Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Madurai
Temple's Location
First things first! Where is this temple located? Koodal Azhagar Temple is an important Vishnu temple in Madurai. At about 450 meters, from that temple, on a narrow street named South Krishnan Koil Street, the temple of Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal is located.
This temple is administered by Madurai Saurashtra Sabha. Do you wonder who Saurashtrians are and what they do in Madurai? Read on...
Saurashtrians
Saurashtra is the region in the southern part of Gujarat state. Saurashtrians, the people of Saurashtra, apparently migrated from their own land due to a foreign invasion in the 11th century CE. In the last 1000 years, it is believed that they kept migrating to various regions such as Maharashtra and Karnataka. In the 16th century/17th century CE, they were brought to Tamil Nadu by the Nayaka Kings. Saurashtrians, predominantly weaver community people, settled down mainly in Madurai and Thanjavur.
Saurashtrians in the current era related themselves to Tamil Nadu and not to Saurashtra or Gujarat. They speak the Saurashtra language at home. Except that there is hardly any difference between them and other Tamils. They learn Tamil in the schools; they speak and write Tamil very well; their custom and tradition are similar to the Tamils; there are notable Saurashtrians in prominent positions in the state.
Madurai, being one of the first settlements in Tamil Nadu for Saurashtrians, have a good population of them even now. Their association, called Madurai Saurashtra Sabha, administers this temple. The temple was patronized by the Nayaka kings. Saurashtrians, who were working for the Nayakas, became the temple administrators in due course.
In this temple, the names of deities in all the shrines are written in Saurashtrian script.
Replica of Tirupati Balaji
The temple's presiding deity is Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal, enshrined in the east-facing sanctum. It is said that the image is an exact replica of that of Tirupati Balaji. The beauty of this nine feet tall image of Perumal completely enthralls us.
The Original Presiding Deity
The original presiding deity of the temple was Nardana Krishna. He is found in a separate shrine in the Mukha Mandapa. Even now, the first pooja in the temple is offered to him.
As per the legend, it was initially a tiny temple with only the icon of Nardana Krishna. The devotee of Krishna, who had built this temple, got a divine dream, leading him to the river Vaigai. There he found the self-manifested idol of Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal. He expanded the temple and installed Perumal. In due course, Venkatesa Perumal became the presiding deity.
The Naicka's Connection
The current structure of the temple belongs to the beginning of the 20th century CE. There have been multiple additions and expansions in the recent past. The temple was probably a small temple, which was patronized and expanded by the Nayakas originally. However, there is no historical document or inscription that I am aware of.
It is said that Tirumalai Naicker got a glimpse of Krishna Jyoti (divine light depicting Lord Krishna) from this temple. Hence, he contributed a lot to this temple.
Rani Mangammal, one of the later rulers of Madurai, also gifted ornaments to this temple.
The Best Kept Secret
Now, the best-kept secret of the temple...
Even the people of Madurai might not know the connection of this temple with Sri Tyagaraja, one of the Trinity of Carnatic Music. Sri Walajabad Venkataramana Bhagavadar, a principal disciple of Tyagaraja, possessed the holy paduka (holy footwear) of Tyagaraja and the Tambura he used. After Bhagavadar passed away, his family members handed them to Saurashtra Sabha.
A small temple shrine has the portrait of Sri Tyagaraja and the original Tambura used by his holiness. There is one more old Tambura kept in the same shrine.
The Padukas of Tyagarajar and the original manuscript written by Bhagavadar are in possession of Saurashtra Sabha.
Alamelu Manga and Andal
Alarmel Mangai Thayar (Alamelu Manga) is found in a separate shrine on the true right side of the sanctum. She is an exact replica of Tirupati Alamelu Manga.
Andal is found in a separate shrine on the proper left side of the sanctum.
Both the shrines face the east direction, and the icons are huge.
Other Deities
Unique Murtis
Sri Natana Gopala Nayaki Swamigal was a great devotee of Vishnu in Madurai. He lived in the last decades of the 19th century and the early 20th century CE. He composed many songs in Tamil and Saurashtra languages on Vishnu. There is a separate shrine for this Swamiji. He is found holding his Veena.
Venkata Churi was a Vishnu devotee who lived in the 19th century CE. He spent his last few years in Madurai. He was well-versed in multiple languages. He contributed a lot to developing literature in the Saurashtra language. Ramayana in Saurashtra language is a notable work by him. There is a shrine for this Swamiji. He is found holding his Veena.
Vaishnava Vigneswara
Near the entrance of the temple, there is a six feet tall idol of Vaishnava Vigneshwara. He is found in the standing posture. He has an elephant face. He holds conch and discus in his upper arms. His left lower arm has mace. He has a flat belly and has two tusks. He is standing on Garda peetha.
Almost everyone mistakes this idol to be Lord Ganesha. But this is Vishvaksena, the guard of Vishnu. As per the iconography, Vishvaksena, too, has an elephant face, like Ganesha. Vishvaksena has two tusks and not the broken tusk like Ganesha. Also, Vishvaksena has a flat belly and holds weapons similar to Vishnu.
A few ancient temples have Ganesha in Koshta (niche). Incidentally, some people mistake that for Vishvaksena.
Navagrahas
Finding Navagrahas in a Vishnu temple is rare for all of us, but not for the people of Madurai. Like many other Vishnu temples in the city, this temple too has Navagrahas.
Other Features
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