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Sri Purushothaman Perumal Temple

Sri Purushothaman Perumal Temple, also known as Uthamar Kovil, Thirukkarambanoor, or Bhikshandar Kovil, is located in Uthamar Koil, a village on the outskirts of Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, South India. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu deities Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped here as Purushottaman, and his consort Lakshmi is worshipped as Poornavalli. Purushottaman is believed to have manifested to assist in relieving Shiva of the sins incurred from severing one of Brahma’s heads. This temple is notable for housing the images of the Hindu trinity—Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma—within the same premises, collectively known as Mum Murthigal. This rare configuration makes the temple significant in Indian religious history. The temple is also referred to as Kadamba Kshetram, where "Kadamba" signifies a mixture of divine elements. The presence of both Lord Shiva and Vishnu in the same temple contributes to this designation. Here, Lord Shiva is known as Pikshandanar.

Timings

Morning : 6:30 AM to 12:00 PM & Evening : 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Entry Fee

No entry fee is charged

The temple is believed to have been constructed by the Medieval Cholas in the late 8th century AD, with subsequent contributions from the Vijayanagar kings and the Madurai Nayaks. Built in the Dravidian architectural style, it is celebrated in the Divya Prabandha, an early medieval Tamil canon composed by the Azhwar saints from the 6th to 9th centuries AD. The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu.


According to legend, Brahma became arrogant due to his role as the creator, feeling superior to Shiva. On one occasion, Brahma visited Kailasam to meet Shiva. However, Parvathi, Shiva’s wife, mistakenly performed pooja for Brahma instead of Shiva. To resolve the confusion, Lord Shiva plucked off one of Brahma’s heads. This act led to Shiva acquiring the Brahmahathi dosha. The severed head of Brahma stuck to Shiva’s hand and could not be removed despite all efforts. All the food offered to Shiva was consumed by the skull, which never filled.


In an effort to alleviate his curse, Shiva roamed the earth as a Bikshadana (beggar) with the skull bowl. When Shiva arrived at this place, Lord Vishnu instructed Goddess Mahalakshmi to provide food for the bowl. When Mahalakshmi did so, the bowl overflowed, satisfying Shiva’s hunger. As a result, she was praised as Pooranavalli, meaning "one who fulfils the needs of the needy."


Legend :


Vishnu's Test of Devotion : According to Hindu legend, Lord Vishnu wanted to test the devotion of Brahma. He manifested as a Kadamba tree in this place. Recognizing this, Brahma began his worship practice with Thirumanjanam (ablution). The water from the ablution filled a nearby tank, which came to be known as "Kadamba Theertham." Satisfied with Brahma's devotion, Vishnu granted Brahma the boon of having a shrine at this location.


Lakshmi as Poornavalli : In another legend, Shiva sought to rid himself of the sin of holding Brahma's severed head and embarked on a sacred journey. When he arrived at this place, Vishnu requested his consort Lakshmi to offer alms to Shiva. Lakshmi's alms filled Shiva's grail completely, earning her the name "Poornavalli" (the one who filled the grail).


The Legend of Brahma and Shiva's Five Heads : According to another legend, both Brahma and Shiva originally had five heads. Once, Parvati, Shiva's wife, mistakenly performed patha pooja (ablution of feet) to Brahma instead of Shiva. Angered by this, Shiva severed one of Brahma's heads. Due to Brahma's curse, the severed head stuck to Shiva's hand. To atone for this sin, Shiva worships Vishnu at this place as Bhikshadana, where part of his sin was absolved. Shiva's curse was fully lifted after he visited Vishnu at Thirukandiyur and took a holy dip in the temple tank, Kamala Pushkarani, at the Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal Temple. After this incident, the tank became known as Kapala Theertham (kapala meaning skull). Pleased with the relief from his curse, Shiva built the Hara Saabha Vimocchana Temple and also constructed a temple for himself nearby.

Source :


Legend of Shiva and Brahma : According to legend, Lord Shiva became angry with Lord Brahma because both had five heads. In his anger, Shiva severed one of Brahma's heads, incurring the curse of "Brahmahatti Dosham." As a result, Shiva lost all his wealth and had to beg for food with a skull (kapala) in his hand. Thus, he was called Pichchai Andavar. To rid himself of this curse, Shiva needed to fill the kapala with alms. He visited all the Divya Desams seeking relief from his sin. When he arrived at this temple, Goddess Mahalakshmi filled his kapala with alms, freeing him from his curse.


Unique Temple : This temple is unique as it houses all three deities of the Hindu Trinity: Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva. It is rare to find temples where all three are worshipped together. Although there are few temples dedicated solely to Brahma, it is noteworthy that almost all temples have a niche for Brahma.


Historical Significance :


Emperor Dasaratha performed a yagna here, resulting in the birth of Lord Rama. It is believed that childless couples who pray here are blessed with progeny. According to tradition, Brahma, following Vishnu's instructions, does not refuse any request made at this temple.


Sapthaguru :



The temple also features the "Sapthaguru" or seven forms of Guru, each represented by a specific idol:

  1. Lord Dakshinamurthy as Sri Sadasiva Guru or Sri Siva Guru
  2. Lord Brahma as Sri Brahma Guru
  3. Sri Soundarya Parvathy as Sri Sakthi Guru
  4. Sri Brihaspati as Sri Deva Guru
  5. Sri Varadaraja Perumal as Sri Vishnu Guru
  6. Sri Subramanyar as Sri Gnana Guru
  7. Sri Shukracharya as Sri Asura Guru

These unique aspects make Sri Purushothaman Perumal Temple a significant place of worship and pilgrimage.


Brahma also had five heads like Shiva. One day, Mother Parvathi mistook Brahma for Shiva and offered him services. To avoid such confusion in the future, Lord Shiva plucked off one of Brahma's heads. This act resulted in Shiva incurring the Brahmahathi dosha. The skull of Brahma stuck to Shiva's hand and could not be separated despite all efforts. All the food offered to Shiva was consumed by the skull and it was never filled. Holding the skull, Lord Shiva roamed the earth as a Bikshadana (beggar) with his skull bowl.

When Shiva arrived at this place, Lord Vishnu requested Mother Mahalakshmi to offer food in the bowl. When Mahalakshmi did so, the bowl began to overflow and finally quenched the hunger of Lord Shiva. Because of this, Mahalakshmi came to be praised as Pooranavalli, meaning "one who fulfils the requirements of the needy."


When Lord Brahma lamented that he had no temples on Earth despite being one of the three great Lords, he shared his plight with Lord Vishnu. In response, Lord Vishnu arranged for Brahma to be born on Earth. To test Brahma's devotion, Vishnu transformed himself into a Kadamba tree at this location. Recognizing the tree as Vishnu, Brahma performed pooja and worshipped it. Impressed by Brahma's devotion, Lord Vishnu granted him a temple at this place. This temple is one of the rarest where Lord Shiva along with his consort and Lord Brahma with his consort are worshipped together.

Do's and Don'ts

  1. Pray to Your Ishta Devata: Begin your pilgrimage by offering prayers to your personal deity for guidance and blessings.
  2. Contact Temple Information Centre: Reach out to the Temple Devasthanam Information Centre for inquiries, temple details, and puja arrangements.
  3. Reserve Travel and Accommodation: Plan and book your travel and stay well in advance to avoid last-minute issues.
  4. Bath and Wear Clean Clothes: Ensure you bathe and wear clean clothes before entering the temple to maintain purity.
  5. Focus on the Divine: Concentrate on the deities within the temple and immerse yourself in devotion.
  6. Maintain Silence and Recite Mantras: Observe silence and recite your personal mantras quietly while inside the temple.
  7. Follow Customs and Traditions: Respect and adhere to the ancient customs and traditions observed at the temple.
  8. Respect Religious Sentiments: Be mindful of and respect the religious sentiments of others at the temple.
  9. Deposit Offerings in the Hundi: Place your offerings only in the designated hundi (offering box) provided by the temple.
  1. Avoid Non-Worship Activities: Do not visit the temple for purposes other than worship and spiritual activities.
  2. No Smoking: Smoking is strictly prohibited within the temple premises.
  3. No Alcohol Consumption: Do not consume alcoholic beverages while at the temple.
  4. No Non-Vegetarian Food: Refrain from eating non-vegetarian food within the temple grounds.
  5. No Mediators for Quick Darshan: Avoid using intermediaries to expedite your darshan as it may inconvenience others.
  6. No Weapons: Do not carry any weapons inside the temple.
  7. No Headgear: Remove any head coverings such as helmets, caps, turbans, or hats before entering the temple.
  8. Avoid Sastanga Pranama in the Sanctum: Do not perform full prostrations (Sastanga Pranama) inside the sanctum sanctorum.
  9. Be Efficient in Darshan: Minimise the time spent during the darshan of the deity in the Garbhagriha (inner sanctum).
  10. Avoid Buying from Street Vendors: Do not purchase prasadam’s (sacred offerings) from unauthorised street vendors.
  11. Do Not Encourage Beggars: Refrain from giving alms to beggars within the temple area.
  12. Maintain Cleanliness: Do not spit or create any disturbances within the temple premises.

Dress Code

For Men: Wear traditional attire such as dhoti, lungi, or trousers with a shirt, avoiding shorts and sleeveless shirts. Ensure clothes are clean and modest.

For Women: Opt for traditional wear like sarees, salwar kameez, or modest dresses. Avoid revealing or Western-style clothing, and ensure attire is clean and respectful.

How to reach

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By Air : The temple is only 20 kilometres away from Trichy international airport, from where local transports are available to reach the temple.

By Rail : Trichy is well connected by rail with other parts of Tamilnadu and with many of the cities and towns of the country.

By Road : The temple is in a prominent place and can be reached by buses and private vehicles from Trichy Central Bus Stand.

Nearby Cities and Rivers

Rivers:

  1. Kaveri River: A major river in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, flowing through the region and playing a significant role in the agriculture and culture of the area. The river is not far from the temple and contributes to the spiritual and physical landscape.
  2. Coleroon (Kollidam) River: A tributary of the Kaveri, flowing through Tamil Nadu. The river is close to the temple and is significant for its spiritual and ritual importance in local festivals.


Cities:

  1. Tiruchirappalli: Often referred to as Trichy, this city is known for its historic temples and is the nearest major city to the temple. It is an important cultural and administrative centre in TamilNadu.
  2. Thanjavur : Located to the southeast of the temple, this city is renowned for its rich heritage, including the famous Brihadeeswarar Temple. Thanjavur is a key cultural hub in Tamil Nadu.
  3. Srirangam: A major pilgrimage destination near Tiruchirappalli, famous for the Ranganathaswamy Temple. It is closely associated with the Uthamar Koil Temple due to its religious significance.
  4. Kumbakonam: Located further south, known for its many temples and its historical significance. It is a prominent town in the region and has connections with various temple festivals.