| Description This Divya
Desam has been sung in a decad of 10 verses by Kulasekhara Alwar who hailed from Kerala
(Chera Nadu). This temple is located at Tiruvinjikode, at a distance of 16 km from
Shoranur (off of the highway) , enroute to Guruvayur. The nearest railhead is Pattambi on
the Malabar railway line. This temple has a shrine to Shiva and a shrine to Vishnu. This
temple is connected with legends from the Mahabharata and has four images
of Vishnu believed to have been installed by the Pandavas.
Given the four Vishnu images and the sanctum enshrining Shiva this temple is popularly
known as anjumoorthy koyil.
Legend has it that Vishnu appeared in four forms here (Vyuhavataram -
Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Sankharshana and Para Vasudeva) in response to worship by Ambarishan
and was worshipped by the Pandavas here. Ambarishan is said to have obtained salvation
here. Of the four images of Vishnu seen here, Yuddhishtra is said to have worshipped the
one in the center, Bhima the one on the left, Arjuna the one on the west, and Nakula and
Sahadeva the other.
There is yet another temple in Karur (on the Chennai Tiruchi
railroad), by name Vithuvakkodeeswaram, enshrining Abhaya Pradhana Ranganathar and
Ranganayaki, also considered to be a Divya Desam by the same name. Ranganathar is
enshrined in a reclining posture. This temple covers an area of about an acre and has
shrines to Anjaneyar and Garudazwar.
Legend has it that Markandeyan, Mucukunda Chakravarti, Sri Devi and
Bhudevi offered worship here. Two worship services are offered each day here. The annual
festival is celebrated in the month of Chittirai. |
