Sri Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal Temple – Thirukandiyur

 

Sri Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal Temple is located in Thirukandiyur village on the outskirts of Thiruvayaru in the Thanjavur district of Tamilnadu State.

It is one of the 108 Divyadesam temple

Here Lord Vishnu is worshipped as Hara Sabha Vimochana Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Kamalavalli Nachiyar.

This temple was built during the 8^th century.

This temple has 5 tier Rajagopuram

It is one of the few temples where the Trimurti - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are worshipped in the same premises.

This temple was renovated in the year 2003.

The standing figure of Hara Saabha Vimochana Perumal is kept in the central shrine. The Garuda Mandapam and the Maha Mandapam are the two halls that lead up to the sanctum.

 

The main body of water connected to the temple is Kapala Moksha Pushkarani, which is situated on the west side of the complex, and Mahabali Theertham, which is situated across from it.

 

The first precinct is home to Kamalavalli Nachiyar's shrine. The shrines dedicated to Narasimha, Sudarshana, Andal, Alvars, and Vedanta Desika are located in the second precinct.

 

It is believed that visiting the temple relieves devotees of their Brahmahatti Dosha. The location is also known by the names Kandiyur, Kandana Kshetram, and Pancha Kamala Kshetram. The temple is thought to have existed since the Treta Yuga and is believed to be older than Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple.

 

As per Brahmananda Purana Parvati, the wife of Shiva, once got confused and worshipped Brahma, instead of her husband. Shiva got enraged and cut off one of Brahma's heads; the head stuck to Shiva's hand due to Brahma's curse. To get rid off the sin, Shiva worshipped the god Vishnu at Thirukarambanur as Bhikshatana, where a part of his sin was relieved. Shiva freed himself from the sin after visiting Vishnu at Thirukandiyur and taking a holy dip in the temple tank, Kamala Pushkarani. Since Vishnu relieved (vimochana) the sin (saabha) of Shiva (also called Hara), the temple is called Hara Saabha Vimochana Perumal Temple. After the incident, the tank came to be known as Kapala Theertham (kapala indicates skull). Shiva was pleased and he built the Hara Sabha Vimochana temple and also built a temple for himself near it.

 

As per another legend, Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu requested Shiva to cut off one of Brahma's heads as she felt that Vishnu would ignore her and show all his affection towards Brahma. Sage Bhrigu, King Mahabali, and the moon-god Chandra expiated their sins, worshipping Vishnu here. Sage Bhrigu, once wanted to test the superiority of the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. He kicked Vishnu in his chest in anger; the sage atoned here. Chandra sinned by seducing his guru's wife; he partially expiated by worshipping her.

 

The temple celebrates four main festivals: Aipasi Pavithra Utsavam in Aipasi (October–November), Vaikunta Ekadashi in Margali (December–January), Panguni Brahmotsavam in Panguni (March–April), and Karthikai Deepam in Karthikai (November–December).

 

Timings

7.00 am to 12.00 noon

4.30 pm to 8.30 pm