Brahanmadhava Perumal Kodaganallur

Brahanmadhava Perumal, Kodaganallur

Vaishnavite Temples - Tirunelveli District

God

Brahanmadhava Perumal, facing east (also called Periya Piran)

Goddess

Sreedevi and Bhoodevi along with main deity, facing east

Other Deities

Garudan, Santana Gopalan, Navaneeta Krishnan, Vishwaksenar, Nammazhwar, Thirumangai Azhwar, Pashyakkarar, Desikar, Hayagrivar

Brahanmadhava Perumal Kodaganallur is a small east-facing temple with a single Prakaram. The Tamiraparani River flows right behind and a back door leads to the river. The Garuda shrine here faces east and Garuda is seen facing north. The idols of Rahu and Kethu were discovered in the Tamiraparani River and have been installed here.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Karkodaga Theertham, Tamiraparani River

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Brahanmadhava Perumal Kodaganallur is an ancient temple. The walls of the Sanctum Sanctorum are filled with inscriptions. There are six of them between 1165 to 1230 CE that provide the following information. The place used to be called Kodanur and Chaturvedi Mangalam. Kulasekara Pandian has made several contributions to Brahanmadhava Perumal Kodaganallur and the lord has been mentioned as Periya Piran and Kulasekara Vinnagara Azhwar. The members of the Village Mahasabha had met Kulasekara Pandian and got tax relief for the temple from the lands owned by it. Also mentioned is the donation made under his order by the Village Mahasabha for the Thai Poosam festival of Kanyakumari Temple towards free food for devotees. The tax relief orders had been witnessed and approved by 56 Brahmins and handed over to the temple priest. Maravarman Sundara Pandian had donated for the temple’s lamps and its continued maintenance.

Legend

Brahanmadhava Perumal Kodaganallur is where Lord Vishnu is believed to have blessed the Snake Karkodagan where he had undertaken a severe penance to rid himself of various sins, including one that was incurred after he bit Nala (see details below), that was preventing him from learning the Brahma Gnanam. This was the advice given to him by Sage Nishaka whom he had approached to learn it. The Lord appeared in front of him with his consorts and Sage Agastya who took him as his student and preached him. The Lord here is also thus called Periya Piran. The idol here at Brahanmadhava Perumal Kodaganallur is believed to have been created by Karkodagan with silt and mud from the Tamiraparani River.

Once when Karkodaga was caught in a forest fire in this area he was saved by Nala (a sub-story in the Mahabaratha) who was in exile. Karkodaga bit him and instead of dying from the deadly poison, he turned dark and blue in color. This worked for him at that time as he was supposed to be in disguise during the exile. After the exile period, Karkodaga gifted him a robe, wearing which Nala regained his original beauty. But Karkodaga still considered it a sin and decided to undertake penance to rid himself of the curse.

Directions

Brahanmadhava Perumal Kodaganallur is about 15 kilometers west of Tirunelveli on the Tenkasi Road. Taking a left from the highway at the Kodaganallur sign drive down to reach the temple.

Stay and Food

None locally except the shops and small restaurants on the Highway. Closest is Tirunelveli.

Vaishnavite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples