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Srivilliputhur Goddess Andal temple.dharsanam.com
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Paramapada vasal (Gate of heaven, sri Villiputhur Andal temple.you tube
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Srivilliputtur Andal temple in Srivilliputhur town, one of the 108 divya desams of Lord Sri Vishnu, is interwoven not only with Lord Vishnu but also with the great Tamil saint Periazhwar and his adopted daughter Andal. It was here ‘Tiruppavai’ of Andal and ‘Tirupallandu’ of Periazhwar - the hymns on Lord Vishnu in chaste Tamil were composed. Being a highly sanctified place of worship, no doubt, the Tamil hymns – Tamil Vedam-Azhwar pasurams - are part of temple worship here and being recited everyday at this temple.
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Srivilliputhur Mural art. agefotostock.com
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Goddess Andal temple tower 1300 ADagefotostock.com
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The 192 feet tall Rajagopuram/tower of this temple is one among the tallest temple towers in south India and it is the emblem of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity is Goddess Andal,
consort of Vishnu and and the lord is referred to as Rangamanner. In the month of Thai (Feb- March) Mangala sasanam for Manavala Mamunigal takes place. In the month of Aani, Periazhvar utchavam - a 10 day event takes place with devotion. In the Tamil month of panguni Sri Andal Mannar Thirukalyanam will be a great 10- day festival and the wedding of Andal with Sri Vishnu commonly takes place on the 9th day of the festival.
Like Srirangam Sri Ranganathar temple near Tiruchi, Vaikuntha Ekadasi is celebrated on a grand scale here and the Thiru Adyayana utsavam includes Pagal patthu and Rapatthu. Yet another interesting tradition here is Ariyar sevai during the 21- day long festival, the last day being Nammazhvar Moksham - the poet reaching the abode of Sri Vishnu.
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| Srivilliputhur Goddess Andal and God Rangamannar (Vishnu).divyadesam.com |
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Vaikunta ekadasi, Ariyar sevai, Srivilliputhur, TN sk-sk.facebook.com
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Today - 6th January, 2020, the paramapada vasal was opened around 7 am in the early morning through which processional deity of Periya Perumal emerged followed by Goddess Andal and God Rangamannar. Devotees chanted Gopala, Govinda when the idols were crossing the gate. Today is the beginning of rapatthu so in the early morning around 3 am Thirumanjanam was performed by the temple priests to the idols of Andal, Rangamannar and Periya Perumal followed by special floral decorations and pujas. After the idols had crossed the paramapada vasal, Mangala sasanam seva was done and, for this purpose, the idols of saints Periazhvar, Ramanujar Nammazhwar, Thirumangai Azhwar and Vedanta Desikar were brought before the swarga vasal. This interesting age- old ritual was witnessed by a large gathering of devotees, including several VIPs.
Following this ritual, idols were taken to the rapatthu mandapam for the next half of the festival that will continue for 10 more days. This complex has two main parts, one dedicated to Goddess Andal and the other is Vetapatrasayee. Periazhwar shrine is part of this
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Murals, Sri Villiputhur temple, TN agefotostock.com
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complex. In this temple that is about 80 km from Madurai city and close to Virudhunagar town, worship protocol is based on Thenkalai (the other subsect is Vadakalai) tradition or samprathayam and six kaala puja (six times a day) is being followed and importance is given to three temple festivals, one being Vaikuntha Ekadasi.
Tit-bits:
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| Sri Venkatachalapathy Temple, Sattur, Virudhunagar, TN. www.justdial.com |
In this district Virudhunagar, close to Virudhunagar town lies a historical Venkatachalapathy temple at Sattur made entirely of granite stones and it is said to be 500 years old. Here, the lord's consort is Boomi Devi. As this place is part of Sastha temple, the deity is referred to as Satturappan.
In this temple this year today the swarga vasal -paramapada vasal was opened around 7, 40 am and the idols of both god and goddess were reverentially taken round the Maada streets in a procession in which lots of devotees participated.
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