Aravamudhan Perumal Temple,
Kethandapatti, Vellore
Aravamudhan Perumal Temple is a Hindu Temple
dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Kethandapatti Village in Vellore District
of Tamilnadu. This Temple is believed to be built in 16th Century AD
during Nayak rule. This temple was constructed by Kethandapatti Swamigal in Vadakalai
Sampradayam.
Legends
The
village was donated by the Nayak rulers of Thanjavur to Nallaan Raghunatha
Chakravarthy of Srimushnam. Following this, a saint from Srimushnam came here
to Kethandapatti and performed daily Aaradhana on the banks of the river Kallar.
In course of time, invoking the blessings of the Lord of 5 Perumal temples, he
carved out of the rock sacred foot prints dedicating it to the five Lords –
Srirangam, Kanchipuram, Kumbakonam, Srisailam and Ahobilam. To this day, one
finds the rock cut sacred foot prints dedicated to the five Lords on the banks
of Kallaar, one km west of the temple just off the Jolarpet – Vaniyambadi
railway line. It was during this period that a temple for one of these five
Lords was built dedicated to Varadaraja Perumal and Perundevi Thaayar.
A couple
of centuries later, the now famous Kethandapatti Swami of Lakshmipuram (a
village near Kuppam – Chittoor in AP) went with his disciples to the
Sarangapani Divya Desam in Thiru Kudanthai and brought a Utsava idol of Lord
Aravamudhan from there and installed it here at Kethandapatti and introduced yearlong
festivals at this temple. With this, the temple came to be referred to as the
Aravamudhan temple of Kethandapatti. Similar to the Divya Desam at Thiru
Kudanthai, the idol of Komalavalli Thayar was installed here. Being West of
Thiru Kudanthai, this Aravamudhan temple is also referred to as
‘Mel-Kudanthai’.
The
Temple
Presiding
Deity is called as Varadarajan in standing posture and is facing east. Mother
is called as Perundevi Thaayar. Utsavar is Aravamudhan and Utsavar Thaayar is Komalavalli
Thaayar. There is a handsome looking Garuda Vahana at this temple. Since this temple
dedicated to Lord Aravamudhan is located to the West of Thiru Kudanthai, it is
called as Mel Kudanthai. It is believed that the processional Utsava deity of
Lord Aravamudhan was presented to the Kethandapatti temple by the Lord of Thiru
Kudanthai.
Temple
Opening Time
The
Temple remains open from 6 am – 9 am and 5 pm – 8 pm.
Festivals
Pavitrotsavam,
Margazhi Utsavam, Aadi Pooram, Panguni Uthiram and Ugadi are the festivals
celebrated in this Temple with much fanfare. Even today, the Avathara Utsavam
of Kethandapatti Swami is celebrated in a grand manner in Aippasi (Moolam) in
Srirangam, Kanchipuram, Kumbakonam, Thiruvaheendrapuram and at his birth place
in Lakshmipuram.
Contact
Aravamudhan Perumal Temple,
Kethandapatti,
Vellore District
Mobile: +91 86082 40944/ 98411 77333
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 5 Kms from Jolarpettai, 4 Kms from Jolarpettai
Junction, 4.5 Kms from Jolarpet Junction Bus Stop, 18 Kms from Vaniyambadi, 82
Kms from Vellore, 11 Kms from Tirupattur and 217 Kms from Chennai. Town bus
from Jolarpet will take about 30minutes. Nearest Railway Station is located at
Jolarpettai. Nearest Airport is located at Chennai (208 Kms).