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Srivilliputhur
Andal
Temple
The
temple
has
two
divisions;
the
one
of
Andal
located
on
the
Southwest
and
the
second
one
of
Vatapatrasayi
(Vishnu)
on
the
Northeast
direction.
A
granite
wall
surrounds
the
temple,
enclosing
all
its
shrines,
the
garden
where
Andal
was
found
and
two
of
its
three
bodies
of
water.
The
fish
emblem
of
the
Pandya
dynasty
can
be
seen
in
the
ceiling
and
Mandapams.
The
Sukravara
Kuradu
bears
the
statues
of
Thirumalai
Naicker,
his
brother
Chokkappa
Naicker
and
their
wives.
The
tall
towers,
massive
car,
huge
tank,
sculpted
pillars,
ancient
Ramayana
frescoes
and
modern
wall
paintings
depicting
the
Lords
of
108
Divyadesams,
numerous
inscriptions
dating
back
to
the
rule
of
Pandya
kings,
fine
rectangular
hall
with
a
wooden
roof
and
above
all
its
unique
Thiruppavai
Vimanam
speak
volumes
of
their
rich
architectural
heritage.
Rajagopuram
The
Rajagopuram,
the
temple's
gateway
tower,
192
ft
(59
m)
tall.
The
tower
is
originally
believed
to
have
been
built
by
Periyalwar
with
the
prize
money
he
obtained
from
religious
debates
in
the
court
of
Vallaba
Pandya
in
Madurai.
It
has
eleven
stages.
The
Raja
Gopuram
is
one
of
the
tallest
in
Tamilnadu.
The
temple
tower
is
2nd
only
to
Srirangam
Temple
Rajagopuram
(236
ft)
among
the
Divya
Desams.
It
is
also
the
Emblem
of
Tamil
Nadu
Government.
The
great
poet
Kamban
has
praises
it
in
lofty
terms
and
the
poem
finds
a
place
in
the
Tower.
Vadabadrasayee
Shrine:
The
Temple
is
also
called
as
Vada
Perum
Koil
and
Periya
Perumal
Koil.
This
is
the
Divyadesam
Temple.
The
temple
of
Lord
Vadabadrasayee
is
a
two
storied
Maadakoil,
with
a
large
prakaram
full
of
beautiful
paintings
and
sculptures.
A
shrine
for
Lord
Lakshmi
Narasimha
is
on
the
ground
floor.
The
idol
is
large
and
brightly
painted.
There
are
Shrines
for
12
Alwars
and
Dasavatharam
of
Vishnu
can
be
found
in
the
ground
floor.
The
sanctum
in
the
second
level
approached
through
a
flight
of
steps
houses
the
image
of
Vatapatrasayi
facing
east
in
a
reclining
posture
and
his
consorts,
Lakshmi
(Sridevi)
and
Bhoodevi,
are
shown
attending
to
him
at
his
feet.
Sage
Bhrigu
stands
near
his
head
and
sage
Markandeya
is
near
his
feet.
The
banyan
tree
whose
leaf
is
known
as
Vatapatram,
on
which
Vishnu
is
said
to
rest
in
the
form
of
a
baby
during
deluge,
is
at
his
head,
behind
Bhrigu.
The
Lord’s
image
is
a
large
and
very
colourful
stucco
image
(made
of
brick
and
mortar),
hence
daily
Thirumanjanam
(sacred
bath
)
is
not
performed.
Lord
Vadabadrasayee
was
the
Lord
whom
Periyalwar
and
Andal
worshipped
with
such
fervour.
Images
of
Panchamurtis
–
Thumburu,
Narada,
Sanathkumara,
Kinnara,
Sun,
Mithuna
and
Moon
are
present
around
the
deity
as
well
as
representations
of
Villi
and
Puttan
are
seen
at
his
feet.
The
sanctum
has
three
doorways
from
which
the
presiding
deity
can
be
seen.
Also,
on
the
first
floor
is
a
large
rectangular
hall
with
ornate
woodwork
on
the
walls.
It
is
called
Gopala
Vilasam
and
it
was
built
200
years
ago
using
wood
panels
from
the
temple
car
which
was
damaged.
The
intricate
carvings
on
the
wood
panels
depict
scenes
from
the
Ramayana
and
other
puranas
and
scenes
from
the
life
of
Andal.
It
is
here
that
the
Araiyar
Sevai
is
performed
during
the
Pagal
Pathu
Utsavam.
Vimana
over
the
sanctum
is
called
as
Samsana
Vimanam.
Utsava
Idols
of
Chakrathalvar,
Kannan
and
Allal
Thavirtha
Piran
Utsavars
are
found
in
the
Artha
Mandapam.
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