Shri Purushothaman Perumal Temple or Uthamar Kovil (also known as Thirukkarambanoor or Bhikshandar Kovil ) is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti deities Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma in Uthamarkoil, a village on the outskirts of Tiruchirappalli in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

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 dedicated to Vishnu, known as Purushothaman Perumal (also known as Purushothamar), and his spouse Lakshmi, known as Poornavalli Thayar.

Legend of the Purushothaman Perumal Temple

According to Hindu belief, the god Vishnu appeared as a Kadamba tree here, giving rise to the names Kathambanur and Karambanur. Thirumangai Alvar mentions Karambanur in Nalayira Divya Prabandam, referring to the presiding god as “Karambanur Uthaman”. The temple is known as “Uthamar Kovil” after the presiding god. The temple is also known as Bhikshandar Kovil because the god Shiva appears in the form of a Bhikshandar (a mendicant) and is said to have found a cure by worshipping Vishnu here.

Purushottamar is said to have appeared to the Hindu gods Brahma and Shiva to atone for Shiva’s sins committed when chopping off one of Brahma’s heads. The temple is one of the few historical temples in India that houses the images of the Trimurti, Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma. It is one of two temples in Chola Nadu that house the trinity, the other being the Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal Temple in Thirukkandiyur. 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 Purushothaman Perumal Temple

The temple is thought to have been built in the late 8th century CE by the Mediaeval Cholas, with later contributions from Vijayanagara kings and Madurai Nayaks. The temple is surrounded by a granite wall, which encloses all of its shrines, and the temple tank is located outside the main entry.

The temple holds six daily rituals and four annual feasts for each of the trinities. The temple’s main festival, Brahmotsavam, is held in the Tamil month of Kartika (November – December) when festival pictures of both Purushotamar and Bikshadanar are paraded through the streets surrounding the temple. The Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu maintains and administers the temple.

Architecture of Purushothaman Perumal Temple

The temple is thought to have been built in the late 8th century CE by the Mediaeval Cholas, with later contributions from Vijayanagara kings and Madurai Nayaks. During the fight between the British and the French in 1751, the temple served as infantry for both sides. The temple suffered minimal damage throughout the battle.

The temple is surrounded by a stone wall that encloses all of its shrines. Purushottamar (Vishnu), Bhikshadanar (Shiva), Brahma, and their consorts Poornavalli (Lakshmi), Soundarya Parvati, and Saraswati have pictures and distinct shrines in the temple.

This is one of the world’s few mediaeval Hindu temples where the Hindu Trimurti and their consorts are worshipped in six separate shrines within the same temple complex. The primary shrine faces East and has an image of Vishnu as Purushottamar in a reclining posture, similar to the idol of Ranganatha at the adjacent Srirangam temple, with the discus in one hand and procession idols of Vishnu, Lakshmi, and Bhumi (Earth goddess).

The central shrine’s roof, or vimana, is known as Udhyoga Vimana. To the southeast, there are two shrines with images of Poornavalli and Mahalakshmi. The lingam (an aniconic form of Shiva) as Bhikshadanar is housed in the Shiva shrine, which is placed behind Vishnu’s.

Facts about Purushothaman Perumal Temple

• Uthamar Kovil is one of the two temples in Chola Nadu where the trinity can be seen on the same premises, the other being Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal Temple at Thirukkandiyur.
• Trimurti in Hindu mythology refers to the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction.
• The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Thirumangai Alvar in ten hymns.
• The temple is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples mentioned in the book.
• Periyavachan Pillai, who translated the verses of Thirumangai Alvar, glorifies the temple as “the one without doors where devotees can always visit and worship”.
• The shrines of Brahma and his consort Saraswati are located in the southwest corner of the temple complex.
• The temple priests perform the Puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The priests of the Bhikshadanar shrine belong to the Shaiva community, while the priests of Purushothamar are from the Vaishnava community.

Famous Festivals In Purushothaman Perumal Temple

• Kadambha Tiruvila is a festival celebrated in the temple when the festival image of Ranganatha (a form of Vishnu) is brought to the Kadambha tank of the temple for Theerthavari.
• 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.
• Brahmotsav –The major festival of the temple, the Brahmotsavam, is celebrated during the Tamil month of Kartigai (November – December) when festival images of both Purushothamar and Bhikshadanar are carried together in the streets surrounding the temple.

How To reach Purushothaman Perumal Temple

Tiruchirappalli is well-connected with Road, Rail and Air Routes

By Air: The Purushothaman Perumal Temple is 15 kilometres from Trichy Airport.

By Railway: The Nearest Railway Station is Sirkazhi which is 15.2 Km from the temple.

By Roadways: Nearest Bus Station is Thirunangur.

Also Read – Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple