Bakthavatsala Perumal Temple
Encyclopedia
Sri Bakthavatsala Perumal temple is a Hindu
temple, located at Thirunindravur near Chennai
, India
. It is one of the 108 Srivaishnavite divyadesams.
era, and is estimated to be 1500 years old. The temple has a 5 tier gopuram
at the entrance. The Moolavar
(presiding deity) of the temple is Lord Bakthavasala. The Moolavar
is at a standing position facing east. The height of the Moolavar
is around 10 feet. The Utsavar(procession deity) is called Patharaavi is made of panchaloka
and is accompanied by two consorts as in most Vaishnavite temples. There is a separate sannidhi for Ennai Petra Thayar also called Sudhavalli, the consort of Lord Bakthavasala. The temple also has separate sannidhis for Andal
, Chakkarathazhwar
, the Alwars and Sri Ramanuja
.
On the banks of a lake a few meters behind this temple is another temple for Lord Rama
. In this temple there is a beautiful statue of Hanuman
lifting Rama and Lakshmana
on his shoulders. The temple is administered by the Hindu
Religious and Charitable Endowments department of Tamil Nadu
government. His Holiness the Pedda Jeeyar of Tirupathi is the permanent trustee of the temple.
, Samudraraja had worshipped Lord Vishnu
here. It is also said that Lord Vishnu
after visiting this place followed by Lakshmi
, stayed here. Hence it is called 'Thirunindravur'. It is also that Thirumangai Alvar
did not sing any paasuram(songs) here and Lord followed him till Thirukadalmallai
and sang song in praise of Bhaktavatsala Perumal from there.
in the Nalayira Divya Prabhandam.
Poynnnnoolai Meynnoolen Renrumodhi
Maandu Avattham Pogaadhe Vamminenndhai
Envanangkap Paduvaanai Kanangkaletthum
Neendavatthaik Karu Mugilai Emmaanrannai
Ninravoor Nitthilatthaith Thotthar Solai
Kaandavatthaik Kanalerivaay Peyvitthaanaik
Kandadhunnaan Kadalmallaith Thalasayanatthe!
Same Pasuram in Tamil:
1089
பூண்டவத்தம் பிறர்க்கடைந்து தொண்டுபட்டுப்
பொய்ந்_லை மெய்ந்_லென் றென்றுமோதி
மாண்டு,அவத்தம் போகாதே வம்மினெந்தை
என்வணங்கப் படுவானை, கணங்களேத்தும்
நீண்டவத்தைக் கருமுகிலை எம்மான்தன்னை
நின்றவூர் நித்திலத்தைத் தொத்தார்சோலை,
காண்டவத்தைக் கனலெரிவாய்ப் பெய்வித்தானைக்
கண்டதுநான் கடல்மல்லைத் தலசயனத்தே. (2) 2.5.2
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
temple, located at Thirunindravur near Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is one of the 108 Srivaishnavite divyadesams.
The Temple
The temple is built during the PallavaPallava
The Pallava dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which ruled the northern Tamil Nadu region and the southern Andhra Pradesh region with their capital at Kanchipuram...
era, and is estimated to be 1500 years old. The temple has a 5 tier gopuram
Gopuram
A Gopuram or Gopura, is a monumental tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of any temple, especially in Southern India. This forms a prominent feature of Koils, Hindu temples of the Dravidian style. They are topped by the kalasam, a bulbous stone finial...
at the entrance. The Moolavar
Moolavar
Moolavar or Mulavar is a Sanskrit word referring to the main deity in a Hindu Temple. Moola means main that in turn refers to the primary deity stationary in the temple.-Importance:...
(presiding deity) of the temple is Lord Bakthavasala. The Moolavar
Moolavar
Moolavar or Mulavar is a Sanskrit word referring to the main deity in a Hindu Temple. Moola means main that in turn refers to the primary deity stationary in the temple.-Importance:...
is at a standing position facing east. The height of the Moolavar
Moolavar
Moolavar or Mulavar is a Sanskrit word referring to the main deity in a Hindu Temple. Moola means main that in turn refers to the primary deity stationary in the temple.-Importance:...
is around 10 feet. The Utsavar(procession deity) is called Patharaavi is made of panchaloka
Panchaloga
Panchaloha is a term for traditional five-metal alloys of sacred significance used for making Hindu temple icons...
and is accompanied by two consorts as in most Vaishnavite temples. There is a separate sannidhi for Ennai Petra Thayar also called Sudhavalli, the consort of Lord Bakthavasala. The temple also has separate sannidhis for Andal
Andal
Andal is the the only female Alvar of the 12 Alvar saints of South India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. She is credited with the great Tamil works of Thirupavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi that are still recited by devotees during the Winter festival season of...
, Chakkarathazhwar
Sudarshana Chakra
The Sudarshana Chakra is a spinning, disk-like super weapon with 108 serrated edges used by Lord Vishnu. The Sudarshana Chakra is portrayed on the right rear hand of the four hands of Vishnu, who also holds a Shankha in his left rear hand, a Gada in his right fore hand, and a Padma in his left...
, the Alwars and Sri Ramanuja
Ramanuja
Ramanuja ; traditionally 1017–1137, also known as Ramanujacharya, Ethirajar , Emperumannar, Lakshmana Muni, was a theologian, philosopher, and scriptural exegete...
.
On the banks of a lake a few meters behind this temple is another temple for Lord Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
. In this temple there is a beautiful statue of Hanuman
Hanuman
Hanuman , is a Hindu deity, who is an ardent devotee of Rama, a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and one of the dearest devotees of lord Rama. A general among the vanaras, an ape-like race of forest-dwellers, Hanuman is an incarnation of the divine and a disciple of Lord Rama in the...
lifting Rama and Lakshmana
Lakshmana
Lakshmana was the brother and close companion of Rama, and himself a hero in the famous epic Ramayana...
on his shoulders. The temple is administered by the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Religious and Charitable Endowments department of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
government. His Holiness the Pedda Jeeyar of Tirupathi is the permanent trustee of the temple.
Legend
Legend is that VarunaVaruna
In Vedic religion, Varuna is a god of the sky, of water and of the celestial ocean, as well as a god of law and of the underworld...
, Samudraraja had worshipped Lord Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
here. It is also said that Lord Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
after visiting this place followed by Lakshmi
Lakshmi
Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...
, stayed here. Hence it is called 'Thirunindravur'. It is also that Thirumangai Alvar
Thirumangai Alvar
Thirumangai Alvar or Tirumangai Alvar or Tirumankai Alvar or Thirumangai Mannan is the last of the 12 Alvar saints of south India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. He is considered one of the most learned Alvar and the most superior Alvar in the context of...
did not sing any paasuram(songs) here and Lord followed him till Thirukadalmallai
Thirukadalmallai
The Sthalasayana Perumal Temple is at Mahabalipuram. The Temple resides as the first and foremost of Mahabalipuram sculptures. It is one of the 108 Divya desam.-The temple:...
and sang song in praise of Bhaktavatsala Perumal from there.
Composers
The temple is mentioned in two hymns (1089 and 1642) of Thirumangai AlvarThirumangai Alvar
Thirumangai Alvar or Tirumangai Alvar or Tirumankai Alvar or Thirumangai Mannan is the last of the 12 Alvar saints of south India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. He is considered one of the most learned Alvar and the most superior Alvar in the context of...
in the Nalayira Divya Prabhandam.
Easy Paasuram to Learn(Tamil)
Poondavattham Pirar Kadainndhu ThondupattuPoynnnnoolai Meynnoolen Renrumodhi
Maandu Avattham Pogaadhe Vamminenndhai
Envanangkap Paduvaanai Kanangkaletthum
Neendavatthaik Karu Mugilai Emmaanrannai
Ninravoor Nitthilatthaith Thotthar Solai
Kaandavatthaik Kanalerivaay Peyvitthaanaik
Kandadhunnaan Kadalmallaith Thalasayanatthe!
Same Pasuram in Tamil:
1089
பூண்டவத்தம் பிறர்க்கடைந்து தொண்டுபட்டுப்
பொய்ந்_லை மெய்ந்_லென் றென்றுமோதி
மாண்டு,அவத்தம் போகாதே வம்மினெந்தை
என்வணங்கப் படுவானை, கணங்களேத்தும்
நீண்டவத்தைக் கருமுகிலை எம்மான்தன்னை
நின்றவூர் நித்திலத்தைத் தொத்தார்சோலை,
காண்டவத்தைக் கனலெரிவாய்ப் பெய்வித்தானைக்
கண்டதுநான் கடல்மல்லைத் தலசயனத்தே. (2) 2.5.2