Vanmutti Perumal, Kozhikuthi, Nagapattinam

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Vanmutti Perumal	Ambal / Thayar:	Mahalakshmi
Deity:	Perumal	Historical name:	Kotihathhi
Vriksham:	Athi	Teertham:	Pippala Maharishi Teertham, Viswa Pushkarini
Agamam:		Age (years):	500-1000
Timing:	8 to 12 & 5 to 8	Parikaram:
Temple group:		–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Kozhikuthi	District:	Nagapattinam
Maps from (click):	Current location	Mayiladuthurai (3 km)	Kumbakonam (35 km)
	Tiruvarur (45 km)	Nagapattinam (57 km)

Location

Sholampettai is located 8km from Mayiladuthurai and 32km from Kumbakonam.

Sthala puranam and temple information

Nirmalan, a local king, was affected by a chronic skin disease. He searched all over for a cure, before finally coming across a sage who was playing the veena. The king sought succour and the sage taught him a mantra to be repeated every day, which would invoke Lord Vishnu. The king did this, and one day, heard Vishnu’s voice telling him to travel along the bank of the river Kaveri, where he would be guided by Siva as Margasahayeswarar (at Moovalur), and would be cured at the place his body turned into gold. The king did so, and came to this place, where he was cured. As the king was offering his thanks and worship, an Athi (fig) tree sprouted, and Vishnu gave pratyaksham to the king. The king surrendered to the Lord, and later came to be known as Pippala Maharishi.

The main deity– Srinivasa Perumal – is regarded as the combined representation of Srinivasa Perumal at Tirupati, Varadaraja Perumal at Kanchipuram and Ranganathar at Srirangam. Because the 18-foot murti of Perumal appears to touch the sky, He is known as vanam-mutti Perumal (vanam=sky, mutti=touch/reach). The roots of the tree are regarded as Perumal’s thiruvadi.

King Serfoji is said to have been relieved of a disease, and received pratyaksham of Vishnu, here. He is said to have created the Lord’s figure out of the Athi tree here, as thanksgiving, and for all devotees to receive the Lord’s blessings. As the deity is made of wood, no abhishekam is performed – only sacred oil is applied on the murti (thaila kaappu).

Vishnu has Lakshmi in his chest, and sports the Abhaya mudra.

Saptaswara Anjaneyar here is special – one can hear seven different notes when Anjaneyar’s murti is touched at seven different places. He is seen with a bell attached to his tail!

The temple is said to have been built by Kulothunga Chola III in the 12^th century, as penance for his killings in the various wars he fought. While today the location of this temple is a place called Sholampettai, it is also known locally as Kozhikuthi. This is a corruption of Kotihathi Vimochana Puram, whereby worshipping Perumal here is said to be able to overcome the sin of even a thousand killings (koti-hathi).

According to Mr Vijayakumar, who actively manages this temple and was instrumental in its renovation a few years ago, the funds for renovation always came from unexpected, or even unknown, sources, even without asking. He attributes this to the divinity of the temple.