At the outset, we would like to thank Anudinam website for having carried a brief article on Periyamarai some time ago. It was due to this article that we had the Bhagyam of knowing the details of our native, hitherto unknown to us. With the help of Google, we could establish contact with Sri Renganatha Desikan Swami (belonging to Thattai Vamsam), who is also from the same place.
One of the important objectives of our visit to Srirangam and Kumbakonam this time was to visit Periyamarai. Periyamarai is situated 10 kms from Thiruvaiyaru in Thirumanur Post , near Sullangudi village in a peaceful rural surroundings. An impressive arch welcomes us into Periyamarai. Few houses greet us and the main road is well cemented. A tall majestic Dwajasthambham has been erected as one of the recent additions.
Srinivasa Perumal and Alamelmangai Thaayar are the presiding deities at this temple. This is believed to be an ancient temple and has been around for more than 1000 years and was built by Chola Rajas. Utsavar is so captivating that people call him Kan Niraindha Perumal (கண் நிறைந்த பெருமாள்). He is also called as Kalyana Venkatesar . Those desirous of Marriage and Putra Bhagyam are blessed by this Perumal. Utsavar is also called Veda Narayanan because that village name Periyamarai, marai means Vedam.
About 25 years ago , the Utsava Murthis were stolen from the temple. The thieves took them to the near by Kaveri padukai , where they suddenly lost their eye sight and unable to carry them further , they left the Utsava Murthis there. It was found by the local people and restored to the temple after long procedure.
This temple was kept closed till about 10 years , when Perumal appeared in the dreams of Sri Renganatha Desikan , the current trustee who maintains the temple, directed him to open the temple and start daily aradhanams. Based on this he has made many efforts in renovating and conducting Maha Samproshnam for this temple. One can now, find new sannidis for Hayagreevar, Chakrathazwar, Oragattan , Guruvayur appan and Swami Desikan. Sannidhis for Thayar and Renganathar were also renovated
Utasavar adorns Vyapaka Mudrai akin to Danvanthiri Perumal and is believed to cure His devotees of ailments of all sorts. The trustees have appointed an exclusive Bhattar at the temple. Narayana Bhattar is young and active and takes good care with focus on increasing the visitors and improving the festivities. People of this village and its surroundings visit the temple especially during Saturdays and worship. Baghavathas travelling to either Kumbakonam, Srirangam , Thrivaiyaru or Thanjavur are requested to visit this beautiful temple and worship Lord Srinivasa and Alarmel Mangai Thayar and seek their Blessings.
Srirangam Kumbhabhisheka Thilakam, Sri.Sara Narayana bhatar, MA(Aagamam) who has finished 8 yrs of study in Aagamam sasthras who also conducts many Kumbhabhishekams in South India , can be contacted for Seva at this temple at +91 9003800574
Sri Renganatha Desigan Swami has arranged daily Sahasranama archanai.. Akshaya Thritjyai ,Garuda Vahanam, Karthigai Deepotsavam, Dhanurmasa Utsavam and Laksharchanai.
Another humble request is made to all those who are from this area and those desirous of making a Kainkaryam,
To contact : Sri Renganatha Desikan Swami , Trustee- Periyamarai Srinivasa Perumal Seva Samithi
Mobile : + 91 9381026729.
Our visit was a delightful and wonderful experience , which cannot be adequately expressed in words.This has been possible due to the Divya Katashams of Srinivasa Perumal and Alarmelmangai Thayar and Acharyas.
Courtesy : Periyamarai Setlur K. Srikanth
The information about periyamarai temple by Periyamarai Setlur K.Srikanth is not fully correct. No doubt, Sri Ranganatha Desikan has done a commendable job since 2007, has thrown out his weight for the construction of arch,conducting of utsavams and posting of one permanent archagar Sri Narayanan and a house for the yatrikas as well for the archagar. Sri Narayanan is doing his job very sincere.Sri Desikan’s contribution to the periyamarai temple cannot be forgotten. But at the same time the contribution by the some Sowrastras of Ayyampet whose kulatheivam is Periyamarai Perumal, must also be acknowledged by all periyamarai vamsam. the temple was given facelift by Sri Narayanan of Ayyampet, who is now settled in Singapore. I remember my father Sri Seshadri Iyengar to have told me that the utsava murthis were in the custody of the Ariyalur Sub-treasury and the local periyamarai residents fought in the court to retrieve the murthis and installed in the temple.one Mr.Venkatarama Iyer, a Telugh speaking Josier who lived in Periyamarai Temple Street, was performing the kainkarayam to the temple. eLater in 2006, i remember one Smt.Kala took steps to organise the periyamaarai vamsam. Because all the Iyengars of Periyamarai have vanished and settled elsewhere across the country. Now the vaishnavaites gather on the utsavam occasions and assemble at Periyamarai.Credit goes to Sri Desikan swamy. This is a open response by me and it is not in any way to hurt the contributor’s thoughts.
adiyen
Periyamarai Thattai Krishnawamy iyengar
There are a lot of errors in the information provided in this page.
The Moolavar’s name is “KaNN niraindha Perumal” and the Uthsavar’s name is ” Prasanna Venkatesan “. There were about 50 Iyengar families in the Agraharam and their recital of the Vedhas echoed across the mighty Kollidam river and hence the name of the village “Periya Marai”. The ancient name of this village was “Akalangapuram” named after the chola king Vikrama Cholan alias Akalangan.
After the theft and return of the Uthsavar idols , late Sri Venkatrama Iyer , the local Telugu brahmin was conducting the poojas till his last breath. The Saurashtra families of Ayyampet under the lead of late Sri Balaiyer were performing Kalyana Uthsavam on Panguni Sravanam to the Lord every year and this practice is still continued to date by his family members.
In 1999 when I went to offer my prayers at Periyamarai , Sri Balaiyer met me and proposed to take up the work of renovating the temple. We mobilised funds and the Samprokshanam was performed in Feb. 2002. From 1999 I am performing the four Purattasi Sani Thirumanjanam and Thiruveedhi Purappadu every year with the active participation and contribution of the villagers and Periyasmarai natives settled elsewhere every year.
After the demise of Sri Venkatrama Iyer I requested the present bhattar Sri Narayanan who is relative to me to look after the temple poojas and he shifted from Srirangam to our village. In this temple and in Kumbakonam Sri Sarangapani temple , our Ilayavilli vamsam is entitled to receive the first holy waters ( Mudhal Theertham ). Though some families claim to be native of Periyamarai , the fact is that their forefathers migrated to Periyamarai from villages nearby Kanchipuram some three hundred years back but the temple is about 1000 year old.
When in 1999 I found no house to rest , I planned to build a house for the benefit of my family as well as the pilgrims to this village. Subsequently I built a tiled house and this is the first ever house built by a native of Periyamarai in the Agraharam in recent times.
I hope and pray that asthikas in general and natives of Periyamarai settled elsewhere in particular, come to our village and have the darshan and blessings of Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Swamy.
Ilayavilli S.Boovarahan
9962662717 / 9840651317
Further to my comments I’d like to add the following :
The temple is administered by a group of trustees nominated by HR&CE department as “Thakkaars” and Sri Muthulingam Pillai is the current main trustee of this temple .
Till 1985 my Grand mother did not kainkaryam to the temple. My Grand father was donated 2 acrs land to the temple for Nandavanam. Our family was Hereditary Trustees to this temple till 1972, when the Uthsava Moorty was stolen my father handed over to HR & C. So, our family was left from Periyamarai village 1985.
May be Mr.Narayanan is relative to them but the Periyamarai Srinivasa Perumal Seva samithi is making every month salary and madapalli salary to Mr.Narayana’s mother. I also constructed once again RCC house during 2009 for sevarties.