Veeranarayanan Perumal Koil Temple, Kattumannarkoil

Veeranarayana Perumal Koil Temple is located in Kattumannarkoil near Chidambaram. It is the avathara sthalam of Nathamuni and his grandson Alavanthar. As per the Sri Veeranarayanaperumal's instruction Naathamuni collected back to this world all the verses of naalyera divyaprabantham written by alwars, which were lost. The temple is facing east, with a tank in front. It is said that Veeranam lake is named after this Perumal.

History of Veeranarayana Perumal Temple, kattumannarkoil

The first Paranthaka Chozha alias Veeranarayanan renewed Sri Mannanarkoil by brick construction. But there is authority to prove that Mannanar Perumal Temple was in existence even before the Chozha king paranthakan (Uthama Chozhan’s 16th year stone inscription). The stone inscriptions of Krishanadevaraya convey that the place of this temple is Veeranarayana Cheri which later turned as Veeranarayanapura Chadurvedhi Mangalam. Sadaya Varman Sundara Pandian installed the present deity Sri Veeranarayana Perumal in the 13th century. He renovated the temple fully. Veeranam Tank is one of the biggest tanks in Tamil Nadu and also an age old one. This tank has been referred briefly in the book called “Ponniyen Selvan” Written by the famous author ‘Kalki’ in the year 1950. This book gives the information on the age of this tank and it has been mentioned that the tank was formed at a period of more than 1000 years by the Prince Rajathithar Son of Parandage Chola. The tank was originally called as Veeranarayanan Tank.

When king Paranthaga Cholan I ruled over Chola Kingdom during the 10th century i.e. 907 to 935 AD he wanted to improve the Irrigation facilities in and around Chidambaram. He formed a village called as ‘Veera Narayana Sathurvethi Mangalam. This Village was gifted to the Scholars who were well versed in the Four Vedhas. This Village is now called as Kattumannarkoil which is situated in the right flank of Veeranam Tank. He then formed the biggest tank and named it as ‘Veera Narayanan Eri’ ‘Veera Narayanan’ is the nickname given to king Paranthaga Cholan I for his Valour. Subsequently this tank is now called Veeranam Tank. During the later period of Chola Kingdom, King Rajendra Cholan I who ruled during the period 1012 AD to 1044 AD, Spread his kingdom up to Ganges. He conquered the lands up to River Ganges. In Memory of his Victory he formed the Village ‘ Gangai Konda Cholapuram’ during the year 1024 AD. In addition to that in order to improve the Irrigation facilities in and around the new Village, he formed a new tank and called it as ‘Chola Gangam’. He made a link between ‘Chola gangam’ and Veeranarayanan Eri so that the former surpluses into the later. The tank ‘Chola Gangam’ is now called as ‘Ponneri Tank’ which is situated at the road connecting Jeyamkondam and Gangaikonda Cholapuram. These details were collected from Saraswathi Mahal Library at Tanjore. The lake is less than 2 kms away from our resort. The temple is only 5 kms away.

Greatness of this Kattumannarkoil Temple

Maha Samprokshnam of this temple which is under the control of Govt Hindu Religious Endoment was celebrated in 1968 and in 1992 and again in 2004. Public and devotees in large number from all over the nation are visiting this temple. They enjoy with no bounds when they have the Darshan of Sriman Nathamunigal, who discovered the 4000 Tamil Pasurams and set them to Musical tune and that in his own birth place and thereby popularize the Nalayira Dhivya Prabandam. Only from these poems, we are able to identify the 108 Dhivya Desams (Sacred Places) of vaishnavas. So, Kattumannarkoil has attained the greast divinity and considered as a Punya Boomi in the Vaishnava Samrajyam.

Veeranarayana Perumal Temple Timings

Map of Veeranarayana Perumal Temple kattumannarkoil