Basic information about the temple
| Moolavar: | AadiNarayana Perumal | Ambal / Thayar: | Aadi Nayaki |
| Deity: | Perumal | Historical name: | |
| Vriksham: | Teertham: | ||
| Agamam: | Age (years): | ||
| Timing: | to & to | Parikaram: | |
| Temple group: | – | ||
| Sung by: | Temple set: | ||
| Navagraham: | Nakshatram: | ||
| City / town: | Gopurapatti | District: | Tiruchirappalli |
| Maps from (click): | Current location | Tiruchirappalli (15 km) | Perambalur (54 km) |
| Ariyalur (64 km) | Thanjavur (67 km) |
Location
Gopurapatti is located about 20km from Trichy, off the road to Tiruvellarai and Thuraiyur.
Sthala puranam and temple information
The temple is situated on, and surrounded by, land belonging to the Srirangam Ranganathar temple, between two rivers (Peruvalavan and Kamba, which are now only small canals). The temple’s history itself is connected with the Srirangam temple, and is very interesting.
In the early 14th century CE, Islamic troops of Allaudin Khilji, under the command of Malik Kafur, invaded the Pandya kingdom, including areas in and around Trichy. In order to protect Perumal at the temple, Pillai Lokacharyar and his followers hid the moolavar behind a wall they constructed in the Srirangam temple, and moved the utsava murti to the nearby Sundararaja Perumal (Azhagiya Manavalar) temple at Palayanallur. The daily pujas of Srirangam were conducted at Gopurapatti instead, and this tradition continues even till today, where annual tarpanam rituals are carried out (on Aadi Amavasya) on the banks of the Peruvalavan river, for those who sacrificed themselves to protect the Lord. Many years later, after the invading forces were driven back, the idols were restored at Srirangam by Kempanna and the Hoysalas. It is also believed that some renovation was done by a Lankan king in the 15th century.
The puranam of the temple is that the local Vaishnavite people – who used to till the lands here that belonged to the Srirangam temple – used to provide a measure of rice every day to the Lord at Srirangam, and would gather here at this temple for that purpose. One day, the measure went missing, and the people were very concerned as to how they would be able to make their offering. Lord Vishnu himself came with a measuring instrument, to relieve the people of their worry. The moolavar at this temple is in Bala Sayana Kolam, with a measuring instrument (padi) in his hand.
Other information for your visit
Nearby is the Sundararaja Perumal (Azhagiya Manavalar) temple at Palayanallur, where the utsava murti of Srirangam Ranganathar temple was kept during the Islamic invasion (see puranam above).
Tiruvellarai Pundarikaksha Perumal temple, a Divya Desam, is located about 10 km away. Close to this temple, or on the way from Trichy, are also the Gneeli Vaneswarar temple at Tiruppaigneeli (Paadal Petra Sthalam) which has been referred to above, Uttamar Koil Perumal temple, and the Bhoominathar temple at Mannachanallur. The Maatruraivaradeeswarar temple (Paadal Petra Sthalam) at Tiruvasi is a small diversion from Uttamar Koil.
Trichy is the nearest major city, and is served by an international airport. Being in roughly the geographical centre of Tamil Nadu, Trichy is well connected by trains to the rest of the state and with other destinations as well.
There are several accommodation options in Trichy across all budgets.
Contact
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