Kalyana Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Sanyasi Gramam,
Thirunelveli
Kalyana Srinivasa Perumal Temple is dedicated to
Hindu God Vishnu located at Sanyasi Gramam Village near Thirunelveli Town in
Thirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. The
temple is located near the Varadharaja Perumal temple. The temple is under
private administration. Presiding Deity is called as Kalyana Srinivasar (Sri Venkatachalapathy)
and Mother is called as Alarmelu Thayar. Theertham of this Temple is Gopala
Srinivasa Theertham. Agamam of this temple is Vaikanasam. Historically the
place was called as Vidyagopalapuram. As the Lord in the temple is but a
replica of Sri Venkatachalapathy in Tirupathi, the place is praised as Then
Tirupathi (Tirupathi of South).
Legends
Lord
Narayana with a view to protect mankind from its various ills came to the Earth
millenniums ago in the name Srinivasa and stayed on the banks of river Tamirabarani.
Among the sages, Siddhas and Mahapurushas – Mahatmas who came to know of Lord’s
arrival, was an ascetic-Sanyasi. He felt a fear and doubt in his mind about a
future if and when the human form of Lord Narayana came to an end and his
departure to his own Abode, the Vaikunta. He began a severe penance to stop the
Lord. Lord Narayana appeared before the Sanyasi and advised him to raise a
temple in the place from where he would be protecting all his devotees. Thus
the Kalyana Srinivasa temple came to being here and the place was named Sanyasi
Gramam – village.
The
Temple
The
presiding deity in the temple is an exact replica of the deity in Tirupathi,
hence this place is known as Then Tirupathi (Tirupathi of South). Lord
Srinivasa has Sridevi and Boodevi in his right and left chest respectively with
conch and discus in hands. He wears a golden belt on his hip with a chandrvamsa
Sword. He also wears garlands of Sapthagiri, Lakshmi, Tulsi, Lotus and Shenbaga
flowers with anklets on his feet. The Vimana (tower) above the sanctum
sanctorum in the temple is called Ananda Vimanam.
Mother Alarmelu
Thayar graces in the Arthamandapam (A hall). Standing by her side is
Panchamukha Anjaneya of five faces - his own, Varaha, Garuda, Lord Narasimha,
and Lord Hayagriva with their respective weapons in hands. The devotee can
worship simultaneously Lord Venkatachalapathy, Mother Alarmelu Thayar and
Panchamukha Anjaneya in this temple. Behind the Lord, Mother Lakshmi on the
right and Sri Andal on the left grace from the walls.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 8.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
Tamil
New Year Day (Almost on April 14 or a day before or after sometimes) Aani
Pooram (June-July), Deepavali in October-November), Navarathri and
Brahmmotsavam in Purattasi (September-October), Vaikunda Ekadasi in
December-January) Thai Pongal almost on January 14 and Rapathu (ten nights) are
the festivals celebrated in the temple. A 41 day (a period covering a Mandalam)
festival is celebrated in a grand manner from the Deepavali day with beautiful
dressings (Alankaras).
Prayers
Those
unable to take a journey to Tirupathi to execute their prayers do it in this
temple here. Devotes facing obstacles in the marriage efforts believe that
Perumal (Lord Srinivasa) would help them get a suitable life partner. Devotees
pray for the removal of difficulties in continuing education of children,
obstacles in marriage talks, for child boon, good jobs, and success in endeavors.
Worshipping Sri Anjaneya continuously ensures favours in litigations and total
cure from diseases.
Devotees
offer Pushpa Angi Vastram (upper cloth with artistic designs), Nivedhanas
(feeding he Lord), treating him on oonjal (a plank tied with chains from the
roof on four sides moving to and fro), Tulabaram- offering something to the
Lord such as plantain fruits, sugar etc. equal to one’s body weight). They also
tonsure their heads here. Devotes also offer garlands made of Vada (Vada is a
popular dish of Tamilnadu known throughout the world now), Tulsi and Betel
leaves to Panchamukha Anjaneya (Anjaneya with five faces) in the temple.
Contact
Sri
Kalyana Srinivasar Temple,
Sanyasi
Gramam, Thirunelveli,
Thirunelveli
District
Phone: +91 – 462 – 233 4624
Connectivity
Sanyasi Gramam
is about 1 km from the Thirunelveli bus-stand, from where we can go in an
auto-rickshaw. Nearest Railway Station is located at Thirunelveli and
Nearest Airport is located at Madurai.