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Thiru koiloore: Thiruvikramar Temple.



The place Thiru koiloore is about 36 kms from Vizhupuram. This temple is one of the Divaya Desam temples of Nadu Nadu. This is one of the Pancha Krishna Kshetram. The other four are Thiru Kannamangai, Kapisthalam, Thiru kannagkudi, Thiru Kannapuram.







Main Raja Gopuram is of eleven tiers.








As we enter inside Garuda Kambam is seen in front.



Main deity is Swayambu Thiruvikramar of wood, in standing Posture with his right leg lifted up to side. Thayar of the temple is known as Poongkovai Nachiar. Lord Brahma is seen worshiping the feet raised up. Urchavar, here in this temple is known as Kovalan (Gopalan). There is a separate sanctum for Krishna made of Saligrama stone.



Sthala Vruksham is Punnai. Teertham is River Penna, Krishna Teertham, and Chakkra teertham.



It is Sri Chakkra Vimanam under which Lord Thiruvikarama perumal is seen in the sanctum. Other deities seen as we go around the prakaram are Venugopalan, Lakshmi Narayanan, Lakshmi Ragavan, Lakshmi Narashimar, Ramar, Veera Anjaneyar, Andal, Sukrachariyar and Swayambu Durgai.


Sthala puranam: King Mahabali performed a Yagam, with the guidance of Asura Guru Sukarachariyar so that he can be the first person in fame and status. Lord Vishnu wanted to destroy his ego and teach him a lesson. Lord Vishnu, came to Yagasala as a short person Vamana, and sought for three steps of his leg as Bhodanam from King Mahabali.
Guru Sukrachariar with his powers knew it was Lord Vishnu who is in the form of Vamana. So Guru prevented King from giving Land for Vamana. King Mahabali did not give ears to his Guru’s word and decided to give three foot of Land to Vamana. When he revealed his wish to give land to Vamana, Lord took Viswaroopam to claim three foot of Land. With His one leg the whole of earth was measured and the second step He measured space and asked the place to measure the third step. Now King Mahabali's ego left him and he requested Lord Vamana to place his leg on his head. When King Mahabali was about to pour water in the hands of Lord, Guru Sukracharya took the form of Bee and tried to stop the flow of water falling into Lord’s hands. Lord Vishnu with grass tried to clear the block. Guru Sukracharya lost his eyesight by the grass piercing his eyes. Lord by putting his foot on the head of Mahabali he was pushed down to Pathala Lokam. Since his ego was destroyed. In his extreme delight, to bless King Mahabali, Lord Vamana, appeared with conch in His left hand and Chakkra in His right hand, which is reverse to his Narashima Avatara to bless Prahaladha.Here, lord is also known as Ulgalandha Perumaal, which means one who measured the Universe.




Mrugandu Maharishi approached Lord Brahma to guide him to have the Viswaroopa Darshan of Lord Vishnu. Brahma suggested him to worship Lord Vishnu at Krishna Kshetra which is now known as Thiru koviloore on the banks of Krishnabadra River (River Penna). Maharishi with his wife Mitravathi started his penance.



Lord in guise as an old Brahamin appeared in front of them and asked for Biksha. They did not have any grain to offer the old Brahmin. Mitravathi at this point took bowl in hand and prayed to Lord Narayanar to fill the bowl with food if she was a good wife of Maharishi. The bowl was filled with food and Lord showed His Viswaroopa Darshan to the couple.




Once Poigai Azhwar visited this place and sought a place to rest at night as it was raining heavily. Later Boodhat Azhwar reached the same place to rest. The place was so small that one can sleep, two can sit and three can stand. Two Azhwars shared the place and sat together. After some time Peryazhwar also came to the same place to take rest. Now the two Azhwars shared the place with third Azhwar by, three of them standing. Suddenly they were squeezed and felt some fourth person joining them in the darkness. It was Lord himself who joined them and granted His darshan for all three Azhwars who sang Hymns on him in which they described the darshan of Lord was like a lamp to give light in the darkness. The three Azhwars attained Moksha in this place.




Nalayira Divya Prabandham sung by Azwars was started from this place. Vishnu Duragai is seen in the prakaram. Durga Matha is praised by Thirumangai Azhwar in one of her verses sung against Lord Vishnu.




[Thiru Kannamangai][Thiru Kannankudi][Vamana Perumal][Thiru Koiloore][Mrugandu Maharishi][Lord Narayanar]