E-Book

Ariyakudi
Thiru Venkatamudayan Temple

By
Tamarapu Sampath Kumaran
:

About the Author

Mr T Sampath Kumaran is a freelance writer. He regularly contributes articles on
Management, Business, Ancient Temples, and Temple Architecture to many
leading Dailies and Magazines.
His articles are popular in The Young World section of THE HINDU His e-books
on nature, environment and different cultures of people around the world are
educative and of special interest to the young.
His e-books Guide to 108 Divya Desams, Guide to 275 Siva Sthalams, The Path
of Ramanuja, Madhwacharya, Guide to Kancheepuram and Hinduism in a nutshell
have been well received in the religious circle. He was associated in the renovation
and production of two Documentary films on Nava Tirupathi Temples, and
Tirukkurungudi Temple in Tamilnadu.
His e-books and articles on nature, and different cultures of people around the
world are educative and of special interest to the young.
He was associated in the production of two Documentary films on Nava Tirupathi
Temples, and Tirukkurungudi Temple in Tamilnadu.

Acknowledgement to:
Google for the photographs and Scribd.com for hosting my e-books.
- Tamarapu Sampath Kumaran

Ariyakudi Temple
This is the biggest Vishnu Temple in the Chettinad Region belonging to
the 17th Century AD, with the 7Tier Raja Gopuram measuring 80ft. The
Perumal in the temple is Swayambumurthy, and as in Srirangam there
are festivals throughout the year.
Sevukan Chettiar, belonging to the Nagarattar community was a staunch
Vishnu devotee and used to walk to Tirupati each year with a group of
devotees for darshan of Srinivasa Perumal, on the Thiruvonam day in
Puratasi month. Those who visit Chettiar use to place their contributions
in the hundi kept by him and Chettiar used to carry the accumulated
money on his head during his pilgrimage. On one such trip, when ill
health seemed to disrupt his trip to the hill temple, he heard an invisible
voice- that of Lord Srinivasa Perumal- say that the Lord, would himself
provide darshan at the devotees place rather than the devotee coming all
the way to Tirupati. Lord asked Chettiar to go towards west and he
would spot His place there. In the dense forest area of Ariyakudi,
Chettiar found a Tulsi plant and a coconut shell at a place where the
temple now stands. While curing the land for building the temple the
idol of the presiding deity was found. He installed the idol of Srinivasa
Perumal and built the first prakaram, with sannadhis for Sridevi and
Bhoodevi.
Coming to know that procession deities are supplied by Srirangam
temple during Sri Ramanujas time, Chettiar visited Srirangam and took
efforts to get the Utsava murthy of Tiruvengamudayan worshipped by
the Acharya for this temple.

To start the temple rituals he also brought the Sadari (Padukas or feet of
the Lord) from Tirupati and Agni (fire) from Thirukoshtiyur
(Tirumayam) for the Karpoora Aradhana.
Every year during the Thiruvonam festival in Puratasi, devotees have the
honour of being blessed by the Lords from these three Divya Desams
(via the Abhisheka idol, the shatari and the sacred fire) at the
Dasavathara mandapa.
There is a huge tank to the North of the temple where the annual
Theppotsavam takes place in the month of Vaikasi.

Subsequently, the 7tiered 80ft tall Raja Gopuram was built along with a
separate Sannidhi for Alarmel Mangai Thaayar.
On the North East corner of the temple is the Garudar Sannidhi. Every
month on the Swathi star day, a special Thirumanjanam, with 108 sacred
Kudams, is performed for Garuda, who is said to remove doshams and
ward off evil forces.

.
It is considered a distinct change in the tradition and a specialty that
Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu graces in this temple with two lions
on each side. Special pujas are performed to Garuda in the month of
Aadi (July-August) called Maha Swati, the birth day of Garuda.

There are several ancient herbal paintings inside the temple each of
which still has a breadth of freshness about them.

A separate sannadhi has been constructed for Narasimhar, opposite the

main temple. A patasala has also been established to propogate the

vedas. In memory of the construction by Sevukan Chettiar, his idol can

be seen on one of the main pillars inside the first prakara.

Recently exquisitely carved temple car has been commissioned by the

Nattukottai Nagarathar community (Nattukottai chettiars) who have
been maintaining the temple administration, strictly according to agama
sastras.