Thirumukkoodal

Vaishnavite Temples, Uthiramerur Taluk

God

Appan Srinivasa Perumal, facing North

Goddess

Alamelu Mangai Thaayar, facing east

Other Deities

Garuda, Anjaneya, Azhwars

Thirumukkoodal is a large temple built on the banks of the confluence of 3 rivers. This grand old and beautifully maintained temple is under the control of Archaeological Survey of India. The vast lawns are entered from a gate in the east and paved pathways take you around the vast outer Prakaram and to the main Sanctum which faces North-east, but the lord inside faces North. The goddess shrine faces east. A dark inner Prakaram is around the Sanctum Sanctorum. The beautifully adorned Lord here is overpowering, majestic and awe inspiring, standing about 9 feet tall. At his feet are Sage Markandeya and Bhoodevi. Also below, on one side are the Conch and Disc of Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati. In the ancient days this temple was a hospital providing remedies with doctors, surgeons and nurses. A Medicial herb garden had been functional here and exists even today. On the day after Sankranti, the processional deity from Varadaraja Perumal temple comes to the nearby Lakshminarasimhar Temple from where both come to give Darshan to devotees at the Appan Srinivasa Temple at Thirumukkoodal in the evening. Processional deities from other nearby temples also join to make this an important and popular festival. Another important aspect is that the temple is situated on the Triveni Sangam (confluence of 3 rivers) of Paalar, Cheyyar and a little before them, Vegavati. This Sangam is considered more sacred than all, including that of Ganges, as unlike other places where the third river is mythical, here it is real.

Holy Water (Theertham) – No information

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

One of the oldest inscription here at Thirumukkoodal is from the 9th Century CE belonging to Nribatunga Varma Pallava. An long inscription belonging to the time of Veera Rajendra Chola (11th Century CE) mentions the functioning of a Vedic School describing what was taught, who were the teachers, their salaries, gifts and their own education. Rigveda, Yajurveda, Vyagaranam and Roopavadaram were some of the subjects taught. Thiruvaimozhi written by Nammazhwar is also mentioned as launched from here. A hostel for the students was present here and about 60 people were fed here regularly. A 15 bed hospital named after Veera Chola was headed by a doctor called Kotandarama Achyutha Battar. Apart from this 1 surgeon, 2 medicinal herb collectors, 3 for making the medicines and to collect firewood, 2 nurses and an assistant for surgery and other chores were working here as per the inscriptions. A list of 20 Ayurvedic Medicines is also mentioned. Some of the inscriptions mention the lord as Thirumukkoodal Azhwar, Vishnu Battaran, Maha Vishnu, Venkateswara Swamy, Venkatesa Perumal and other names.

Legend

A Pallava king who ruled these parts had left on a pilgrimage to see Venkatesa Perumal at Tirupati. At that opportune moment an enemy king decided to invade his kingdom. The Pallava king got to know about this through his spies and he decided that he could do nothing but to appeal to Venkatesa Perumal. The lord came to his rescue and commanded his Conch and Disc to protect go for the protection of his devotee. Even today the conch and disc of the Lord of Tirupati is seen here near the main deity’s feet.

Directions

Thirumukkoodal is about 25 kilometers northeast of Uthiramerur and can be reached from 2 sides, one via Kadambar Koil by taking a right before crossing Cheyyar and one turning north at the Nelvoy Junction on the road from Uthiramerur to GST Road. From Chingleput you can take the Walajabad, Kancheepuram road and turn left after the hill temple of Lakshmi Narasimhar, cross the bridge and reach Thirumukkoodal temple.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest are Walajabad and Uthiramerur.

Vaishnavite Temples

Kancheepuram Temples

Tamilnadu Temples