Puliyur Mahavishnu Temple

Thiruppuliyur Mahavishnu Temple

Thiruppuliyur Mahavishnu Temple Location in Kerala
Geography
Coordinates	9°18′07″N 76°35′09″E / 9.30194°N 76.58583°E / 9.30194; 76.58583Coordinates: 9°18′07″N 76°35′09″E / 9.30194°N 76.58583°E / 9.30194; 76.58583
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Alapuzha
Location	Thirupuliyur
Culture
Primary deity	Maayapiran(Vishnu)
Consort	Porkodi Naachiyaar(Lakshmi)
Temple tank	Pragnya saras, poonsunai theertham
Shrine	Purushothama Vimaanam
Poets	Nammalvar Tirumangai Alvar
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture

The Thirupuliyur Mahavishnu Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu and located in Puliyoor, Alappuzha District, Kerala, South India. Constructed in the Kerala style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, who is worshipped as Imayavarappan. The nearest railway station to the temple is located in Chengannur, while the nearest airport is Calicut International Airport.(calicut airport is noway near this place, nearest airport is either Cochin or Trivandrum International airport)

It is one of the five ancient shrines in the Chengannur area of Kerala, connected with the legend of Mahabharata, where the five Pandavas are believed to have built one temple each; Thrichittatt Maha Vishnu Temple by Yudhishthira, Puliyur Mahavishnu Temple by Bheema, Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple by Arjuna, Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu Temple by Nakula and Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple by Sahadeva.

The temple is open from 4 am to 11:00 am and 5 pm to 8 pm and is administered by Travancore Devaswom Board of the Government of Kerala.

Legend

An image of Gada, the weapon of Bheema in the precincts of the temple

It is one of the five ancient shrines in the Chengannur area of Kerala, connected with the legend of Mahabharata. Legend has it that the Pandava princes, after crowning Parikshit as king of Hastinapura left on a pilgrimage. On arriving on the banks of river Pamba, each one is believed to have installed a tutelary image of Krishna; Thrichittatt Maha Vishnu Temple by Yudhishthira, Puliyur Mahavishnu Temple by Bheema, Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple by Arjuna, Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu Temple by Nakula and Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple by Sahadeva.^[1]^[2]

It is said that this sthalam is constructed and built by Bhima, one of the Panja - Paandavaas.^[3] He worshipped this sthalaperumal, Maayapiraan. Sapta Rishis - Atthri, Vasishtar, Kaasyapar, Gouthamar, Bharadwajar, Vishvamitra and Jamadagni got the seva of this Maayapiraan along with porkodi Naachiyaar and through Indra, it is said that all these Saptarishis got their Mukti towards the Emperumaan.^[4]

Once, Virukshadharbi, who was the son of Sibhi Chakravarthy, ruled an empire where there was flood and there was no proper vegetation and the wealth and the beauty of the entire empire seems to be decreasing. At that time, the king thought, if any Dhaanam (things that are given to any rishis,devotees to increase any thing) is given to Sapta Rishis, it might increase the wealth and beauty of the Empire. As a result of this, he thought of giving the Dhaanam to Saptha rishis. But, Sapta Rishis did not accept his Dhaanam, Since if any flood (or) decrease in the wealth and health in the entire empire is due to some reasons of the ruling king. So, they found some problem might by with virukshadherbi and did not accept the Dhaanam.

Image of the Sreekoil, the sanctum

But, he wants them to accept his Dhaanam, and as a result of this, he asks his palace officials to keep some gold inside the fruits and give them that, so that they will accept that and simultaneously his Dhaanam is also accepted. But, knowing the truth that some golds are placed inside the fruit through their yogic power, they did not accept the fruits also.

After the fruits which are given as Dhaanam is being rejected by the Sapta Rishis, Virukshadharbi got angry on all 7 rishis and tried them to kill and as a result of this cruel mind, he started an Yaagam in which a lady Pishacha by named "Kiruthyai" arose and he ordered the demon to kill all the sapta Rishis. Knowing this, Emperumaan sends Indra to destroy Kiruthyai and to protect the Sapta Rishis. Likewise, Indra killed the demon and all the Sapta Rishis got the seva of the Emperumaan and got their Mukthi.

During Mahabharata war, Bhima underwent penace worshipping the lord here. Bheema was the powerful among the five brothers and this temple is large indicating his largess. Also the Gatha, the weapon used by Bheema is believed to be present in the temple.(this Gatha was recently placed in the temple)

History

Earliest references to this temple appear in the poems and hymns composed by the greatest of Alvar saints - Nammalvar, in circa 800 AD. Stone inscriptions in the temple date it back to the Second Chera Empire (800 - 1102 AD).^[5] Another of the Azhwars, ThirumangaiAzhwar has mentioned Thirupuliyur in one of his verses in his Siriya Thirumadal(2673,71).

References

↑ Cultural Heritage of Kerala 2008, pp. 44-45
↑ Rao 2012, pp. 17-20
↑ "Chengannur Taluk". Alapuzha District administration. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
↑ http://www.divyadesam.com/hindu/temples/kerala/tirupuliyoor-temple.shtml
↑ Temples of Kerala. S. Jayashanker, Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala (Census of India, Special Studies) (May 1997). Temples of Kerala, page 304-305. |access-date= requires |url= (help)

Sources

Cultural Heritage of Kerala. Kerala, India: DC Books. 2008. ISBN 9788126419036.
Rao, A.V. Shankaranaryana (2012). Temples of Kerala. Vasan Publications. ISBN 978-81-89888-94-7.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Puliyur Mahavishnu Temple.

Hindu temples in Kerala

Alappuzha	Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Manakkattu Devi Temple, Pallippad, Harippad Chakkulathukavu Chammanad Devi Cherthala Devi Chettikulangara Devi Evoor Major Sri krishnaswamy temple Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swamy temple Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple Kuttikattu Sree Bhadra Kali Devi Mannarasala Mullakkal Nalpathaneeswaram Sree Mahadeva Padanilam Parabrahma Temple Pattambalam Valiyakulangara Devi

Ernakulam	Cherai Gowreeshwara Dakshina Mookambika Temple North Paravur Chottanikkara Eravikulangara Iringole Kavu Kalamassery Mahaganapathy Kurumbakkavu Bhagavathy Pallikal kavu Panekavu Bhagavati Shastha Sree Bhavaneeswara Sree Poornathrayesa Sree Venugopala Thamaramkulangara Sree Dharma Sastha Thrikkakara Temple Thrikkara Temple

Idukki	Sri Siddhi Vinayakar

Kannur	Andalur kavu Sree Vadeswaram Azhikode Palottukavu Chenankavu Chala Bhagavathi Sree Annapoorneswari Sree Chovva Shiva Temple Edappara Chamundi Hanumarambalam Sree Jagannathan Kadalayi Kandanthalli Keecheri Palottukavu Keezhur Mahadeva Kottiyoor Vadakkeshwaram Kunnathoor Padi Madayi Kavu Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple Vadukunda Mamanathambalam Manakulangara Mariamman Koil, Pilakool Mavilakkavu Mookambika Muneeswaran Kovil Oorpazhachi Kavu Padavil Sree Muthappan Panoonneri Shiva Parassinikkadavu Muthappan Payyannur Sree Subramanyaswamy Peralasseri Sree Subramaniaswamy Pillayar Koil Neeliyaarkottam Rajarajeshwaram Sree Andalurkavu Tiruvangad Sundareshwara Trichambaram Thrikkapalam Shiva Valluvan Kadav Sree Muthapan Vasudevapuram Tavanur Places of worship in Kannur district

Kasaragod	Ananthapura Lake Kanila Shree Bhagavathi Madhur Trikaripur Chakrapani Sri Gopalakrishna Temple Kumble

Kollam	Ammachiveedu Muhurthi Anandavalleeshwaram Sri Mahadevar Temple Ashram Sree krishna Swamy Kadakkal Devi Kodimoottil Sri Bhadrakaali Kottankulangara Devi Temple Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathi Kshethram Kottarakkulam Sree Mahaganapathy Kovil, Kollam Oachira Parabrahma Temple Panakkattodil Devi Temple Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple Pulimukham Devi Temple Paravur Puttingal Devi Temple Sasthamcotta Sree Dharma Sastha Temple Sree Indilayappan Sree Maha Ganapathy Vayalil Thrikkovil Mahavishnu

Kottayam	Thirunakkara Sree Mahadevar Temple, Kottayam ThiruVazhappally Sree Mahadevar Chirakkadavu Sree Mahadevar Ettumanoor Mahadevar Neendoor Subrahmanya Swami Temple Kavinpuram Devi Morkulangara Devi Kadamuri Narasimhaswamy Temple, Kadamuri Ennakkappally Devi Temple Moozhayil Sankaranarayana Temple Anicad Kodungoor Devi Temple Elamgulam Sree Dharma Shastha Temple Anicad Sree Bhagavathi Temple Kaduthruthy Mahadeva Temple Pullattukunnel Temple, Elamgulam Nethalloor Devi Panachikkadu Paippad Puthenkavu Bhagavathi Perunna Subrahmanya Swami Pundareekapuram Thrippakudam Vaikom Puthiyakavu Devi Temple

Kozhikode	Azhakodi Devi Lokanarkavu Pisharikavu Valayanad Devi

Malappuram	Alathiyur Hanuman Kadampuzha Devi Kadampuzha Bhagavathy Sree Rama Thirumanthamkunnu Thirunavaya Thrikkavu

Palakkad	Brahmeeswaran Chinakkathoor Karimpuzha Sree Ramaswamy Killikkurussimangalam Kodikkunnu Bhagavathy Manapullikavu Malamakkavu Ayyappa Temple Meenkulathi Sri Nellikulangara Bhagavathi Thirupuraikkal Valliya Aarattu – Karnaki Amman Vayilyamkunnu Bhagavathi Viswanatha Swam

Pathanamthitta	Aranmula Parthasarathy anikkattilammakshethram Gurunathanmukadi Kaviyoor Mahadevar Mahadeva Mezhuveli Muringamangalam Sreemahadevar Panayannarkavu Pattupurakkavu Bhagavathi Rektha Kanda Swamy Sabarimala Sree Bhuvaneswary Sree Vallabha Sreenarayanapuram Sri Chirakkakavu Bhagavthi Thazhoor Bhagavathy Kshetram Thrikkovil Sree Padmanabha Swami Kshetram Thrippara Shiva Kshetram Thumpamon Vadakkumnatha Valiyakoikkal

Thiruvananthapuram	Attukal Avanavanchery Sri Indilayappan Edava Palakkavu Bhagavathi temple Irumkulangara Durga Devi Janardanaswamy Kappil Bhagavathy Mannanthala Anandavaleeswaram Padmanabhaswamy Sarkaradevi Sivagiri Sarada Mutt Sreekanteswaram Thaliyadichapuram Sree Mahadeva Vellayani Devi Temple Venkatachalapathy

Thrissur	Arattupuzha Temple Ammathiruvadi Temple Annamanada Mahadeva Temple Chiravarampathukavu Bhagavathi Temple Guruvayur Temple Ivor Madom Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple Koodalmanikyam Temple Kootumuchikal amma Kottekkad Temple Kuttankulangara Sri Krishna Temple Kuttumuck Siva Temple Mammiyoor Temple Mithrananthapuram Trimurti Temple Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple Poonkunnam Seetha Ramaswamy Temple Poonkunnam Siva Temple Shatrughna Temple Sringapuram Mahadeva Temple Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple Thiruvanchikulam Temple Thiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha Temple Thottipal Bhagavati Trikkur Mahadeva Vadakkunnathan Vailikulangara Bhagavathi Temple Vilwadrinatha Temple Peruvanam Mahadev Temple Mathur Shiva Temple

Wayanad	Mazhuvannur Maha Siva Kshethram Thirunelli Valliyoorkkavu

Vishnu temples

Divya Desams

Andhra Pradesh, North India, Nepal	Tirupati-Andhra Pradesh Ahobilam -Andhra Pradesh Muktinath / Saligramam -Nepal Naimisaranya -Uttar Pradesh(UP) Mathura -UP Gokul -UP Devaprayag -Uttarakhand(UK) Thiruppirithi -UK Badrinath temple -UK Ayodhya -UP Dwarka -Gujarat

Malai Nadu, Kerala	Thiruvananthapuram Thirukatkarai Moozhikkalam Tiruvalla Thirukadithanam Sengunroor Thiruppuliyoor Thiruvaaranvilai Thiruvanvandoor Thiru naavaay Viththuvakkodu

Madurai	Thirumeyyam Thirukoshtiyur Koodal Azhagar Temple Azhagar Kovil Tirumogoor Srivilliputhur Tiruththangal Thiruppullani

Kanchipuram	Tirukkacchi Ashtabujakaram Tiruvekkaa Tiruththanka Tiruvelukkai Tirukalvanoor Tiru oorakam Tiru neeragam Tiru kaaragam Tirukaarvaanam Tiru parameswara vinnagaram Tiru pavala vannam Tiru paadagam Tiru nilaaththingal thundam Thiruputkuzhi

Chennai	Thiruvallikeni Thiruneermalai Thiruvidandai Thirukadalmallai Thiruninravur Thiruvallur Thirukkadigai

Mayiladuthurai and Sirkazhi	Thiruvazhunthoor Thiruindaloor Kazheesirama Vinnagaram Thirukkavalampadi Thiruchsemponsey Thiruarimeya Vinnagaram Thiru Vanpurushothamam Thiruvaikunda vinnagaram Thirumanimadam Thiruthevanartthogai Thiruthetriyambalam Thirumanikkoodam Thiruvellakkulam Thiruppaarththanpalli Thalai Sanga Nanmathiyam Thiruchsirupuliyoor Thiruvali-Thirunagari

Thanjavur	Thiruccithra kootam Thirukkannangudi Thirunagai Thiru Thanjai Tirukkoilur Thirukkoodaloor Thiru Kavith Thalam Thiru Adhanoor Thirupullabhoothangudi Thirukkudandhai Thiruccherai Thirunandipura Vinnagaram ThiruNaraiyoor Thiruvinnagar Thiruvelliyangudi Thirukkanamangai Thirukkkannapuram Thirukkandiyur

Trichy	Sri Rangam Thirukkozhi Thirukkarambanoor Thiruvellarai Thiru Anbil Thirupper Nagar Thiruvanthipuram

Tirunelveli	Thiruvaramangai Thirukkurungudi Srivaikundam Thiruvaragunamangai Thiruppulingudi Thirukkurugoor Thirutthulaivillimangalam Thirukkoloor Thirukkulandhai Thentirupperai

Kanyakumari	Thiruvattaru Thiruvanparisaram

Vinnulagam (Outside the Earthly realm)	Thirupaarkadal Thiruparamapadham

Other

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