Thiru Uraga Perumal Temple, Kundrathur – The Temple
The temple has a colorful and
magnificent five-tiered Rajagopuram with a lot of beautiful stucco idols. The
flag staff, Balipeedam and Garuda are found facing towards the main shrine. Presiding
Deity is called as Thiru Uraga Perumal. The sanctum enshrines the gigantic
seven feet tall idol of Thiru Uraga Perumal. Lord Perumal in his standing with
his right hand as Abhayahastha, blessing us and the left hand on his left
thigh. He had a majestic Namam studded with stones.
The Perumal has Sridevi and
Bhoodevi on his chest, Dasavathara Oddiyanam on his waist, similar to that of
Tirupathi Venkatachalapathy, Lakshmi Haram up to his knee, Silver Kasu Maalai
reaching below his knee, two strings of Maalai made of silver Tulsi leaves and
Salagrama Maalai touching his feet. The feet looked beautiful covered with
Velli Kavasam. He is standing on Padma peetam – an open lotus. His crown was
covered with many Tulsi garlands and two long garlands of Tulsi and flowers
were adorning him from head to toe.
Mother is called as Tiruvirundavalli.
The Goddess is found in a separate shrine facing east in the prakara. Thayar
was looking so beautiful with silver Kavasam on her hands, wearing a diamond
necklace around her throat, a lovely oddiyanam and kaasumalai. Andal graces
from a separate shrine. There are Idols & Shrines of Adi Kesavan, Nammazhwar,
Thudhikai Azhvar (Ganapathy) and Vishwaksenar can be found in this temple.
There is another shrine for Lord
Rama, Sita and Lakshman with hanuman facing towards them. Lord Ramar and
Lakshmana were standing with their bows in their left hands and an arrow each
in their right hands. This Hanuman was looking rather different without a
crown. People pray to Hanuman offering Vennai Kappu. There was another Hanuman
along with Ramanujar very close to the Perumal sannidhi.
The remains of a pillared
mandapam spoke of a grand edifice built probably during Kulothunga period. The
inscriptions found inside the temple indicate that this was well patronized
during the reign of the Vijayanagara dynasty also. A very recent inscription
was interesting. It recorded verses on the deity that had appeared in the
dreams of a local Tamil teacher which when recited gave the area copious rain.
