Kola Valvil Ramar Temple, Thiruvelliyangudi

Sthala Purāṇam

The Kola Valvil Ramar Temple at Thiruvelliyangudi, near Kumbakonam, is the twenty-second Divya Desam, where Vishnu is worshipped as Kola Valvil Ramar, also known as Srinivasan, with Maragathavalli Thayar. The name Kola Valvil Ramar evokes Rama bearing a beautiful bow; the Lord appears in a graceful form, his conch and discus held by Garuda. The sthala puranam tells of the celestial architects Viswakarma and Mayan, who quarrelled over whose skill was the greater. Brahma told Mayan that Viswakarma had earned merit by building Vaikuntha, and that to attain equal stature Mayan must raise an abode near the Kaveri resembling Vaikuntha. Mayan searched and chose Thiruvelliyangudi, where the sage Markandeya was performing penance, and there Vishnu manifested as Sringara Sundaran, the beautiful deity. The temple is revered as a Vaishnava Shukra Kshetra: Shukracharya, the planet Venus called Velli, who lost an eye while obstructing Mahabali's gift to the Vamana, did penance here to regain his sight; the light he gained is said to glow still as the lamp Nethra Deepam, and from Shukra's worship the place is named Velliangudi. The Lord granted darshan to Shukra, Brahma, Indra, Parasara, Mayan, Markandeya, and Bhoomi Devi, after several of whom the temple theerthams are named. The vimana is the Pushkalavartha Vimanam. Thirumangai Alvar sang ten pasurams here.

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