Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple, Thiruvellarai – Religious
Significance
The
temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabhandham, the 7th – 9th century Vaishnava
canon, by Periazhwar in
eleven hymns and Thirumangai
Azhwar in thirteen hymns. The
temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in
the book. Some of the ancient Sanskrit books consider
the temple as a Uthama Kshetram, meaning the place that gives the best to
its devotees. The sculptures on the pillars of the temple reveal the earliest
practice of Krishna worship in Tamil Nadu.
Vedanta
Desikar (1269–1370) has revered the
temple in his work Hamsa Sandesam. As per Hindu legend, the eighteen steps
in the temple represent the eighteen chapters of the Hindu scripture Bhagwat
Gita and the last four steps represent the four Vedas, the sacred Hindu religious texts. The sound made in
front of some of the big pillars of the temple echoes around the temple. Some
of the sacred verses are recited more than once in front of these pillars
during worship. Thiruvellarai is the birthplace of Uyyakondar, a disciple of Nathamunigal.
Also,
Thiruvellarai is the birthplace of Engalazhwan (Vishnuchitthar) is believed to
have taught Sri Bhasyam to Nadadhoor Ammal in the temple. According
to Hindu legend Ramanuja (1017–1137), the leading expounder of Vishishadvaita philosophy, visited the temple. One of his
disciples placed Ramanuja's sandals along with the image of Varadarajar.
Ramanujar became furious at this, for which the disciple explained that for
Ramanuja Varadarajar is god, but for him, Ramanuja is supreme.
