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Friday, February 23, 2018

Aadhi Nayaka Perumal Temple, Gopurapatti – History

Aadhi Nayaka Perumal Temple, Gopurapatti – History
Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple is not just a piece of religious significance but a seat of historical events of various dynasties. The temple was subjected to massive invasion by Muslim rulers, the most important being the one in 1323 AD, when it witnessed maximum damage, the worst in its history. On instruction from Allaudin Khilji, one of his military Commanders Ulagh Khan and his powerful army raided many parts of South India and in 1323 AD attacked the famous Ranganathar Temple, Srirangam, the largest functioning temple complex in the world for treasures.
The siege continued for a short period and the holy temple was used as a garrison by the invading army. It was a chaotic situation around the temple town. What is not much known is the history of Gopurapatti, a tiny village near Trichy, where alternative and interim arrangement was practised for worshipping Lord Ranganathaswamy and for performing the daily rituals. According to Koyilozhugu, an authentic record of events relating to Srirangam, Sri Vaishnavites were scattered during the invasion.
Divided into various teams, each team took upon various responsibilities for protection of the temple. Thus, a team led by Pillailokachariar took up an important mission of protecting the idols and treasures of the temple. They took the temple's processional idol of Azhagiya Manavalan into safe custody. A stone wall was built across the sanctum sanctorum of Ranganathaswamy to protect it from any damage. Hundreds of Sri Vaishnavites were massacred.
Bewildered over the attack, Sri Vaishnavites settled in villages such as Tirupachil (now known as Pachoor) Govarthanakudi (now called Kovathakudi), Tiruvarangapatti and Azhagiya Manavalam. They offered worship to Adhinayaka Perumal in Gopurapatti village. With the construction of the stone wall hindering the view of the sanctum sanctorum in Srirangam, the daily religious rituals meant for Lord Ranganathaswamy was performed to Adhinayaka Perumal idol in Gopurapatti.
Also, it was at the Sundararaja Perumal Temple in Azhagiya Manavalan, half a kilometer from this temple, that Namperumal, the Utsava deity of Srirangam, was safeguarded during those years and taken back after peace was restored. Koyilozhugu has documented that 12,000 Vaishnavites were massacred at Srirangam during the invasion ('Pannerayiravar mudi tiruthiya pandriazhwan mettu kalagam'). To mark annual rituals of homage, the 'shrardha' is being performed on Adi Ammavasai every year on the banks of the Vaikkal.
The exact history about the construction of the temple located in Manachanallur taluk is not available. But, inscriptions describe the renovation of the temple taken up during Veera Vallalan III, a Hoysala ruler in 1342 AD and during the era of Thozhappan in 1498 AD. Inscriptions describe the village as 'Mel Thalai Kaviri Poompattinam', 'Rajaraja Valanadu', 'Puradhanapuri'. A beautiful description in the inscription about the presiding deity as 'Pudhukidaiyil Jalasayanathu Perumal' explains the history of the temple and its role played during the invasion period. The Samprokshanam of Gopurapatti Vishnu temple was performed on August 27, 2010.