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| Aerial view. PC: Praveen Quak Photography |
Ayyangarkulam is an ancient village located in
Kanchipuram district, just 9 kms south of Kanchipuram town. While driving from
Kanchipuram past the Collector office towards Vandavasi, after crossing Palar
bridge, one can see a board mentioning ‘Ayyangarkulam Koot Road’. Take right
from the koot road to reach Ayyangarkulam in 5 minutes from there.
Ayyangarkulam is a scenic village with rich heritage,
accessible by good motorable roads and also easy to locate. This village has an
ancient temple for Sri Anjaneyar who is known here as Sri Sanjeevirayar.
This temple’s legend has its connection with Ramayana
period. It is said that while Sri Hanuman was carrying the Sanjeevi Parvatha
(Sanjeevi Hill) to Sri Lanka few fragments of the hill fell at this place.
Hence, Sri Anjaneyar here got His name as Sri Sanjeevirayar.
There’s also an interesting history behind the name of this
village. This temple was built by Sri Lakshmi Kumara Thathachariar who lived
during 1456 – 1543. Sri Thathachariar was a great vaishnavite scholar and was a
very famous personality in the Vijayanagara Empire. Also called as Thatha
Desikan, he was the descendant of Sri Nathamuni lineage, with a rich Vaishnavite
legacy. He was also the only person who
was serving twin positions as ‘Chief Minister’ and also as the ‘Raja Guru’ for
the Vijayanagara Kings, Venkatapathy Rayas I and II (also called Sriranga
Rayas).
He enjoyed very high respects and position by the kings
and he also was appointed as ‘Sri Karya Thurantharar’ to take care of all the
Divya Desams that existed within the empire, which include Kanchipuram,
Sriperumbudur, Kumbakonam and many others. He restored the regular worship and
rituals in many temples those days according to the philosophies and principles
of Sri Ramanujacharya. He also made many grants to various temples.
Due to his knowledge and devotion, Thatha Desikan was
celebrated as ‘Aacharya Mahanubhava’. He created many Anna Chatrams and
established Desandhiri Kattalai in many temples to feed the visiting travelers.
He also was sponsoring many weddings for the poor and needy in his kingdom and
was fondly called as ‘Koti Kanyadhaana Lakshmi Kumara Thathaachariar’. Thus was
his fame and name during that period.
He constructed the 100 pillared Mandapam in Sri
Varadarajar Temple in Kanchipuram and also had renovated many of the shrines
within the temple. Many inscriptions are found along the praakaarams of Sri
Varadarajar temple about his contributions. He also had done the Gold plating
for the Thirumala Thirupathi temple and also undertook renovations partially in
Srirangam temple.
Once Sri Thatha Desikan was traveling to Kanchipuram from
his capital city, Chandragiri, along with his disciples carrying lot of wealth
he earned to offer to the Lord Sri Varadarajaperumal. As it was night time when
he was crossing this village, he had to rest in a place with all his men,
planning to continue his journey the next morning. He found a place under a
tree in this village where he kept all his belongings and rested with the
group. As it was a tedious journey, all of them slept so deeply, as they were
not even aware that there were a group of thieves who arrived there and tried
to steal all the wealth he carried for the Lord.
Thatha Desikan, an ardent devotee of Lord Rama woke up to
see this miracle where the monkey and it’s group were safeguarding the entire
wealth and also few of the thieves lying injured. Thatha Desikan was awestruck
and felt that it was none other than Sri Hanuman who saved his wealth which was
meant for God. He thankfully prayed Sri Anjaneyar and built a marvelous temple
for Him at the same place.
He also built a huge temple tank measuring 150 acres for
this temple which is called ‘Lakshmi Saras’.
As this temple and the tank were built by Thatha Desikan, the tank and
the village came to be known as ‘Thatha Samudram’ and also as ‘Thiruvadi
Rayapuram’ which later became ‘Ayyangarkulam’ in the present days. The Lord
here came to be known as Sri Sanjeevirayar. This is the biggest temple for Sri
Anjaneyar in this part of the country.
Sri Thatha Desikan also composed ‘Sri
Hanumath Vimsathi’ in praise of Sri Sanjeevirayar here, which are inscribed on
the walls of this temple’s Praakaram.
The entrance to the temple is on the southern side. While
entering from the main road, once has to enter through the entrance facing
South, which has a very tall 4 pillared mandapam welcoming the pilgrims. All
these 4 pillars are made of a single stone.
After crossing the mandapam, the temple doorway invites
us inside the temple leading to the western Praakaaram.
Once entered, one can see a small hall on the right hand
side which has a beautiful Mutram which is open to sky. The entire temple is
built using stones.
On the south west and north west corners of the Praakaaram,
there are 2 small mandapams like Urchava Mandapam.
There is a beautiful 24 pillared stone mandapam in front
of the sanctum. There is Sri Mahalakshmi Thaayaar located in this mandapam
facing east.
Sri Rama & Sita and Sri Lakshmana are seen just
outside the sanctum facing south, placed in a small shelf like space on the
wall.
The outer praakaram is vast and so beautiful. There is a
large Madappalli at the eastern praakaram, where there is a Kal Uruli kept for
preparing Prasadams.
On the eastern praakaram, Sri. Garudaazhwar is seen in
the standing posture facing north. Sri Garudaazhwar is about 5 feet tall with a
smiling face, with His wings open, standing at the open to sky praakaram.
There is a Tulasi Maadam adjacent to Sri Garudaazhwar
placed amidst 2 stone slabs fixed vertically.
On the northern side after the Ardha Mandapam, there’s
another entrance to the temple which leads to another mandapam where there are
lot of pillars with different Hanumans are sculptured. It is said that there
are about 85 Anjaneyars present in these pillars.
On the wall of the rear side of the temple, there are
warning signs written asking people not to consume alcohol at this place.
Shocking to see the sad state of this heritage temple.
From here there are steps which lead us down to the vast
temple pond which is said to be about 135 to 150 acres in size. This gives a
very scenic view at the rear side of the temple.
There is also a temple at the other end of the temple
tank dedicated to Sri Mahalakshmi.
From the other side of the pond, one can see the beauty
of the temple. Now, there is a road being laid around the temple tank so that
one can drive around the tank where lots of trees planted on either sides.
The uniqueness of Ayyangarkulam doesn’t end here.
In this same village just about 1 km from the temple,
there is an architectural marvel called ‘Nadavaavi Kinaru’, a beautiful well
that brings Sri Varadaraja Perumaal himself from Kanchipuram to visit this
village.
Unlike other wells, this one has a huge arch with
wonderful carvings and Sri Gajalakshmi on top, welcoming the pilgrims.
A stairway starts from this place leading down to a stone
pillared Mandapam underneath. In the middle of the Mandapam there is the water
surface of the well.
The whole structure is beautifully planned and created in
such a way that even if the excess water has to be taken out, it is possible
through the Yetram built there.
Every year, on Chithra Pournami day, Sri Varadaraja
Perumaal visits this village where the holy Thirumanjanam is done for Him. And
he visits this Nadavaavi, gets down to the stone mandapam underneath and goes
around the mandapam where the Vasanthothsavam is performed. The Lord returns
back after the rituals.
Ayyangarkulam, filled with such great history and rich
heritage is a treasure trove for the temple lovers and heritage buffs. Just sit
on the steps near the temple tank and just think of how Thatha Desikan would
have built this 150-acre pond and this wonderful temple; you’ll forget the
whole world and travel back in time.
I acknowledge Mr. Praveen, a travel photographer of
Praveen Quak Photography who has done some stunning shots of this temple in
aerial views. I was astonished to see his visuals on Ayyangarkulam and I thank
him for sharing the aerial view pic of the temple to use it here. This is the first
time in this blog, I am using a pic that was not shot by me.
It so happened that when I wanted to write this blog and
bring it back live, coincidentally I happened to visit this temple a few times
repeatedly, got to know Praveen, without any of my efforts came across many
information about Thatha Desikan and his descendants (including Agnihothram
Ramanunam Thathachariar) and evefrything fell in place with Sri Sanjeevirayars blessings to continue this
blog again and here I started with Ayyangarkulam.
Sri Raama Dhootham Sirasaa Namaami!!
