Mela Thiruvenkatanathapuram
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Mela Thiruvenkatanathapuram also known as Thirunankovil is a hamlet situated on the bank of river Thamirabarani (தாமிரபரணி). It is about 10 km from Tirunelveli, a district head quarter in Tamilnadu, South India. There are 3 different routes from Tirunelveli to reach this place. The village is located on a hillock and the temple is located at an elevated plane surface. Even though these roads are narrow, they are navigable and every day mini bus service (Route No. 6A and 6B from Tirunelveli) is in operation which goes up to the temple entrance.
[edit] History (ஸ்தல புராணம்)
In times immemorial this place was a jungle and known as ‘Salivadipuram’ (சாலிவாடிபுரம்) or ‘Vaiprachiam’ (வைப்ராச்சியம்). Nearby this place there was a hillock called ‘Swetha Parvatham’ (ஸ்வேத பர்வதம்). Sage Pilor (பைலர்), one of the disciples of Maharishi Vyasa (மஹரிஷி வ்யாஸர்) was in meditation on the Thamirabarani river bank in pursuit of Srinivasa (Lord Mahavishnu). At that time there was neither a temple nor even an idol for worship. Hence Pilor performed everything spiritually in his mind by offering flowers. After 7 days, all the flowers piled up and turned into a very bright light in which Lord Srinivasa appeared before the sage. At his lotus feet the presiding deity of the river Thamirabarani also appeared. Pilor was enthralled and pleaded the God to be present in the place permanently along with his Goddesses and others (பரிவார மூர்த்திகள்). He also built a small temple wherein he incarnated Lord Srinivasa along with Goddesses Boomi Neela (பூமி நீளா) and Alarmel Mangai (அலர்மேல் மங்கை). The bathing place in Thamirabarani was named as ‘Srinivasa Theertha Ghat’ (ஸ்ரீநிவாச தீர்த்த கட்டம்).
Subsequently King Venkatappa Naicker who was blessed by Lord Srinivasa with a child has constructed the temple in a big way. He also named the associated village in his name to be known as Thiruvenkatanathapuram. The relics in Telugu script reveal that king Thirumalai Naicker (who ruled Madurai and a great devotee of Goddess Meenakshi) and Viswanatha Naicker visited this place in Kollam year 722 (corresponding to 1546 AD), took a holy bath in Srinivasa Ghat and worshipped Lord Srinivasa. They have also made several endowments to the temple for its regular functioning.
[edit] Festivals
| Month | Festival | மாதம் | விழா |
|---|---|---|---|
| April – May | Brahmorchavam | சித்திரை | ப்ரஹ்மோத்ஸவம் |
| May – June | Varushabhishekam in Swathi Star | வைகாசி | ஸ்வாதி நஷத்திரத்தில் வருஷாபிஷேகம் |
| July – August | Pakshiraja Abhishekam | ஆடி | பஷி ராஜா அபிஷேகம் (திரு ஆடி ஸ்வாதி) |
| August – September | Pavithra Urchavam (Uriyadi) | ஆவணி | பவித்ர உற்சவம் (உரி அடி திருநாள்) |
| September - October | Garuda Sevai on every Saturday and on Thiruvona Star day.
Pari vettai (Horse riding) on Vijaya Dasami day |
புரட்டாசி | சனிகிழமைகளில் மற்றும் திருவோணத்தில் கருட சேவை. விஜய தசமி அன்று பாரி வேட்டை |
| November - December | Kaarthikai Deepam | கார்த்திகை | கார்த்திகை தீபம் |
| December - January | Thiruppalli Ezhuchi Vaikunda Ekadasi | மார்கழி | திருப்பள்ளி எழுச்சி, வைகுண்ட ஏகாதசி |
| January - February | Kanu Oonjal Urchavam | தை | கனு ஊன்சல் உற்சவம் |
| March - April | Garudothsavam and Ennai Kappu on last Saturday | பங்குனி | எண்ணைக் காப்பும் கருடோத்ஸவமும் (கடைசி சனி கிழமைகளில்) |
| Garuda Sevai is the most famous festival celebrated in the temple. It is celebrated on each Saturday and on Thiruvonam Star day in the Tamil month Vaikasi corresponding to September – October every year. During this time the small village is flooded with people from nearby towns and villages and also from various parts of the country to have the blessings of Lord Srinivasa (Maha Vishnu). A very big gathering beyond the comprehension of the village is made every year. The local authorities take lot of care to manage the crowd. During this festival, Lord Srinivasa comes out of the temple in procession on his Garuda vahanam and showers blessings to all of us. |
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