This blog is on the first temple we visited during our short pilgrimage.
Our first visit was to Tirunindravur Bhaktavatsala Perumal temple. After leaving home by 620 am we reached the temple in 40 minutes time. The whole town of Tirunindravur was a bit sleepy and though the main temple was already open, the sannidhis were just being opened then. The gopuram is an imposing structure with a mandapam in front of it where a few ladies were selling flowers and thulasi.
One of the Bhattars suggested that we go to the Thaayar sannidhi first as it is good to pray there first in Thiru Nindra Voor and then at Perumal sannidhi. We were made to walk up and down the sannidhis for a few minutes after which we divided ourselves into two groups and one was at Perumal sannidhi and the other at Thaayar sannidhi. I happened to be in the second group at Thaayar sannidhi. The Bhattar was kind enough to give us some details about the temple. Mahalakshmi was doing penance in this place. Samudraraja and Varuna searched her all over the world and found her here. Very happy to finally find her, they called her “Ennai Petra Thaayar” (Mother) and hence the name of the Goddess is Ennai Petra Thaayar. She is also known as Sri Sudha Valli. Thaayar was looking beautiful.
There was an oonjal hanging in front of the sannidhi which must have been used for the Aadi Pooram festival that had taken place a few days earlier. We then proceeded to Perumal sannidhi. Perumal is such a huge deity about 10 feet tall with Sreedevi and Bhoodevi on either side. The Urchavar is called Patradhi Perumal. Bhaktavatsala Perumal looked so majestic with the fresh alangaram and we had a good darshan.
Behind Perumal’s sannidhi, there is Chakrathaazhvar and Aadhiseshan sannidhi on either side. On the other side of Perumal’s sannidhi is Andal sannidhi. Unfortunately, it was closed as the Bhattars had not yet completed their poojas to Perumal and Thaayar.
As we completed the pradakshinam, we could see Yoga Narasimhar on the left side.
During our pradakshinam, a lady lighting lamp at the temple told us not to miss the pinnazhagu of Thaayar – behind Thaayar’s sannidhi, exactly behind the deity; there was a marking on the stone wall depicting the structure of the Goddess right from the crown to her folded legs. It was very nice of that lady to show us this as we would not have noticed this without her information.
We did our namaskarams in front of the huge dwajasthambam and proceeded to the Anjaneyar sannidhi on the road opposite the temple.
Here again the sannidhi was closed, but we could see the Anjaneyar through the grill doors in his usual handfolded posture facing the Perumal.
