Annan Kovil is one of the 108 Divya Desham Temples. Annan Perumal, the presiding Deity in this temple is revered as the elder brother of Sri Srinivasa Perumal in Tirumala.
What are the Divya Desham Temples?
The land of Tamilnadu is very sacred as the great Vishishta Advaita Acharyas traversed through the length and breadth of this state thus purifying its every corner. Tamilnadu is the birthplace of Nalayara Divya Prabandham – a Tamil literary compendium of four thousand verses by the Azhwars, glorifying the Supreme Lord Narayana.
Azhwars are great devotees of Lord Narayana who were all born within the boundaries of Tamilnadu. They traveled across Bharatavarsha visiting various temples and composing hymns in the praise of the presiding Deity of those temples. These temples later came to be known as Divya Desham Kshetras and the hymns are collectively called Divya Prabandham. In today’s world Divya Prabandham is relatable as its essence easily understood by the common man.
Divya Desham Kshetras are embassies of the spiritual world or the Vaikuntha planets. Out of the 108 Divya Desham Temples 106 are available in this earthly realm and the remaining two are part of the spiritual sky or para-vyoma. All the Sri Vaishnava devotees are supposed to visit these 106 temples, read the pasurams composed by the Azhwars in that temple, and thus become eligible for achieving liberation in this very life.
Mostly all the Divya Desham Temples are in Tamilnadu, thirteen of them being in Kerala and eight of them in the remaining part of country. It is widely believed that anyone who visits these 106 Divya Desham Temples, shall surely visit the remaining 2 in the spiritual sky and attain the lotus feet of Lord Narayana.
The Divya Desham Temples are categorized based on the ancient Kingdom they were part of – Cholanadu, Pandiyanadu, Tondainadu, Malainadu or Cheranadu and Varanadu. Cholanadu is the area around Tanjore and Kumbakonam which was ruled by the Chola Dynasty. Hence Divya Deshams around Srirangam, Trichy, Kumbakonam, Sirkazhi, Chidambaram, Thanjavur are collectively called Cholanadu Divya Desham Kshetras.
Annan Kovil – The Tirumala of South
The group of eleven temples around Sirkazhi in Tanjore district are called Tirunangoor Tirupatis. These temples are very famous for the annual Garudotsava. As they are in remote locations, they are seldom visited by devotees unless someone is visiting them to complete the Divya Desham Circuit. Out of these eleven temples, Annan Kovil is prominent.
Annan Kovil, originally known as Thiru Vellakulam is also known as Then Tirupati or Dakshina Tirupati. Anyone who cannot visit the Tirumala to fulfill one’s vows or commitment can do so at Then Tirupati achieving the same benefit.
The origin of Annan Kovil
The origin of Annan Kovil appears in the fifteenth chapter of Padma Purana, during the conversation between Agastya Muni and Uparisaravasu.
Before the advent of Prabhu Ramachandra, there was a king named Dundumaran in Surya Vamsha. When Dundumaran was blessed with a male child, he named him Shweta. On examining the horoscope of Shweta, Vasishtha Muni figured out that the child was short lived and would live only for nine years.
Naturally, Dundumaran got worried and requested Vasishtha Muni for a solution as a short-lived King would not be a good sign for the Kingdom to prosper. Immediately, Vasishtha Muni took the King to Thirunangoor which was within the Palasha forest, on the banks of River Kaveri at that time. All the sages living there welcomed Vasishtha Muni and King Dundumaran.
Sage Vasishtha requested the sages living in Tirunangoor to suggest a solution for the short life of Prince Shweta. They all suggested that he chants the mrityunjaya mantra to invoke the blessings of Lord Narayana and thus get a boon to live a long life. They advised Prince Shweta to visit the hermitage of Marutha Rishi where there was a temple of Lord Madhusudana on the banks of Thiru Vellakula Pushkarini and chant the mrityunjaya mantra to invoke the blessings of Lord Narayana.
Accordingly, Shweta went to the temple, took a bath in the Pushkarini, and sat down under a bilva tree on the southern bank of Kalyani to chant the mantra. For one month, he engaged himself in repeating this mantra continuously with a single focus on Lord Madhusudana, thus attracting the attention of Lord Vishnu.
Lord Vishnu in His Madhusudana form reached the place where Shweta was engaged in chanting of mrityunjaya mantra. He was accompanied by His divine entourage such as Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, Indra, and other devatas. Gandharvas, Kinnaras and other living entities of higher planetary systems were playing musical instruments while the exalted sages chanted the Vedic Mantras. The Lord’s effulgence was like the effulgence of millions of Suns combined.
Lord Vishnu blessed Shweta Maharaja with a long life like Markandeya Rishi and a boon that Thiru Vellakula Pushkarini would be known after him as Shweta Pushkarini. Prince Shweta also requested the Lord that anyone who chanted the mrityunjaya mantra in this temple, would be blessed with fearlessness of death and relieved off future births in this material world, to which Lord blessed him.
Annan Kovil is the birthplace of Kumudavalli Nachiyar
Annan Kovil Divya Desham is the birthplace of Kumudavalli Nachiyar. She was the daughter of Lord Annan Perumal and was married to Tirumangai Azhwar, a great Sri Vaishnava devotee who was one of the 12 Alwars. Tirumangai Alwar later glorified this Divya Desham Kshetra in His ten pasurams which became part of the Peria Tirumozhi.
Temple Timings of Annan Kovil
The worship in Annan Kovil is performed as per the Vaikhanasa system. The temple follows the standard time like that of other Sri Vaishnava Temples.
Morning – 8:00 am to 12:30 pm
Evening – 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Due to shortage of Archakas, sometimes you need to inform them earlier about your arrival so that they shall make themselves available for performing the archana.
Best time to visit Annan Kovil
The best time to visit Annan Kovil is from October to March when the weather conditions are ideal.
How to visit Annan Kovil
To visit Annan Kovil and the surrounding temples is a nightmare due to various challenges like absurd temple timings due to unavailability of the pujari, no connectivity from the mainstream city, no restaurants nearby to have food, etc.
The best way to visit this temple is to travel on a group tour – Cholanadu Divya Desham Yatra by Tirtha Yatra. All the arrangements are well taken care of. Without much difficulty you shall have classic darshana.
If you still want to experience the adventure on your own, try the following methods:
By Air – the nearest airport is Trichy or Tiruchirappalli International Airport. But this airport has got limited connectivity with other cities of Bharat. You may also try Chennai International Airport or Bengaluru International Airport and reach Trichy. From Trichy there are trains available till Kumbakonam and from there road transport to reach Tirunangoor.
By Rail – The nearest railway stations are Chidambaram and Kumbakonam. From Kumbakonam and Chidambaram, take up roadways to reach Annan Kovil.
By Road – Tirunangoor has a limited connectivity from Kumbakonam and Chidambaram. There are a few State Transport Buses available to Annan Kovil or Tirunangoor. After reaching Tirunangoor, take an auto to reach Annan Kovil. You may also hire a private taxi from Kumbakonam or Chidambaram to reach Annan Kovil.
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