108 Divya-deshams: Vadivalagiya

BY: SUN STAFF

Thiru Anbil (Sundararaja Perumal Temple)

May 23, 2024 — CANADA (SUN) — A tour of the 108 Divya-desams, the divine abodes of Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi.

Vadivalagiya (Vadivazhagiya), also known as Nambi Perumal Temple, Thiru Anbil, or Sundararaja Perumal Temple is located in Anbil, a village on the outskirts of Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. The temple is situated on the northern bank of the river Kollidam, abouit 25 km from Trichy. This Divya Desham is dedicated to the worship of Lord Vishnu as Sundararajan with His consort Sundaravalli (Lakshmi).

Sundararajan appeared to Brahma here, and to sage Suthaba, who was doing penance under water. As such, he did not observe that the sage Durvasa was waiting for him. The irritated Durvasa cursed Suthaba to become a frog (mendaka). Suthaba requested Durvasa to relieve him of the curse, but Durvasa explained that the curse was on account of the sin he had committed in his previous birth, and that only Lord Vishnu would free him. As a frog, Suthaba continued his penance under water in the Mendaka Theertham, the temple tank where Lord Vishnu appeared to him as Sundararajan. Temple inscriptions also narrate Vishnu's appearing here before sage Valmiki.

Tharaga Vimanam, the sanctum roof

Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas of the late 8th Century, with later contributions from Vijayanagara kings and Madurai Nayaks. The copper plate inscriptions from Anbil indicate generous contribution by Chola kings to the temple. King Sundara Chola, once the ruler of the area, was a devotee of the temple. Upon his war victories, he donated immense wealth to this temple.

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and bodies of water. The rajagopuram is a 3-tier structure, east facing, marking the main entrance. In the main shrine the presiding deity, Sundararaja Perumal resides in reclining posture over his divine serpent, Adisesha. Images of Sridevi (Lakshmi), Bhudevi and Brahma are also present in the sanctum.

The festive image of Sundararajan - Vadivalagiya Nambi - is housed in the sanctum. The precinct around the sanctum has shrines of the twelve Venugopal, Narasimha, Lakshmi Narasimha, Hanuman, and the Alvars. The front hall of the sanctum has a shrine for Andal in standing posture and has her bronze image in seated posture.

Dwajastambam at temple entrance

Vadivalagiya is referred to in a verse regarding the seven shrines featuring Vishnu in a reclining position: Tirukkudandai at Kumbakonam, Tiruvekkaa at Kanchipuram, Thiruevvul at Tiruvallur, Srirangam Rangathaswamy Temple, Tiruppernagar, Anbil and Tirupparkadal. As we have mentioned with most Divya Dishams, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham.

Source: Wikipedia

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