Uthamar Temple, Manachanallur – Religious Significance

Uthamar Temple, Manachanallur – Religious Significance

Uthamar Temple is one of the two temples in Chola Nadu where the trinity can be seen in the same premises, the other being Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal Temple at Thirukkandiyur. Trimurti in Hindu mythology refers to the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction. They are personified by the forms of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva, the destroyer. As all the three Lords grace here with their respective consorts, Tirumangai Azhwar had praised this temple in his Mangalasasanam as Uthamar Koil. It is believed that families will prosper with prayers in this temple.

The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Thirumangai Azhwar in ten hymns. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. Thirumangai Alvar has sung in praise of the perumal in this temple with one Pasuram (hymn).

பேரானைக் குறுங்குடி யெம் பெருமானைத் திருத்தண்கா

லூரானைக் கரம்பனூர் உத்தமனை முத்திங்கு காரார்

திண்கடழேம் மலையேழிவ் வுகுண்டும் ஆராதென்

றிந்தானைக் கண்டது தென்னரங்கத்தே

Thirumangai Azhvaar refers to the Lord of this Divya Desam as ‘Uthamar’ and hence the name ‘Uthamar Koil’. Among the Azhvaars, only Tirumangai Azhvaar and Andal have referred to the Lord as ‘Uthamar’. (Andal in Tiruppavai says ஓங்கி உலகளந்த உத்தமன் பேர் பாடி). Thirumangai Azhvaar stayed at this place and renovated the Srirangam temple. Thirumangai Azhvaar in his verse says that he could see the Uthamar from Srirangam.