Lakshmi Narayana Perumal, Avoor, Thanjavur

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Lakshmi Narayana Perumal	Ambal / Thayar:	Lakshmi
Deity:	Perumal	Historical name:
Vriksham:		Teertham:
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	to & to	Parikaram:
Temple group:		–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Avoor	District:	Thanjavur
Maps from (click):	Current location	Kumbakonam (11 km)	Thanjavur (31 km)
	Tiruvarur (43 km)	Ariyalur (47 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

The village of Avoor near Kumbakonam is best known for the Pasupateeswarar temple for Lord Siva, which is a Paadal petra sthalam. However, there are two other temples in the village – the Ananteeswarar Siva temple, and the Lakshmi Narayana Perumal temple.

There is no record of the temple’s history, and the earliest reference one can see of this is in a temple census dating back to 1941. That is not to say that this is an altogether new temple. While clearly much of the temple has been recently renovated (as of our visit in April 2022), from the iconography, use of bas relief vigrahams and some of the construction in the temple itself, it is possible that the original structural temple must have been close to 500 years old, if not older. However, there are certain records in other temples, which talk of various vigrahams installed by Sage Vyasa. One of those installations is said to be the one of Hanuman at this temple, installed by Sage Vyasa, meaning that the original temple here is perhaps centuries old.

The etymology of Avoor is quite interesting. Kamadhenu, along with her children Nandini and Patti, was living in mullai vanam (Tirukarukavur) and used to take other cows along with her to graze. She would collect flowers and undertake puja to Lord Siva. Similarly, Patti did the same at Patteeswaram. The place where all the cows assembled was Avoor (aa in Tamil means cow), and where they went for grazing was called go-iruntha-kudi (Govindakudi). All of these places are located fairly close together.

The temple layout is itself fairly simple. Upon entering the temple is a wide passage with arched columns. To the right is the bas relief vigraham of Jayaveera Hanuman (installed by Sage Vyasa), and straight ahead is the shrine for Garuda (Periya Tiruvadi) facing Perumal. Further ahead is a door leading to the ardha mandapam, followed by the antarala and garbhagriham for Lakshmi Narayana Perumal. The entrance to the garbhagriham is flanked by two dwarapalakas.

On the left are vigrahams of Vinayakar, Viswhaksena and interestingly, Annapoorani (Amman). As we come around the prakaram which houses no sub-shrines, it is very neatly maintained.

This temple is regarded as a twin temple of the nearby Ananteeswarar temple. Perhaps at some time in the past, these two temples marked the two ends of the Agraharam of this village.