| Description This Divyadesam
is located in Tiruttankaal on the Virudunagar Tenkasi railroad at a distance of 3 km from
Sivakasi. (Tiruttankaa enshrining Deepaprakasa Perumaal is
located in Kanchipuram). Deities: There are two temples here. In the
hill temple the Moolavar is Ninra Narayanan, in a standing posture facing east, while the
Utsavar is Tankaalappan. Enroute to the hill temple is a cave temple enshrining
Ranganathar or Pallikonda Perumaal.
Taayaar sannidi is in the 2nd level of the hillock while Perumaal's temple is situated
on the hillock.Taayaar here is Senkamalattaayar in her own sanctum in a standing posture.
Taayaar is also known by the names Anna Nayaki, Ananta Nayaki, Amrita Nayaki and
Jambavati. To Perumaal's right is Sree Devi (Anna Nayaki), while to his left are Bhu Devi
(Amrita Nayaki) and Jambavati. In the sanctum are images of Markandeya, Garudan, Arunan,
Viswakarma, Bhudevi and Sridevi, Niladevi, Usha, Anirudhan and Bhrigu Muni. The temple at
ground level enshrines Tirukkolapperumaal. The image of Garuda is portrayed bearing a
serpent and a pot of nectar.
Legend has it that Ranganathar of Srirangam resided here, enroute to Srivilliputtur (hence the name Tiruttangal).Legend also has
it that there was a conflict between Sri Devi, Bhu Devi and Nila Devi as to who was
superior. Sri Devi left her abode and settled down at Tiruttankaal, as Arunakamala
Mahadevi and was worshipped by one and all. She meditated upon Vishnu desiring that he be
with her. Vishnu answered her prayers; Bhu Devi and Nila Devi followed. Legend also has it
that Krishna killed the demon Banasuran, and his daughter Usha married Krishna's grandson
Anirudhan here.
Festivals: Worship services are offered first to Taayaar and then to
Perumaal. Four services are offered each day. Oonjal festival is celebrated each Friday in
the Taayaar shrine. In the month of Chittirai, the Pournami Utsavam is celebrated for five
days. Festival image of Perumaal is taken on a horse mount to neighboring villages then.
The 10 day Vasantotsavam is celebrated in Vaikasi. Krishna Jayanti, Pavitrotsavam, Garuda
sevai in Purattasi, Navaratri, Kartikai deepam, Vaikuntha Ekadasi and Koorattalwar
Tirunaal, and Pankuni Tirukkalyanam are celebrated here. On the fifth day of Aadi Pooram,
Perumaal is taken in procession to Srivilliputtur.
The temple: The vimanam here is of great beauty and is known as the
Somachanda vimanam (as in Azhagar Koyil).
Inscriptions from the 11th century are seen here, although much of the construction here
is a result of recent renovations. On the other side of the hill is a rock cut temple
enshrining Karunelli Naathar (Shiva) and Meenakshi with shrines to Vinayakar,
dakshinamurthy, Natarajar, Sivakami, Subramanyar, Suryan and Chandran. This temple dates
back to the 13th century. |
