Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple, Tirukannamangai

Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple
Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple
Location in Tamil Nadu
Coordinates:
Location
Country: India
State: Tamil Nadu
District: Nagapatnam
Location: Thirukkannamangai,
Nannilam
Temple Details
Primary Deity: Bhaktavatsalar
(Vishnu)
Consort: Abhishekavalli
(Lakshmi)
Festival Deity: Sowrirajar
(Vishnu)
Temple Tank: Darshana
Shrine: Utpala
Poets: Tirumangai Alvar
Architecture and culture
Architectural styles: Dravidian architecture

Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Tirukannamangai, 6 km away from Tiruvarur, Tamilnadu, India on the Tiruvarur-Kumbakonam highway. It is one of the "Divya Desams", the 108 temples of Vishnu reverred by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.[1]

Contents

The Temple

The temple[2] has a 5-tier rajagopuram and a vast temple complex. The prime deity, Bhaktavatsalar has an imposing image. The temple tank is situated right opposite to the temple. This shrine is also referred to as Saptamrita Kshetram(7 celebrated elements of nature), referring to 7 of its elements such as Vimanam, Mandapam, aaranyam, theertham, kshetram, river and town.

Pancha Kannan Shetram

This temple is one of the Panchakanna(Krishnaranya) Kshetrams. Kannan literally means Lord Krishna (pancha: five; Kshetrams: holy places). These 5 temples are situated in Tamilnadu, south India. Interestingly none of these temples have the main deity as Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu. The processional deity might have led to the derivation of the names of these places.[3]

The following constitute Panchakannan Kshetrams:

Temple Location
Loganatha Perumal Temple Thirukkannagudi
Gajendra Varadha Temple Thirukabisthalam
Neelamegha Perumal Temple Thirukannapuram
Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple Thirukannamangai
Ulagalantha Perumal Temple Thirukkovilur

See also

References

  1. ^ 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu . M. S. Ramesh, Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam.
  2. ^ Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu. Sura books.
  3. ^ Temples of Krishna in South India: history, art, and traditions in Tamilnadu.T. Padmaja.