Devanathaswamy temple

Highlights

• Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE.
• It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Devanatha and Lakshmi as Hemabhujavalli.
• Though the presiding deity is Devanatha and Hemabhujavalli, the temple is known for Hayagriva, the ninth avatara of Vishnu in the Dashavatara of Vishnu and a god of knowledge.
• The temple is the only historical temple in South India to have a shrine of Hayagriva on hilltop.
• The temple in its current form is believed to have been built during the Medieval Cholas, with later expansion from Pandyas, Hoysala Empire and Vijayanagara Empire.

Religious Significance

The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Thirumangai Alvar in eleven hymns. The temple is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. Thirumangai mentions about the location of the temple under the foothills and glorified the scenic location surrounding the temple. He also mentions the various avatars of Vishnu.

Dress Code

Modest, respectful clothing is expected at this site.

Festivals

• •The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) as per Vadakalai sampradayam during festivals and on a daily basis (Vaikashasana Agama).
• •As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste.
• •The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Ushatkalam at 7 a.m., Kalashanti at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m.
• •and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m.

History

• •The Epigraphical Department has found more than 50 inscriptions in the temple belonging to the Medieval Chola period.
• •The inscriptions indicate grants to the temple from Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120 CE), Vikrama Chola (1118–1135), Rajaraja Chola III (1216–1256), Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan (1251–1268), Vikrama Pandya, Vira Pandya III, Vijayanagara king Achyuta Deva Raya (1529–1542 CE) and Koperunjinga.
• •The Chola country was under siege during the rule of Rajaraja Chola III and he was imprisoned by Koperunjinga, a Pallava scion.

Architecture

• •The temple is located on the foothills of Outshadagiri, a small hill, which houses the temple of Hayagriva.
• •The river Kedilam, located on the other side of the temple flows from south to north and is locally called Uttaravahini.
• •The temple built in Dravidian Architecture, is the only Vishnu temple built on the banks of the river, while there are a few prominent Shiva temples.
• •A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and bodies of water.

Travel Tips

• Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE.

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