Neelamega Perumal Temple | Sowriraja Perumal | Thirukannapuram

Neelamega Perumal Temple/Sowriraja Perumal

Neelamega Perumal Temple, devoted to Lord Vishnu, one of the Divya Desams, is situated in Thirukannapuram. This Lord is having 10 Pasurams sung on Him by Thirumangai Azhwar. The presiding deity is Sri Sowri Raja Perumal and Thayar Kannapura Nayagi. This is one of the Panchakanna kshetras. The Pushkarni of this shrine is Nithya Pushkarni.

This is the only temple where the Lord shows the Trimurthy Swaroopam- Vishnu during the day, Brahma during the evening, and Shiva in the early morning of the following day.

Sthala Purana

Rangabhatta an enthusiastic devotee and priest of the temple used to offer garland to the directing deity regularly given by a mistress. She used to wear the garland before offering to the priest. One day, the King discovered a hair in the garland and enquired the priest about it. He said that the hair was that of the deity himself. The King believed that priest was lying and needed to punish him. While he checked the deity, Vishnu himself showed up with a Sowri (hairpiece). Since Vishnu appeared with Sowri, he is called Sowriraja Perumal. 

According to Padma Purana, a lord called Vasu (otherwise called Uparisravas), being able to fly. He was killing the devils who were disturbing the majority. While flying over this spot, he mixed up certain sages as evil presences and assaulted them. Vishnu came in as a 16-year-old kid and crushed Vasu. Vasu took some time to acknowledge it was Vishnu who came in camouflage. He petitioned Vishnu to wed his little girl Padmini. Satisfied by his dedication, Vishnu consented to wed Padmini.

Significance

Tirukannapuram is one among the eight temples including Tirupathi, Srirangam, Srimushnam, Naguneri, Saligram, Pushkar, and Padarikashram that are viewed as the eight holy places of salvation in Vaishnava traditions. They represent the Ashtatshara (eight-lettered) spell of "Om Namo Narayana", with each middle addressing a letter each. This temple is believed to have the combinations of all 8 deities, the mix of the relative multitude of eight temples. This temple is referred to as Bhoologa Vaikundam.

Munyodharan Pongal Prasadham:

Muna Yodhran Pongal is a traditional food offered to the god consistently during the last Pooja. As per Purana, a devotee by the name of Munayodharan offered a dish made of rice, lentil, and ghee to Vishnu regularly in the temple. During one evening, he was unable to offer and he felt for it. Vishnu was satisfied by his dedication and appeared to him in his home during the evening. Hence this was made as a unique prasad of this shrine.

Temple Timings & Address

The temple remains open from 7am to 12.15pm and 5pm to 8.30pm.

Address

Sri Sowri Raja Perumal Temple, 

Thirukkannapuram – 609704. 

Thiruvarur Dt.