At a distance of seven km from Marthandam and 45 km from Kanyakumari, Sri Adikesava Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple positioned in Thiruvattaru. It is likely one of the 108 divya desams of Sri Vaishnavas and in addition one of many standard locations of pilgrimage in Kanyakumari.
The temple is devoted to Sri Adikesava Perumal, that means ‘Foremost Good friend’. In keeping with the legend, Lord Adikesava defeated the demon Kesi. The demon’s spouse prayed to the River Ganges and River Thamirabarani and created destruction. They got here in spate to scrub off the Lord. Mom Earth merely raised the bottom stage the place Perumal was reclining. Each Rivers went around the Lord, prayed to Him and continued to move spherical as two garlands. Thus, the formation of the rivers made in a circle got here to be often known as Thiruvattaru.
The temple was in-built Dravidian model structure with wood pillars, doorways and roofs. The presiding deity right here is in reclining posture together with Goddess Maragathavalli Nachiar. Although there are similarities between the Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple of Thiruvananthapuram, the Thiruvattar temple is older. The big idol of the Lord stands at 22 ft, larger than Anantha Padmanabhaswamy. The presiding deity is made from mustard, lime powder and jaggery. The lord is mendacity on his snake sofa and must be seen by way of three doorways. Adikesava Perumal’s ft is on the left and head on the best; it’s the reverse in Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple. A Shiva lingam is located close to Lord Adikesava Perumal contained in the sannidhi.
There are near 50 inscriptions contained in the temple in each Tamil and Sanskrit together with these referring to Kulothunga Chola I and his contribution to this temple. Along with the inscriptions, one additionally finds a lot of beautiful sculptures on the pillars much like those in Krishnapuram and Srivaikuntam. One other outstanding characteristic is the Ottakkal mandapam exterior the sanctum measuring 18 ft width and three ft top that has been constructed on a single stone within the 12th Century AD. Udaya Marthanda mandapam has beautiful wood carvings and the spotlight is the marriage procession of Lord Ganapathi. The corridors have 222 salabhanjikas and are distinctive. The rays of the solar fall immediately on Lord Adikesava Perumal in March-April and in September-October.
Vaikunta Ekadasi is well known with pomp and glory. Paal Payasam (Milk Kheer), Aval and Appam are scrumptious prasadams at this temple. The pujas are completed in the identical method as that of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple, Thiruvananthapuram.
Timings: 5 AM – 12 PM & 5 PM – eight PM