Athalanallur Aadi Moolam Gajendra Varadan Temple

Ambasamudram is a scenic town in Tamil Nadu, situated along the banks of the Tamraparni River and at the foothills of the Western Ghats. The nearest major city is Tirunelveli. This region is known for its natural beauty and numerous temples. One such temple is the Aadi Moolam Gajendra Varadan Temple in the nearby village of Athalanallur, close to Veeravanallur.

Highlights:

•  God – Aadi Moolam (Utsava Murti - Gajendra Varadan)
• Goddess – Theruku Nachiyar and Vadakku Nachiyar
•  Teerth (holy water) - Tamraparni

Legend:

The temple is closely associated with the famous legend of Gajendra Moksha. While several temples claim links to this legend, Athalanallur holds a special place in the story.

King Indradhyumna, who ruled this region, once failed to properly receive Sage Agastya due to other engagements. Offended, Agastya cursed him to be reborn as an elephant, Gajendra, the leader of a herd.

Meanwhile, a Gandharva mistakenly grabbed the feet of Sage Kapila while they were both bathing in a river. Kapila, angered, cursed him to become a crocodile, doomed to remain so until Lord Vishnu would liberate him with his discus.

One day, Gajendra came to the Tamraparni River to drink water. The cursed crocodile caught hold of his leg, and a fierce struggle ensued for thousands of years. Finally, Gajendra plucked a lotus and, with great devotion, offered it to Lord Vishnu while calling out “Aadi Moolame!”.

Moved by his devotion, Vishnu arrived on Garuda, slew the crocodile with his discus, and granted salvation to both the elephant and the Gandharva.

Another legend states that the sages Bhrigu and Markandeya had a divine vision of Vishnu at this site on the Tamraparni’s banks.

Temple Layout:

The temple is beautifully situated on the banks of the Tamraparni River, with the river flowing behind the sanctum.

The temple faces east and features a vibrant five-tiered Raja Gopuram (main entrance tower). A second tower is present after the entrance, leading to a pillared hall adorned with intricate carvings.

The sanctum houses Aadi Moolam, standing with four arms, flanked by Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. Inside the shrine, the sages Bhrigu and Markandeya are also depicted. The processional (utsava) icons of Gajendra Varadan with his consorts, along with a separate utsava image of Andal, are enshrined here.

At the entrance to the Ardha Mandapa, large Dwarapala (guardian) sculptures stand guard.

Garuda’s shrine, the flagstaff, and Bali Peetham are positioned facing the sanctum.

The sanctum is on a raised platform, accessed by a flight of steps, and features a beautifully carved front mandapa. The temple’s vimana (tower above the sanctum) is known as Indira Vimana. Technically it's an eight-sided Dravida vimana. The miniature shrines, karnakutas at the corners and the shaala in the middle are present without hara row, which is unusual. Similarly, the shaala has two horse-shoe shaped element called nasis, unlike the other temple vimanas.

The temple has two prakaras (enclosures). The outer prakara is an open courtyard with trees and greenery. The inner prakara houses the shrines of Therku Nachiyar (Lakshmi) and Vadakku Nachiyar (Bhoo Devi), along with icons of Dasavatara (the ten incarnations of Vishnu), Krishna with Rukmini & Satyabhama, and a sub-shrine for Paramapatha Nathar (Vishnu in seated posture).

The Maha Mandapa includes shrines for Andal and Vishwaksena. Near Garuda, there is a sculpture of Chakrathalwar with Narasimha behind him, holding four discuses. A sub-shrine for Hanuman is also present.

The temple is adorned with exquisite carvings, many depicting scenes from the Dasavatara and Gajendra Moksha.

This temple, with its tranquil setting, historical significance, and stunning architecture, is a must-visit. Don't miss it!



Happy travelling.