Sri Pundareekakshan perumal temple, Thiruvellarai

About the temple

The temple is among the 108 divyadesams of SriVaishnavas and comes under Choza naadu divaydesams. The presiding deity is Sri Pundareekakshan in standing posture and thayar is Shenbakavalli thayar in a seperate sannadhi. Apart from perumal, Sridevi thayar, Bhoodevi thayar, Suryan, Chandran and Adiseshan in human form are also present in the main sannadhi. The place is also known as Shwetagiri meaning hill made of white rock. It is a huge temple built like a fort.

The architecture of the temple is a mix of two divyadesams- the first gopuram and steps to the temple remind one of Thirukurungudi temple while the main sannadhi on a hillock is similar to Kanchipuram Varadaraja perumal temple. There are two entrances to the main perumal sannadhi - the Uttarayana entrance is used between Jan 15-July 15 (thai month to aani month in tamil calender) and Dakshinayana entrance is used from July 15- Jan 15 each year. One can find such entrances in Thirukudanthai Sarangapani temple at Kumbakonam too. Also there is one more entrance which is believed to have been used by Lord when he was late and questioned by thayar. There are lot of ancient scriptures on the wall tiles and floors.

It is believed that one can see Srirangam temple from here. It is also the avathara sthalam of acharyas - Engal alwan and Uyakondan. At one time, there were 3700 vaishnavites in this temple who later travelled to perform poojas in other temples.

In this temple, thayar has the first rights for all activities over the Lord. Apart from this temple, thayar is given the first priority in Srivilliputtur divyadesam and Nachiyar temple divyadesam near Kumbakonam.

How to reach

The temple is located about 20 kms from Trichy on route to Thuraiyur. There are buses from Trichy bus stand.

To reach the temple, turn right at Nochiyam on SH 25 and take the left towards SH 62

Sannadhis

Pundarikakshan perumal
Senbagavalli thayar
Chakratalwar
Anjaneya
Krishna
Nammalwar
Nadamunigal
Tondarpadiyalwar
Kulasekharazhwar
Andal
Ramanujar
Manavala mamunigal

Temple tank and vimanam

There are seven tanks within the temple and the temple tank is called divya pushkarni and vimanam is vimalakriti vimanam.

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 9 am to 1 pm and in the evenings from 3.45 pm to 7.45 pm.

Temples in proximity

Gunaseelam Prasanna Venkatachalapthy temple, Uthamar koil, Srirangam Ranganathar temple, Tirupanjali Shiva temple