History of the place

The region was once known as Vidharba Desa ruled by King Virocha. Due to a curse incurred in his past birth, he had no issues. A staunch Shiva devotee, he prayed to Lord Kailasanatha in Kanchipuram conducting a yajna. Lord Siva made the Dwarapalakas (security guards) of Lord Vishnu to be born as the king's sons. Though born as the princes, they continued to be devotees of Lord Vishnu and conducted a yajna for the welfare and prosperity of the people of this region. Pleased with them, Lord Vishnu granted darshan as Vaikundanatha to the princes.

Saints who worshiped

Mangalasaasanam (hymns) by Thirumangai Azhwar. This is the 57th temple among the 108 divya desams.

Speciality of this temple

Lord Paramapada Nathar graces the devotees in standing, sitting and reclining postures under the Ashtanga (Mukunda) Vimana. The sanctum sanctorum is built with sand rock. The temple is called Mummada Koil. Once, Mothers Parvathi, Mahalakshmi and Saraswati came to earth to do penance and they were helped by Sages Athri, Brugu, Kashyapa, Kaundilya, Triorisheya, Bharadwaja. When the Trimurthis (Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva) came there to take the mothers back, they could not go near their consorts due to the Rishi's penance power. They sent a beautiful Gandharva virgin near the sages. Sage Bharadwaja fell in love with her and had a son. Lord Vishnu took the form of a hunter and brought up the boy and named him Parameswara Varman. When the boy completed his educational courses, his life was coming to end. The Lord reclined with his head in northern direction and hindered Lord Yama (God of death) Yama obeyed the Lord and assured the boy, a long life. The boy came to know about his foster father and decided to build a temple with Lord's three postures viz. - standing, sitting and reclining. According to some historians Parameswara Varman was the first of the Pallava dynasty.

Pariharam

It is believed that prayer in this temple cleanses the devotees of all their sins and can reach Vaikundam. People worship for wedding and child boons too.As the extension of longvity to Parameswara Varman is said to have been granted on Vaikunda Ekadasi day, and also being a Wednesday, worshipping Lord on this day will increase the longevity of the devotee.

Pariharam Procedure

People offer sweet pudding (sarkarai pongal in tamil), curd rice and rice flakes (aval in tamil) to Lord and Mother and put deepams with ghee.