DHINAM ORU KOVIL - 8

SRI.UTTHAMAR KOVIL - - SRI.BIKSHANDAR KOVIL, MANNACHANALLUR

TALUK,TRICHY.
This temple is situated on the banks of river Kollidam, on the TRICHY-NAMAKKAL
Highways Road at about 10kms from heart of Trichy City. The presiding Vishnu Deity
is SRI.PURUSHOTTHAMAN with female deity, POORNAVALLI THAYAR. The Shiva Deity
is Sri.Bikshadaneswarar with his female deity, Soundharya Parvathi. The temple is
1000 to 2000 years old. Sthala vriksham is plantain tree and theertham kadhamba
theertham. The temple is praised by saint Tirumangai Azhwar with His Mangalasasanam. This is a
temple from where all the three Lords Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva grace the devotees.
Lord Brahmma the Creator had the grievance that He did not have a temple for Himself though He too
held a position as high as the three Lords. Lord Vishnu made Him born on Earth. He was worshipping
Lord Vishnu. To test His Bhakti, Lord stood there as Kadhamba tree. Brahmma did not fail to recognize
Vishnu in tree form and began to perform pujas to the tree. Lord Vishnu told Lord Brahmma that He
had to continue His presence there with Pujas and that He would be worshipped by devotees here even
though there were no temples for Him due to the curses He incurred. Brahmma stayed here. A shrine
was later built for Him.Mother Gnana Saraswathi, without Veena but with palm leaves and Japa Mala in
Her hands graces from a shrine left of Lord Brahmma. Devotees worship Lord Brahmma with curd rice
and Aathi leaves and Mother Saraswathi with white clothes for longevity and achievement in
education. Special pujas are performed to Lord Brahmma on Jupiter transition day Guru Peyarchi.
Lord Vishnu in His reclining form is facing east. Procession deity is in standing form with Prayoga
Chakra (discus) under the Udhyoga Vimana. Mother Poornavalli promising food in plenty graces from a
shrine near Mother Mahalakshmi. A rare darshan of two mothers awaits the devotee here.
Lord Shiva, in Linga form graces from behind Lord Perumal. He also graces as Bikshadana in the
ghoshta wall around the sanctum and also as procession deity. Lords Shiva, Brahmma and Vishnu
also grace from their respective shrines with their consorts. This is the only temple where all the
three Lords grace devotees together.
Brahmma too had five heads as Shiva. Once Mother Parvathi mistook Brahmma to Shiva and offered
Him services. Lord Shiva plucked off one head of Brahmma to avoid the confusion between the
two. This resulted in Shiva incurring a Brahmmahathi dosha. The skull of Brahmma stuck to the hands
of Shiva which He could not separate despite all efforts. All the food offered to Him was consumed by
the skull and it never was filled. Holding the skull, Lord Shiva came down to earth as a Bikshadana
with His skull bowl. When Shiva came to this place, Lord Vishnu asked Mother Mahalakshmi to offer
food in the bowl. When Mahalakshmi did so, the bowl began to over flow and quenched the hunger of
Lord Shiva, hence, She became to be praised as Pooranavalli one who fulfills the requirements of the
needy.
I have visited this temple a good number of times.