Sri Hara Saabha Vimochana Perumaal Temple

Introduction

Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal Temple is the sixth Divyadesam, counted as the sixth among the 108 sacred temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is praised in the hymns of saint Thirumangai Azhwar. It is located in Thirukandiyur, a village on the outskirts of Thiruvayaru town in Tamilnadu. The word 'Hara' denotes Lord Shiva, while 'Saaba Vimochana' refers to redemption from curse. Perumal or the Lord of this temple is said to have relieved Shiva of his curse in this place, and hence the temple got its name. It is noteworthy that Lord Vishnu also appeared before Lord Brahma and king Mahabali in this shrine to ward off their sins. This is one among the rare temples, where the supreme trinity of Gods Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva, are all housed in the same premises. This temple is believed to be even older than the famous Srirangam temple.

The Temple Legends

As per the sacred text 'Brahmanda Purana,' Lord Brahma, the God of creation, and Shiva, the God of destruction, both had five heads each. This confused Goddess Parvati, the consort of Shiva, and once, she started worshipping Brahma instead of her husband, Shiva. This infuriated Shiva and made him severe, one of Brahma's heads. But in the process, the head or the skull got stuck to his hand.

To gain redemption, Shiva, as Bhikshatana, worshipped Lord Vishnu at a place called Thirukarambanur, where a part of his sin got cleared. Then, by praying to Lord Vishnu at his abode at Thirukandiyur and taking a holy dip in the sacred temple tank, he got relieved of the rest of his sin, too. Hence, the temple tank itself came to be known as Kapala Theertham, the water body that relieved Shiva of the skull, stuck to his hand. Shiva was extremely pleased, and he built a temple for Vishnu there, in the name of 'Hara Saabha Vimochana,' and one more temple for himself nearby.

According to another legend, Goddess Lakshmi herself requested Shiva to cut off one of Brahma's heads, as she always felt that Lord Vishnu ignored her, and remained more affectionate towards Brahma. It should be noted that in this very same temple, sage Bhrigu, king Mahabali, and Chandra, the planet Moon also worshipped Lord Vishnu and atoned for their sins.

The History and Architecture of Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal Temple, Thirukandiyur

The temple is believed to have been built in the 8th century CE by the Cholas, with later additions from the Vijayanagar and Nayak kings. This one-acre temple complex is constructed in the Dravidian architecture style and is fenced with granite walls all around it. It has two precincts, and a three-tier Rajgopuram, the main tower facing east. In the sanctum sanctorum, Hara Saabha Vimochana Perumal can be worshipped in a standing posture, while his consort Kamalavalli is housed in a separate shrine. The Garuda Mandapam and Maha Mandapam, supported by exquisitely carved pillars, remain the main halls, here. The principal temple tank Kapala Theertham or Kapala Moksha Pushkarani is located inside the temple, while Mahabali Theertham is lying opposite. There are separate shrines for Lord Narasimha, Sudarsana, Goddess Andal, the Azhwars, and saint Vedanta Desika.

Temple Festivals

Panguni Brahmmotsavam celebrated during the Tamil month Panguni, in March- April; Aipasi Pavithra Utsavam celebrated during October-November; Vaikunta Ekadashi observed in Margazhi, December-January, and Karthikai Deepam celebrated in November-December, remain as some of the important festivals of this sacred place.

Benefits of Worshipping Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal

This temple is a sacred place for people to get relieved of their sins. Worshipping the Lord here can cleanse people of their Karma, the effects of past actions or sins, so that they may be able to lead a better life of peace and joy. Lord Vishnu, as Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal, can remove all the afflictions and fill his devotees' lives with his divine grace.