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The Lord reclines on a 10-headed Sesanaga as His bed. Five of these heads belong to Adisesha, while the names of the rest are Vasuki, Dakshaka, Kuliga, Karkotaka and Kalinga. The utsava idol is Lord Ranganatha, who is in Abhyahasta pose. The "Ranganathar Paadhams" (feet of Lord Ranganatha) are housed separately. Sri Devi and Bhu Devi are sitting at Sri Vedanarayana Swami's feet, offering prayers. There is also a wonderful deity of Prahlada as a three-year old boy. He sits near the feet of Sri Vedanarayana Swami, having wished to get darshan of the Lord in His Shantha Swaroopi, or peaceful mood. In the picture above we see Lord Permula reclining on Sesanaga. Suspended above him is Lord Brahma (black rectangular murti). At the Lord's feet, wrapped in red and blue cloth, are Prahlad and his grandson Mahabali, who also wished to see the Lord in His peaceful, reclined position. The deities in front are Perumal with Sri and Bhu Devis, with the small silver deity of Prahlad, right front. The moolavar deity is joined in the sanctum by his consort, Vedanayaki Thaayar, who resides in a separate shrine, facing east. She appears with four arms, the lower ones in Abhaya and Vardana positions.
Sri Vedanarayana Perumal and Consorts In the Deepastamba there is also Kambathadi Anjaneyarm (Kambatthai Anjaneyar), the shrine of Sri Hanuman. Positioned at the front of the pillar, Anjeneya is worshipped by devotees who consider him a judge of their personal issues. There is also a separate shrine for Goddess Saraswati, and one for Andal. Garuda faces the main sannidhi, and the Azhwars and Sri Ramanuja are housed in a separate shrine. Sri Ramanuja was directed by Lord Vedanarayana Perumal to go to Mysore when there was some disturbance going on at Srirangam, and detailed commentaries are available on this pastime. This temple has two prakaram, with two main shrines for the presiding deity and His consort. The vimanam of this temple is known as Veda Vimanam and the theertham is called Veda Pushkarani. The River Cauvery (Kaveri) is also considered a temple theertham. The Stala Vraksha is the Vilvam tree.
Temple History
The story of King Mahabala Vaanavaraya's construction of Veda Narayana Perumal Temple is that while traveling with his large army to Mysore, he took rest in Thottiyam. In a dream, Lord Narayana came and requested that the king retrieve His deity form, lying hidden under the earth, and install it in a temple, arranging festivals so that people could enjoy getting His darshan. The Lord is said to have assured him of victory in his battle at Mysore in return for his service.
Delighted by his vision, the king built this temple and dedicated the entire village to its worship. The current temple complex comprises 160 acres of land. The area around the temple in Thottiyam is primarily agricultural, with paddy, plantains and petals, and the temple lands are also used for such crops. Unfortunately, it seems that today, little income from this land is being donated to the temple for its upkeep and service of the priests.
Another famous story about the temple tells the pastime of Thiru Naraiyur Araiyar, who came here with his wife and six children in hopes of finding spiritual liberation. One night the leaves from a palm tree were set on fire by miscreants, and the temple began to burn. Naraiyur Araiyar threw himself over the Deity to protect Him from the flames, and all his children did the same. The entire family was burned to death. The Lord is said to have granted the family moksha for their devotion. For this pastime, the temple is also known as Pillai Thiru Naraiyur Abhimana Kshetram.
Veda Narayana Perumal Koil  [Photo: 'The Hindu'].
In 2000, the temple was finally given a much needed renovated. Although Lord Perumal's deity form is made of stone, as is Sesanaga's coil, Sesa's hood is made of sudhai, a material made of lime and mortar, and this was particularly in need of restoration. Because of the temple's association with Lord Brahma's studying of the Vedas, students often come here, placing their schoolbooks at the Lord's feet and praying for success in their educational pursuits. There are a number of festivals held at the temple each year, including an 11 day festival in Vaikasi (May-June), during which a 9 day Ratha Yatra is held. In Margazhi (December-January) there is a 21 day Adyana Utsavam, and Puratasi Navarathri is celebrated.
Arch at Vedanarayana Swami Temple entrance Part 2 - Pushkar, Rajasthan Part 3 - Chinch & Asotra, Rajasthan Part 4 - Eklingji, Udaipur, Rajasthan) Part 5 - Vasantgarh, Rajasthan) Part 6 (Rajasthan: Bijoila, Mewar; Chandravati, Sirohi; Kiradu & Sevadi, Jodphur) Part 7 (Khokhan, Himachal Pradesh) Part 8 (Tihri-Uttarsal, Himachal Pradesh) Part 9 (Una, Himachal Pradesh) Part 10 (Dudhahi, Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh) Part 11 (Gaya, Bihar) Part 12 (Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh) Part 13 (Alampur, Andhra Pradesh) Part 14 (Kaleshwar, Karimnagar, Andhra Pradesh) Part 15 (Sampradaya Acarya - Lingampally, Andhra Pradesh) Part 16 (Manthani, Andhra Pradesh) Part 17 (Gurramguda Village, Andhra Pradesh) Part 18 (Tirusulam, Tamil Nadu) Part 19 (Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu) Part 20 (Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu) Part 21 (Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu) Part 22 (Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu) Part 23 (Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu) Part 24 (Syncretistic Forms of Lord Brahma) Part 25 (Thirupachur, Tamil Nadu) Part 26 (Pancheshti/Pancheti, Tamil Nadu) Part 27 (Pallavaram, Tamil Nadu) Part 28 (Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu) Part 29 (Mandagappattu, Tamil Nadu) Part 30 (Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu) Part 31 (Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu) Part 32 (Thirumukkoodal, Tamil Nadu) Part 33 (Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu) Part 34 (Thirunaraiyur, Tamil Nadu) Part 35 (Thirunaraiyur, Tamil Nadu) Part 36 Thiruvengadu, Tamil Nadu) Part 37 Thiruvelliyankudi, Tamil Nadu) Part 38 Kuthanoor, Tamil Nadu) Part 39 Lalgudi, Tamil Nadu) Part 40 Kulithalai, Tamil Nadu) Part 41 Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu) Part 42 Thirupattur, Tamil Nadu) Part 43 Pullamangai, Tamil Nadu) Part 44 Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu) Part 45 Sri Rangam, Tamil Nadu) Part 46 Tanjore, Tamil Nadu) Part 47 Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu) Part 48 Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu) Part 49 Darasuram, Tamil Nadu) Part 50 Thirukkannapuram, Tamil Nadu) Part 51 Malayadipatti, Tamil Nadu) Part 52 Thiruvadi, Tamil Nadu) Part 53 Thirukandiyur, Tamil Nadu) Part 54 Thiruparangundram, Tamil Nadu) Part 55 Kodumudi, Tamil Nadu) Part 56 Thottiyam, Tamil Nadu)
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