Temple info -1706 Sindhupatti Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Usilampatti, Madurai. சிந்துபட்டி வெங்கடேச பெருமாள் கோயில், உசிலம்பட்டி, மதுரை

 Temple info -1706

கோயில் தகவல் -1706

History of Sindhupatti Perumal Temple:

 If it is Perumal temple, we will get only Tulsi and Tirtha as prasadam? Also, if they give vibhuti too...we who receive it will be surprised.  Which temple is that?  What is the cause of giving vibhuti as prasadam?

 For that we have to go to Sindhupatti.  On the Madurai District- Tirumangalam- Usilampatti road, about 18 km far away is Sindhupatti.  This wonder happens in the ancient Venkatesa Perumal temple here.  If you know the history of the temple, you will get an explanation for this.

 During the 12th and 13th centuries AD,the Deccan plateau and the south were ruled by Sultans.  It was against their rule that the Vijayanagara Empire arose.  Many dilapidated temples were revived after that. Tirupati and the surrounding Chandragiri fort area were in the hands of the Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya.  In the 1530 AD, after the death of Krishnadevaraya, the Sultans invaded and destroyed the Chandragiri fort.

 In the area of ​​Chandrakrikottai, people from the Kanji desam lived.  Some of them hail from Vijayanagara.  At the hands of the Sultans, they suffered various cruelties.  They forcibly married the women of their caste and threw them in the village.  Once the family was asked by the Sultan to order him to marry a woman whom he considered honourable.

 But some families, who did not want the women of their race to suffer in the palace of the Sultans, left the country overnight and went south.  At that time, they took with them the idols of Lord Venkatachalapati, Sridevi and Bhudevi, which they were worshiping. 

Their intention is to go far beyond the river Vaigai.  On the way, they had to stay that night at a village.  They put the things they had brought in one place.  They performed special pujas to the festival idols with the puja items they had brought with them and kept them safe.

 It was dawn.  Thinking that they want to continue their journey, they tried to lift the boxes containing the Puja items and the boxes containing the Perumal Utsava idols.  But, surprise... those boxes couldn't be moved at all!  Such a burden.  With no other choice, they left the boxes there and stayed there.

 That night...Perumal appeared in the dream of one of the elders in the group.  "None of you should be afraid... the people of this area will be safe for you.  They will not harm you.  I will protect you from such a thing.  Tomorrow morning... take an angavastra from the box and put it on a tamarind tree below Kanmai and shout three times. A Garuda will lift the angavastra and drop it at a place. Consecrate my idol at that place and build a temple...'' he said and disappeared.  The old man woke up and told those around him about his dream, and everyone waited for the dawn in admiration of Lord Perumal.

 The next morning, as Perumal had said in his dream, a garudan from the sky  lifted the Angavastra from the box and placed it on a tamarind tree that was some distance away.  They placed the idol on the spot, consecrated Perumal Moolavar and the goddess, and built the temple.

 Tamarind is called Chindhapandu in Telugu.  Since the temple was located near a tamarind tree and Angavastra fell on the tamarind tree and identified the place, the place was called Chittapandur. 

That later became Sindhupatti.  Also, people here sing a lot of Sindhu songs on Perumal.  They say that the name Sindhupatti may have come from that also.

 In this temple, the god is Sri Venkatachalapati.  The mother is  Alarmel Mangai.  The structure of this temple is similar to that in Tirupati.  But Perumal is seen here with upanachiyars Sridevi-Boodevi.

 Flag and Vibhuti Prasadam

 The flagpole of the temple is located differently.  The flagpole is usually similar to a garuda flag and a garuda with folded arms at the top of the flagpole.  Special pujas are done to the flag tree only during festivals like Brahmotsavam.

 But here Karuppannaswamy is invoked on the flagpole.  Therefore, vibhuti prasad is given under this flagpole.  Devotees pray to this flag tree and get their wishes fulfilled.  This is called 'pillar washing'.  A mixture of lamp oil and curd is applied from the top of the flagpole and thirumanjanam is performed.  Then, a very large cloth is draped over the vine tree, and vibhuti is performed.  That is what is offered as prasad.

 As we enter the town, we find a Karuppannaswamy. They will come here after first worshiping him.  He is their guardian deity.  There is a connection between this flag tree and that Karuppannasamy!

 Temple shrines...

 After the Flagpole, Garudazhwar Sannidhi.  Opposite, Sri Venkatesa Perumal with Sridevi-Boodevi.  Outside the hall... a separate sanctum sanctorum for Mother Alarmelmangai. 

 Beautiful Swing Hall - Utsava Mandapam! 

 They have recently constructed a Sannidhi for Chakrathalwar in Prakaram.  Beautiful idol- Chakrathalvar and Yoga Narasimha bless.  Prakaram will go around

Rounding the Prakaram, we find the Vahana Mandapam.  Each community performs each Vahana Utsavam.

 Festivals

 Important festivals in this temple include Vaikasi Brahmotsavam, Aadi Perundruvizha, Avani Mata Krishna Birth, Puratasi Saturdays, Karthikai Deepa Festival, Margazhi Mata special worships, Vaikunda Ekadasi Opening of the Sorga Vasal Thaimatha pirappu (Pongal Special Festival).

 The Mahishasuravatam performance here in Vaishnava temple is different.  The Gomatha special worship held here shows the harmonious life with the village.

 The temple is about 500 years old.  Twelve Patti Kambalathar Nayaks have also worshiped and administered.  This temple is currently under the supervision of the Tamil Nadu Government Charities Department.  A board of trustees appointed by the government looks after the administration of the temple.

 Those who wish to pray to Tirupati Venkatachalapati, if unable to go to Tirupati due to some inconvenience, can fulfill it here.  As Perumal also hailed from the Tirupati region, this place is hailed as South Tirupati.

 This temple has been worshiped and adored by Vanamamalai Jeeyar.

 Devotees pray to get rid of their sins by visiting Perumal and because Indra was freed from the curse.

 If the pole is worshiped by worshiping it, a child will be born;  A long pending marriage will take place;  It is a popular opinion that lost objects are found immediately.

 By worshiping Gomatha, the devotees get success in the case and blessedness of children.

Another special feature of this temple is that newlyweds come here on Vijayadasami festival of the year, take fast, do archan, and get blessed by Perumal, the mother!  This is called makarnonbu.  This custom is still being practiced in these areas through generations.

 Where is the temple?

 About 18 kms on the way to Usilambatti from Tirumangalam near Madurai.  Thirumangalam-Usilampatti buses ply via Sindhupatti.