Anandha Narayana Perumal Temple, Abaranadari,
Nagapattinam
Anandha
Narayana Perumal Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Abaranadari
Village near Sikkal in Nagapattinam District of Tamilnadu. The Village is also called as Avarani / Aabharana
Dhari. Presiding Deity is called as Anandha Narayana Perumal / Ranganathar and
Mother is called as Alankara Valli.
This
Temple is considered as one of the Pancha Narayana Kshetrams in this region. Pancha
Narayana Kshetrams are listed as below;
Legends
Aabharana Dhari:
Mother Seetha embellished
herself with all the jewels left here before going to further South. On the
return journey to Ayodhya, she took them back. The name Aabharana Dhari coveys
this (Aabharanam in Tamil means jewels).
Etymology:
The deity used to be adorned
with jewels from head to toe and thus the name of the village was Aabharana
(jewels) Dhari (One who is adorned with).
People worshipped Lord Vishnu here:
Among Maharshis Brighu and
Markandeya worshipped this Lord and achieved their object.
History
The Village was called as
Aabharana Dhari Chathurvedhi Mangalam during Rajaraja Chola -II period in 12th
Century AD. The name of the deity during the days of the Vijayanagara rulers
was Pallikonda Perumal. But there are a large number of inscriptions of the
days of Kulottunga III and Raja-raja III, found on stones built into the walls
of the temple, which furnish interesting information on the change that took place
in the temple in the post Chola period.
The
Temple
The Temple is having
Mahamandapam, Arthamandapam and Sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Anandha
Narayana Perumal / Ranganathar and is facing east. He is in Anantha Sayana
Posture resting on seven headed Adhiseshan. Sridevi and Bhoodevi Thaayars are
sitting next to the Lord and with Lord Brahma in Nabi Kamalam (Navel). Sage
Brighu and Sage Vyasa can also be found near Lord Vishnu. The presiding Deity
is a colossal size of Lord Ranganatha measuring 21 feet in length. It resembles
to the Anantha Padmanabha Swamy of Thiruvananthapuram in many factors like in
size and posture.
The garbhagriha having three
doors to enable the devotees to view him from head to feet similar to
Thiruvattaru Dhivya Desam. Lord cannot be viewed fully in the sanctum. Lord
Vishnu’s feet can be viewed from the window first, then his body from the
sanctum and finally his face from another window. The deity used to be adorned
with jewels from head to toe and thus the name of the village was Aabharana
(jewels) Dhari (One who is adorned with).
Garudazhwar Shrine can be
found facing the sanctum before Maha Mandapam. Mother is called as Alankara
Valli Thayar and is facing east. She is housed in a separate shrine on the
southern prakaram. Anjaneyar Shrine can be found on the right side of the Arthamandapam.
There is a Theertha Well located on the northern prakaram. Anantha Pushkarini
is located to north east side outside the temple premises. The temple has given
equal importance to Saivite Gods as evidenced by the Saivite symbols at several
places, thereby establishing unity between Hari and Hara.
Temple
Opening Time
The Temple remains open from 09.00 AM to 11.00 AM
and 05.00 PM to 07.00 PM.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about
4 Kms from Sikkal, 4 Kms from Sikkal Railway Station, 4 Kms from Sikkal Bus
Stop, 9 Kms from Nagapattinam Railway Junction, 10 Kms from Nagapattinam, 11
Kms from Nagapattinam New Bus Stand and 141 Kms from Trichy Airport. Nearest
Railway Stations are located at Sikkal and Nagapattinam. Nearest Airport is located
at Trichy.
Location