Thiruvanthipuram Perumal Temple

Thiruvanthipuram Devanathaswamy Perumal Temple

Devanathaswamy temple (also called Thiruvaheendrapuram Kovil) in Thiruvanthipuram, a village in the outskirts of Cuddalore in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD.

It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Devanathaswamy and his consort Lakshmi as Hemabhujavalli. Though the presiding deity is Devanathaswamy, the temple is also known for Hayagriva, the horse faced avatar of Vishnu. The temple is the only historical temple in South India to have a shrine of Hayagriva.

Tiruvanthipuram  - Sri  Devanathaswamy Temple திருவந்திபுரம் - தேவநாதசுவாமி திருக்கோவில்
Main Deity	Lord Vishnu
Name	Sri Devanathaswamy
Goddess Name	Sri Senkamalavalli Thayar
Location	Thiruvanthipuram
Historical Name	Tiruvaheendrapuram , Vaheendran
Significance	One of 108 Vishnu Divya Desam Sthalams, Located on the Kidelam River Bank,
Ancient	1500 years old
Travel Base	Cuddalore

Significance of the temple:

Ø  The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Thirumangai Azhwar in eleven hymns.

Ø  The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples.

Ø  The Utsavar Murthy at this temple is called Moovaraagiya Oruvan, said to be a manifestation of Vishnu, Brahmma and Shiva and Thiru Mangai Azhvaar refers to the Lord as Moovaraagiya Oruvan in his praise in the Periya Thirumozhi.

Ø  The temple is located on the foothills of Outshadagiri, a small hill, which houses the temple of Hayagriva.

Ø  The river Kedilam, located on the other side of the temple flows from south to north and is locally called Uttaravahini

Ø  The temple houses the images of other deities like Pallikonda Perumal, Andal, AdiKesava Perumal, Azhwars, Hanumar and Garuda.

Ø  The temple tank is called as Sesha Theertham. Devotees drop salt, pepper, milk and jaggery into the well for relief from various ailments and skin diseases.

The temple in its current form is believed to have been built during the Medieval Cholas, with later expansion from Pandyas, Hoysala Empire and Vijayanagara Empire. The temple has fifty inscriptions from Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120), Vikrama Chola (1118–1135), Rajaraja Chola III (1216–1256), Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan (1251–1268), Vikrama Pandya, Vira Pandya III, Vijayanagar king Achyuta Deva Raya (1529–1542 CE) and Koperunjinga.

Devanathaswamy is believed to have appeared to Adisesha (the sacred serpent of Vishnu), sage Markandeya and Hindu god Indra. Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the chariot festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Chittirai (March–April), is the most prominent. The rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower has five tiers and raises to a height of 60 ft (18 m). 

You may also like to know about the Lakshmi Hayagrivar Temple , Check this below Link

Tiruvandipuram - Sri Lakshmi Hayagrivar Temple

How to reach: Tiruvandipuram Vishnu Temple is located about 6 kms West of Cuddalore Town on the way to Panruti. Buses are available from Cuddalore. The temple is 8 km from Cuddalore, 20 km from Panruti bus stand and 40 km from Villupuram.