26012011854, Thiru Mukkoodal Appan Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
26012011854, Thiru Mukkoodal Appan Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram

Thiru Mukkoodal Appan Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram

Date built:–
Deity:Thiru Mukkoodal Appan Venkatesa Perumal
Architectural style:Dravidian architecture
Major festivals–
Locale:Kanchipuram
District::Kanchipuram
Address:Appan Venkatesa Perumal Temple,Thiru Mukkoodal,
Kanchipuram District
Phone+91 – 94437 78352
 Appan Venkatesa Perumal Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu located at Thiru Mukkoodal Village in Kanchipuram District of Tamilnadu. The temple is beautifully located on the banks of the river giving a scenic view. The compound of the temple is just on the shore of the river is a wonderful site to see. Lakshmi Narasimhar temple is located in Pazhaya Seevaram on one side of the river and Appan Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple on the other bank of the river. This temple is said to be 1200 years old, as the oldest inscription found in this temple belongs to 9th Century.
This temple is said to have built by a king ruling Thondai Mandalam (with capital as Kanchipuram), by name Raja Thondaiman Chakravarthy. Appar Thirunavukarasar has sung praise of the Lord. Hence, this is also referred to as the ‘Appar’ koil. Thiru Mukkoodal got its name as three rivers Palar (Ksheera Nadhi), Vegavathi (Saraswathi) and Cheyyar (Bahu Nadhi) merge together at this place. This place is called Triveni Sangamam and is considered equivalent to Ganges. Taking bath here is considered as holy as bathing in Prayag.
This is an ASI maintained temple and once this village was flourishing with Vedic College, Ayurvedic hospital and hostels. Appan Venkatesa Perumal is standing on an (Shiva linga) Avudaiyar which is very rare to see. Lord changed his original Sayana Kolam to provide darshan to Thondaiman Chakravarthy in a standing posture. Tirupathi Lord sent his Original Conch and Chakra, to the king, which is now seen here at this temple.
Varadar makes his annual trip to Thiru Mukkoodal on Maatu Pongal day. The Temple is located at about 70kms South of Madras, off the Chengalpet-Kanchipuram SH58 at the confluence of three rivers – Palar, Vegavathi and Cheyyar. The temple is one km South of Pazhaya Seevaram Narasimha temple on the Salavakkam Highway.

Temple Opening Time  

The Temple will be open from 8.30 am – 11 am and 4 pm – 6 pm. On Thiruvonam day every month, the temple will be open between 8 am – 1 pm and 3 pm – 7 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays the temple is open from 08.30 am till 1 pm and from 3 pm till 7 pm.

See also  Thovalai Murugan Temple, Kanyakumari

Architecture

Legend / Local stories

Lord Venkatesa Perumal helping Kind Thondaiman in war:

According to the legend, the king Thondaiman once started to Thirupathi to have darshan of Lord Venkatesa Perumal. He then heard a divine voice telling him that it was not the time to visit Thirupathi as a king from a neighbouring country was nearing his kingdom to wage a war. The voice advised him to be with his son during war time to save the country and later to visit Thirupathi.

On hearing this Thondaiman prayed to Lord Venkatesa Perumal and the Lord blessed him to win the battle and gifted him with his Sanku (Conch) & Chakra (Wheel). Thondaiman successfully won the battle and on his way back both the weapons Sanku and Chakra vanished. Later, the Lord directed Sri Ramanujar to install Sanku & Chakra for him at this place. That’s how the deity here had got Sanku & Chakra here.

Then the king Thondaiman surrendered to Perumal at Thirupathi seeking ‘Moksha’. The Lord directed him to come to Thirumukkudal to grant Moksha to him. The king visited here to have darshan of the Lord. Till then, the Lord here was said to be in ‘Sayana Kolam’ (reclining posture like Ranganathar). When the king visited here the Lord is said to have changed his posture and gave him darshan in standing posture.

The king Thondaiman, out of his excitement and bliss, embraced the Lord saying ‘Appaney Venkatesa’ (அப்பனே வெங்கடேசா), means ‘Oh My Father Venkatesa!’ and from then the Lord here came to be known as ‘Appan Venkatesa Perumal’. The king Thondaiman is said to have built this temple initially for Lord Sri Venkatesa Perumal. The same king is said to have built the temple at Thirupathi (Thirumalai) as well as Thirumalai Vaiyaavoor, which is called Southern Thirupathi.

See also  Sivananintha Perumal Temple, North Kundal, Kanyakumari

Lord Vishnu darshan to Brighu Rishi:

Lord Srinivasa provided darshan, facing north, to Brighu Maha Rishi who undertook penance here and hence he is seen in a standing posture facing Northern Direction.

Divya Desam Connection:

While this is not a Divya Desam, there are some interesting connections with Tirupathi and Oppiliappan Divya Desams. One finds Tirupathi Lord’s Conch and Chakra at this temple. Similar to Oppiliappan temple, Lord Srinivasa is said to have provided darshan to Markandeya Rishi (as Ranganatha in his Sayana Kolam) and to Bhoodevi as Kannan. Hence, Markandeya Rishi and Bhoo Devi are seen by the side of Appan Venkatesan.

Equivalent to Kasi:

Having bath at the confluence of the three rivers and undertaking Pitru Tharpanam on the river bank is said to provide Puniyam equivalent to having bath in Kasi.

Festivals

Kanchi Varadar’s annual visit to Thiru Mukkoodal:

Kanchipuram Sri Varadaraja Perumal’s Parivettai is a very popular festival here. Five Perumals – Lord Varadarajaswamy of Kanchipuram, Lord Lakshmi Narasimha, Pazhaya Seevaram, Sri Appan Venkatesa Perumal, Thirumukkudal and two other Perumals of nearby temples meet together at Thirumukkudal temple courtyard and stay in different mandapas  on Kaanum Pongal Day – Tamil month ‘Thai’ (16th January), which is said to be a delight to watch. On this evening, Lord Srinivasa of Thiru Mukkoodal welcomes Salavakkam Perumal and Pazhaya Seevaram Narasimha, Kanchi Varadar as well as other one nearby Perumal at this temple. Later in the evening, all these five deities go out on a street procession around Thiru Mukkoodal.

Other Festivals:

  • Krishna Jayanthi
  • Vaikunta Ekadesi
  • Garuda Sevai
  • Karthigai
  • Thiruvonam (Perumal’s star) is special every month
See also  Velleeswarar Temple, Mylapore, Chennai

Photo Gallery

How to Reach:

Thiru Mukkoodal is a village located about 20 kms from Kanchipuram on the road going towards Chengalpattu. While going from Chengalpattu, one can reach Pazhaya Seevaram, 5 kms before Walajabad. From Pazhaya Seevaram one has to take left and cross the bridge on the river Palar to reach Thirumukkudal. There are frequent bus services available from Chennai to Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram and other places.

Route 1:

Chennai – Tambaram – Walajapet – Pazhaya Seevaram. One has to take a right at Pazhaya Seevaram and cross the Palar Bridge to reach Thiru Mukkoodal – 65kms.

Route 2:

Chennai – Singapperumal Koil – Palur (SH57) – SH58 – Pazhaya Seevaram. One has to take a right at Singapperumal Koil (45kms from Madras) on to the SH57. 12kms on this road, just after crossing the Chengalpet – Kanchipuram railway gate at Palur, one will join Chengalpet – Kanchipuram SH 58. 5kms on this road, one should take at left at Pazhaya Seevaram and cross the Palar Bridge to reach Thiru Mukkoodal – 65kms.

Route 3:

Chennai – Chengalpet – Kanchipuram Highway (NH45 – SH58). Take a left at Pazhaya Seevaram to reach Thiru Mukkoodal – 72kms.

It is better to take the third route. One can reach Thiru Mukkoodal in 20minutes from Chengalpet. Nearest Railway station is located at Pazhaya Seevaram and Palur, on the Chennai – Chengalpattu – Kanchipuram line. Nearest Airport is Meenambakkam Airport in Chennai.

Contact Details

Appan Venkatesa Perumal Temple
Thiru Mukkoodal,
Kanchipuram District
Mobile: +91 – 94437 78352

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