Thirumeyyam
Encyclopedia
Thirumeyyam is an ancient Hindu
temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is located in the district of Pudukottai, Tamilnadu, India
, 21 km from Pudukottai on the Pudukottai-Karaikudi
highway. It is one of the Divya Desams
, the 108 temples of Vishnu
reverred by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.
). The temple is old and large, and striking in appearance. The main statue of Lord Sathyagiri nathan, approximately seven feet in height, is standing on a rock, along with his wives. In the next Sannidhanam(sanctum), Lord Mahavishnu
's sculpture is in sleeping position, the position which is called in Tamil Ari thuyil, sleeping with a sense of knowing what is going on at present. Sculptures of Lord Mahavishnu in this position can be viewed in many temples, although this is one of the largest examples. There are many sannidhis in the temple. All the statues are sculptured beautifully. The devotees who like to pray before Lord Mahavishnu in his Ari thuyil position for some minutes and who want to pray for few minutes before Sri Renganathar, Srirangam and didn't get such a chance, may visit Thirumeyyam.
It is where the largest Anantasayi(Vishnu
in reclining pose) in India. It is a natural cavern which has been changed into a shrine.
The temple is adjacent to the Sathyagiriswara temple, located in the same complex.
and Vishnu
temples are the tourist attractions. The fort played an important role in the history of Thondaiman
rulers of Pudukottai and the British. The 40 acre fort was built by Vijaya Ragunatha Sethupathi of Ramanathapuram
in 1687 AD. On the hill, there is a rock-cut Siva
temple with inscriptions on music. There are relics of another fort. At the foot of the hill are the Siva
and Vishnu
temples. It was in this fort that the brother of Kattabomman, Oomathurai was ensnared and imprison. An old armour used by him is exhibited here.
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 dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is located in the district of Pudukottai, Tamilnadu, 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...
, 21 km from Pudukottai on the Pudukottai-Karaikudi
Karaikudi
Karaikudi is a town in Sivaganga District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Chettinad literally 'Chetti land' in Tamil, is a collection of 76 villages/towns. Chettinad stretched from Ramnad District and Pudukottai State of 'British' India. The Chettiars, or more properly the Nattukottai...
highway. It is one of the Divya Desams
Divya Desams
Divya Desams refer to 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the works of the Tamil Azhvars . 105 of these are located in India, 1 in Nepal, while 2 are located outside of the Earthly realms. 'Divya' in Tamil language indicates premium and 'Desam' indicates place or temple.The two major deities...
, the 108 temples of 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....
reverred by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.
The Temple
The presiding deity is called Sathyagiri Nathan/Sathya Murthi(VishnuVishnu
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....
). The temple is old and large, and striking in appearance. The main statue of Lord Sathyagiri nathan, approximately seven feet in height, is standing on a rock, along with his wives. In the next Sannidhanam(sanctum), Lord Mahavishnu
Mahavishnu
Image:Hinducosm Map1.svg|thumb|Click an area to go there. This is one of many material universes which expand from Mahavishnu when He breathes.|300px|alt=One Brahmanda, with Garbhodakashayi-Vishnurect 216 61 277 80 Brahma...
's sculpture is in sleeping position, the position which is called in Tamil Ari thuyil, sleeping with a sense of knowing what is going on at present. Sculptures of Lord Mahavishnu in this position can be viewed in many temples, although this is one of the largest examples. There are many sannidhis in the temple. All the statues are sculptured beautifully. The devotees who like to pray before Lord Mahavishnu in his Ari thuyil position for some minutes and who want to pray for few minutes before Sri Renganathar, Srirangam and didn't get such a chance, may visit Thirumeyyam.
It is where the largest Anantasayi(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....
in reclining pose) in India. It is a natural cavern which has been changed into a shrine.
The temple is adjacent to the Sathyagiriswara temple, located in the same complex.
The fort
The fort, the SivaShiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
and 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....
temples are the tourist attractions. The fort played an important role in the history of Thondaiman
Thondaiman
The Thodaimans were Tamil rulers of ancient Tondai Nadu division of Tamilakkam. They ruled with Pallava dynasty, which controlled Northern Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, with their capital at Kanchipuram...
rulers of Pudukottai and the British. The 40 acre fort was built by Vijaya Ragunatha Sethupathi of Ramanathapuram
Ramanathapuram
Ramanathapuram , also known as Ramnad, is a city and a municipality in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Ramanathapuram district.-Tourism:...
in 1687 AD. On the hill, there is a rock-cut Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
temple with inscriptions on music. There are relics of another fort. At the foot of the hill are the Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
and 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....
temples. It was in this fort that the brother of Kattabomman, Oomathurai was ensnared and imprison. An old armour used by him is exhibited here.