The Andalakkum Aiyan Perumal Temple also known as Thiru Aadanoor is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu in the Tamil Nadu district of Aadanoor. The temple, built in the Dravidian style, is mentioned in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, an early mediaeval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th to the 9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams devoted to Lord Vishnu. Vishnu is revered as Andalakkum Aiyan, and his consort as Ranganayaki, a version of Lakshmi.

The Andalakkum Aiyan Perumal Temple has a simple shrine, a Vimanam, and a three-tiered rajagopuram. The temple was built by Aditya Chola. The temple is located in Olaipadi, a small village seven kilometres from Kumbakonam and two kilometres from Swamimalai. To the north of the temple is the temple tank. The deities are similar to those found in Srirangam’s Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, with Vishnu reclining and half-sleeping.

Story/Legend of the Andalakkum Aiyan Perumal Temple

According to the temple’s regional folklore, a wealthier devotee aspired to participate in the devotional undertaking of serving Ranganatha as well. Some of the people who worked for him took advantage of his fanaticism and swindled all of his money, leaving him bankrupt. Vishnu arrived in his dream, pleased with his dedication, and offered to help him out of the problem. He told the devotee to bring a marakkal and his defrauded workers to the Kollidam’s bank, where he promised to pay the workers their dues.

The deity, disguised as an elderly man, handed every one of them a measure of sand from the bank of Kollidam based on their work. Surprisingly, it transformed into beautiful stones for those who toiled and remained the same for those who shirked work. The workers who had not received anything were upset and began chasing the old man. At this point, the deity came in its true form, causing the employees to realise their errors. It is also claimed that the presiding deity appeared for Kamadhenu, the sacred cow, as well as Thirumangai Alvar, an 8th-century saint-poet. This temple is considered one of the 108 Divya Desams.

What is Divya Desams– A Divya Desam or Vaishnava Divya Desam is one of the 108 Vishnu and Lakshmi temples recorded by the Alvars, the poet-saints of the Sri Vaishnava faith. 105 of the 108 temples are in India, one is in Nepal, and the final two are thought to be in space, in Tirupparkatal and Vaikuntham. They are distributed over the Indian states of Tamil Nadu (84), Kerala (11), Andhra Pradesh (2), Gujarat (1), Uttar Pradesh (4), and Uttarakhand (3). Muktinath, Saligramam is Nepal’s sole Divya Desam. The 12 Alvars respect the Divya Desams in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, a collection of 4,000 Tamil hymns.

History of Andalakkum Aiyan Perumal Temple

According to history, the celestial deities Indra and Agni worshipped Vishnu here. When Indra placed the heavenly garland offered to him on his elephant Airavata, he insulted the sage Bhrigu. Bhrigu cursed him with the loss of all his powers. In order to reclaim his powers, Indra performed great penance in the location. Agni, the fire deity, was cursed with Brahmahatha Dosha for burning Brahma’s head, which Shiva had handed over to him. By worshipping at this shrine, he was relieved of his curse.

The architecture of Andalakkum Aiyan Perumal Temple

This Chola temple was established by King Aditya Chola and was patronised by Vijayanagar kings and Madurai Nayaks. In the sanctum sanctorum, Lord Andalakkum Aiyan can be worshipped in the reclining position, with the marakkal, the measuring vessel, as his cushion and a palm leaf and an ezhuththani, a traditional writing instrument in his left hand. He resembles Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam in appearance.

His consorts and Kamadenu are also present in the sanctum with him. Vishnu is also supposed to have erased Shiva’s curse for slaying Brahma here, and a Shiva idol may be found in the main shrine. Pranava Vimana is the roof above the sanctum, and it houses a Vishnu figure up to his knee.

This temple is supposed to have been visited by Hanuman and Rama, and Rama’s footprints are etched to commemorate this legend. The temple tower, known as the Rajagopuram, has three levels. There are two distinct pillars in this case. It is said that circumambulating them in even numbers and worshipping the Lord will lead believers to salvation.

Facts about Andalakkum Aiyan Perumal Temple

• Andalakkum Aiyan Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Aadanoor, Tamil Nadu, India.
• Andalakkum Aiyan Perumal Temple follows Pancharatra Agama and the worship practices are carried out by hereditary priests.
• The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Sri Vaishnava canon, by Kulasekhara Alvar in one hymn.
• The Andalakkum Aiyan Perumal Temple is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples mentioned in the book.
• Thirumangai Alvar has sung in praise of the deity in this temple with one pasuram, numbered 3815.
• It is believed that once the temple was buried under the earth. At the same time, a Kashmiri Princess was afflicted on account of a spell from a magician. Vishnu appeared in the dreams of the king and asked him to renovate the submerged temple.
• The king is believed to have followed the orders, resulting in the princess getting propitiated. The worship in the temple is thus believed to offer solace to people afflicted by witchcraft.
• The Lord is said to grant good health and a suitable life companion here. The holy couple can also cleanse people of their sins and bestow money, prosperity, and educational excellence upon them.

Famous Festivals In Andalakkum Aiyan Perumal Temple

• Brahmmotsavam is the major festival celebrated in the temple.
• Diwali – Diwali is one of the most admired and auspicious festivals in the town.
• Chitra Poornima is also a significant occasion for celebration in the temple.
• Vaikuntha Ekadashi – Vaikuntha Ekadashi celebrated during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) is the major festival celebrated in the temple.

How To reach Andalakkum Aiyan Perumal Temple

Andalakkum Aiyan Perumal Temple is a Vishnu Temple located in the Aadhanoor village, near Kumbakonam town, in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu.

By Air: Trichy International Airport is about 90 kilometres from the temple and can be reached by road from there.

By Railway: The Kumbakonam town, with sound rail connectivity, is only 7 kilometres away.

By Roadways: The temple can be reached through buses and private vehicles, from towns like Kumbakonam, Swamimalai, and Thanjavur.

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