Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Madurai
Prasanna
Venkatesa Perumal Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in
Madurai City in Madurai District of Tamilnadu. The temple is under the
patronage of Sourashtra Sabha, is located at the South Krishnan Koil street
branching out from the South Masi Street and to the east of Sri Koodal Alagar
Perumal Temple.
Legends
Association of Thirumalai Naicker with this Temple:
Thirumalai
Naicker who ruled Madurai in 18th century, was a great devotee of Prasanna
Venkatesa Perumal. It is said that by God’s holy direction, he had a glimpse of
the Krishna Jyoti (divine light) from this temple during one of his evening
walks and hence after he had generously contributed for building various
structures of this holy temple.
Suyambhu Krishna Idol:
In days
of yore, a Vishnu devotee made a small idol of Lord Krishna and was worshipping
him as a child. He had a desire to have a big Krishna idol and have his
darshan. Lord appeared in his dream and said that he was in the form of his
wish near Vaigai River. The devotee found the idol and installed it here. In
course of time, this idol became the presiding deity of the temple.
History
Thirumalai
Naicker, who ruled Madurai in 18th century, was a great devotee of
Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal. Rani Mangammal (the successor of Naicker) had also
visited this temple and had offered a lotus made out of pearl along with other precious
ornaments to the Lord. She had also offered two villages for the festival
celebrations.
The
Temple
Presiding
Deity is called as Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal / Krishnar Srinivasa Perumal. Lord
Perumal in the temple is a Swayambumurthy. Lord Venkatesa Perumal as a replica
in Tirupathi graces from the sanctum sanctorum. There is a shrine for Lord
Krishna at the front mandapam appearing in a Nardana-dancing posture. As he
is the first deity of the temple, all pujas are dedicated to him
first. Lord Navaneethakrishnan is the procession deity. He comes in
procession in a cradle on each Rohini Star day. Devotees offer flake
porridge, butter and dry ginger as Nivedhana and offer Tulsi garlands seeking
boon of wise children.
Lord
Perumal grants darshan sitting on Bhagwan Garuda on Purattasi Saturdays in
September-October. He visits River Vaigai on the Masi full moon day in
February-March granting the Gajendra Moksha episode darshan. He also
visits Vaigai for Theerthavari on Panguni Uthiram day in March-April. Mother
is called as Alarmel Mangai.
Lord
Vaishnava Vignesha shrine is at the entrance of the temple. As a
tradition, Lord Vinayaka appears with one tusk in temples as he used one for
writing the great Epic Mahabharata dictated by Sage Vyasa. But he graces
with two tusks in this temple. Hence, he is celebrated as a Vinayaka
belonging to the period prior to the writing of Mahabharata. Also, he
appears differently from other temples in a standing posture with discus and
conch as paying respect to Uncle Lord Perumal. Garuda Bhagwan is seen in a worshipping
form near Vinayaka.
There is
a separate shrine for Lord Lakshmi Hayagriva. There is a shrine for Mother
Andal. On the Aadi Pooram day, to the delight of the devotees, Andal is
dressed as Perumal and Lord as Andal called Mattru Tirukola Sevai – alternate
appearance. There are shrines in the temple for Anjali Anjaneya, Azhwars saints
and Sudharsana, Lords Perumal in reclining form, Panduranga with Mother Raghumayi,
Rama, Narasimha and Mother Natana Gopala Nayaki in the temple. Theertham is Sarva
Abishta Theertham.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple remains open from 06.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 05.00 p.m. to 09.00
p.m.
Festivals
Panguni
Brahmmotsavam in March-April; Aadi Pooram in July-August; Sri Rama Navami;
Krishna Jayanthi in August-September; Ratha Sapthami in January and Purattasi
Saturdays in September-October are the festivals celebrated in the temple. The
birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated in the temple on the Krishna Jayanti
day. It is followed by a procession of Child Krishna in a golden cradle
and also Uriyadi festival – breaking the butter pot.
Prayers
People
pray for child boon offering sweetened flakes and porridge (Payasam in Tamil)
to Lord Krishna. Students seek blessings of Lord to excel in studies. Besides
offering Tirumanjanam to Lord Perumal, devotees offer to Lord Lakshmi Hayagriva
on Thursdays Nivedhanas of sugar candy, dates, with Tulsi and cardamom garlands.
Contact
Prasanna
Venkatesa Perumal Temple (Navaneethakrishna Temple),
South
Masi Street, Madurai – 625 001
Phone: +91 452 233 2138
Mobile: +91 99421 19165
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 350 meters from Koodal Azhagar Temple, 700 meters
from Complex Bus Stand, 750 meters from Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, 700
meters from Periyar Bus Stand, 7 Kms from Mattuthavani Integrated Bus Terminus,
1.5 Kms from Madurai Railway Junction and 10 Kms from Madurai International
Airport. The temple is situated in the South Krishna Temple street branching
from South Masi Street. It is very close to the Madurai Central bus stand and
can be easily reached by walk. People know the temple as Krishnar Temple.