belief of Temple Prasadam curing illness:
The
Specialty of this Temple and Vigraham is Eravadai Theertham. Here they do
Thirumanjanam to Lord Ramanuja daily then after the Thirumanjanam the cloth
which Lord is wearing is squeezed and collected in Vatil and given as Prasadam
to Bhakthas, it is said it capable of curing Skin diseases, Beget progeny for
Issueless couples, and also cures many other ailments like cancer etc. If you
take bath in Anantha Sarasu you will get rid of Rahu Kethu Dosham, Also you can
light Ghee lamp. Every Thiruvadirai Star people come in large number and
witness the Milk Thirumanjanam get the blessings of Udayavar.
Swarga Vasal:
The
temple doesn’t have a Swarga vasal since it is believed that praying to Swami
Ramanuja is the way to Vaikuntam.