Basic information about the temple
| Moolavar: | Bhaktavatsala Perumal | Ambal / Thayar: | Kannamangai Nayaki, Abhishekavalli |
| Deity: | Perumal | Historical name: | Lakshmivanam |
| Vriksham: | Magizhamaram | Teertham: | Darshana Pushkarini, Vishnu Padha Ganga |
| Agamam: | Age (years): | ||
| Timing: | 8 to 12 & 5 to 8.30 | Parikaram: | |
| Temple group: | Divya Desam | – | |
| Sung by: | Temple set: | ||
| Navagraham: | Nakshatram: | ||
| City / town: | Tirukannamangai | District: | Tiruvarur |
| Maps from (click): | Current location | Thiruvarur (6 km) | Kumbakonam (34 km) |
| Nagapattinam (36 km) | Mayiladuthurai (41 km) |
Location
Tirukannamangai is located 7 km from Tiruvarur and 34 km from Kumbakonam.
Sthala puranam and temple information
This temple is mentioned in the Padma Puranam. During the churning of the ocean, Lakshmi came out of the ocean and immediately was attracted to the majestic presence of Vishnu. But as She was shy, She immediately withdrew and came here to Tirukannamangai, and performed penance here, in order to get married to Vishnu. Aware of this, Vishnu asked Vishwaksena to fix a date for the wedding, and on the appointed date, He married Lakshmi here at Tirukannamangai, in the presence of all the devas. Since Vishnu came out of the ocean, He is called Perum-pura-kadal Perumal here. The Devas who attended the wedding are considered to be here even today, in the form of bees inside the temple.
According to the temple puranam, during the Vamana Avataram, a drop of water from Vamana’s kamandalam fell here and became the temple Teertham. Chandran, who was afflicted with an eye problem, bathed in this Teertham and got relief; and so the Teertham is named Darshana Pushkarini.
Worshipping the massive Garudazhvar is considered important at this temple.
The place gets its name from Kannamangai Andan, a disciple of Nathamuni and a staunch devotee of the Lord. He used to do kainkaryam for the temple, cleaning it regularly. One day, he took the form of a dog, and merged with Vishnu here.
There are various stories of gods and Devas benefiting from worshipping at this temple, including Chandran, Varuna and Markandeyar who obtained his immortality by praying here. So this place is considered a mantra-siddhi kshetram.
There is a belief that Siva’s ganas protect this temple on all sides.
This temple is called a Sapta-Amrita Kshetram, ie a temple that has seven attributes – Kshetram, Teertham, Vimanam, Mandapam, Nagaram, Nadi, Aranyam.
The temple is also one of the Pancha Krishna Kshetrams (also called Krishna Aranya Kshetram or Krishna Mangala Kshetram), which are Tirukannamangai, Tirukannapuram, Kabisthalam, Tirukovilur and Tirukannangudi
This is a classic Chola temple with some spectacular art and architecture.
Other information for your visit
On a 4km stretch of road between Kumbakonam and Tiruvarur where this temple is located, there are several large and small temples. Of these, 7 important temples (primarily Paadal Petra Sthalams, Divya Desams or Vaippu Sthalams) are:
Bhaktavatsala Perumal, Tirukannamangai, Tiruvarur
Dharmapureeswarar, Vadakandam, Tiruvarur
Brahmapureeswarar, Karaveeram, Tiruvarur
Agasteeswarar, Manakkal Ayyampet, Tiruvarur
Seshapureeswarar, Raa Patteeswaram, Tiruvarur
Vaikunta Narayana Perumal, Deepapuram, Tiruvarur
Abhimukteeswarar, Manakkal Ayyampet, Tiruvarur
Contact
Gallery
TN Temples Project 