Moolavar : Kolavilli Ramar, sheerapthi Nathan
Urchavar : Shrungara Sundarar (fond of dressing attractively)
Amman / Thayar : Maragathavalli (Sri Devi, Bhoodevi)
Thala Virutcham : Red plantain
Theertham : Shukra, Parasurama, Brahmma and Indra theerthams
Agamam / Pooja : Vaikanasa Agama
Old year : 1000-2000 years old
Historical Name : Bhargava Kshetra
City : Tiruvelliangudi
District : Thanjavur
State : Tamil Nadu
The 108 Divya Desas of Perumal, this is the only temple where Garuda Bhagwan appears with 4 hands holding discus and conch. Also this is the only place where plantain grows on a rock yielding fruits once a year even today. Lord Perumal graces in the temple in reclining form facing east and painted beautifully.
Lord Perumal blesses the devotees in his Bhujanga Sayana-reclining form. The vimana above the sanctum sanctorum is of Varthaga Vimana design. Shukra, Lord Brahmma, Indira, Sage Parasurama, Mayan the divine sculptor had the darshan of Lord in this temple. Senganur, the birth place of eminent Vaishnavite Scholar Periavachan Pillai is near this place. Kanchi Acharya His Holiness Sri Chandra Sekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal – Kanchi Periavar – stayed here to execute renovations.
Greatness Of Temple:
The belief is that worshipping Perumal in this temple equals to worshipping Him in all 108 Divya Desa temples. Planet Shukra-Venus is worshipping Perumal in the form of a ever burning lamp as a token of his gratitude to Lord who restored his vision. Of the Navagraha importance places, this belongs to Shukra. A plantain that came through rocks still exists here yielding fruits once a year. This is the only Divya Desa temple where Garuda Bhagwan blesses devotees with four hands holding discus and conch.
Temple History:
Lord Maha Vishnu , in His Vamana Avatar, sought three feet of land from emperor Mahabali. Shukra was the Guru of Mahabali. When Mahabali was to offer the three feet land to Vamana, knowing his design, Shukra took the form of a bee and blocked the handle hole of the water bowl to prevent Mahabali obliging Vamana’s wish. Vamana the Lord, removed the bee inside (shukra) with a grass stem to facilitate flow of the water to solemnize the charity. The stick hit one eye of Shukra. He lost vision of that eye.
Shukra visited many places to regain the vision of the one eye, finally landed here, worshipped Perumal and got back his vision. Shukra is also called Velli. Hence, the name of the place Velliangudi. There is also a different story prompting Shukra to choose this place for his penance.
Viswakarma, the celestial sculptor built a temple for Perumal. Seeing the beauty of the temple, Mayan, also a skilled sculptor but belonging to demon community felt that he could not do one for Perumal like this. He approached Lord Brahmma to help him who suggested that he should perform penance on Lord Perumal in this place. Mayan performed penance here. Perumal granted him darshan but Mayan wished the Ramavatara darshan. Granting him the boon, Lord left His discus and conch with Garuda and granted darshan to Mayan as he wished. So Shukra-Velli chose this place of great glory for his penance to regain his vision. This is also a reason why the place was named Tiruvelliangudi.
