Sri Suryanarayana Swamy Temple, Tiruchanur
There are a few temples of Lord Suryanarayana Swamy in India. Among them, the temple in Tiruchanur is very ancient, historical and famous. Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy Himself installed the deity and worshipped Him in Tiruchanur.
Tiruchanur, the Divya Kshetram, is approx. at the distance of five kilometres away from Tirupati. Transport facilities are available from Tirupati. As per the ‘sthalapurana,’ in the olden days Sri Suka Maharshi lived in this place and was called as Sri Sukanoor.
In Tamil, Sri Sukanur is called as Thirugachanoor and later it became Tiruchanur. Tiruchanur is also known as Alimelu Mangapuram and Alimelu Mangapatnam.
The Temple Legend
As per the Puranas, in the olden days, Sapta rushis did a ‘Yagna’ for ‘Dharmarakshana.’ They gave the responsibility to Brughu Maharshi to select eligible ones among Trimurthis for offering ‘Yagna Havissu.’ Maharshi went to Satya Loka, Kailasa and decided that Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva were not eligible to take ‘Havissu’.
Then the maharshi went to Vaikuntam. At that time, Lord Vishnu spoke with Lakshmi and he did not mind Brughu Maharshi. With this, Maharshi became angry and he had kicked on the chest of Lord Vishnu with his leg. Then Lord Vishnu started doing seva for Brughu.
Goddess Lakshmi Devi by seeing all these, got hurt and came to the earth and stayed in Kolhapur. Lord Vishnu, who came to the earth in search of Lakshmi Devi, didn’t find Her. He stayed in Venkatadri for some time. One day Srinivasa heard some unknown voice from the sky: “Build a lake in the area of Sri Shuka Maharshi’s ‘ashram’ on the banks of the river Swarnamukhi and do penance there, your wish will be fulfilled.”
After hearing the voice, Lord Srinivasa reached Tiruchanur and built ‘Padmasarovaram’ (pushkarini) and launched the lotuses brought from heaven into that lake. He enshrined Lord Surya and worshipped Him. He spent twelve years doing penance there. After that, Mahalakshmi appeared to Swami at Padmasarovaram.
In this way, the ‘sthalapurana’ reveals that Sri Venkateswara Swamy Himself enshrined Lord Suryanarayana in Tiruchanur.
Sri Suryanarayana Swamy Temple Structure
In Tiruchanur, the temple of Lord Sri Suryanarayana Swamy is facing towards the west in the eastern side of Pushkarini known as Padma Sarovaram. The temple has ‘mukhamandapam,’ ‘ardha mandapam’ and ‘garbhalayam.’ Arthamandapam is attached to Pradakshina Mandapam.
In the main ‘garbhalayam’ of the temple, Lord Sri Surya Bhagavan is seen in standing posture with two hands and wearing lotuses in both hands, showering blessings on the devotees. The Lord stands on ‘Padma Peetha’ and wears crowns, garlands, ‘yajnopaveetam’ and ‘kankanas.’ In ‘garbhalaya’ one can see the ‘utsavamurti’, which is about three and a half feet high, along with Mulavirattu (main deity).
History
Lord Sri Suryanarayana Swamy has been worshipped in Tiruchanur since the 6th and 7th centuries. The temple flourished during the rule of the Vijayanagara emperors. It seems that in 1866, during the administration of the Mahants, Dharmadasu Ji Mahant built a new temple and reconsecrated the Lord. This temple is currently under the administration of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
Some Beliefs
There are many beliefs among the devotees about the Lord. There is a widespread belief among the devotees that if one bathe in Padmasarovaram and worships Him, all diseases will be removed and health will be improved. Along with this, by visiting and worshipping the Lord, one’s wishes will be fulfilled and the lost things will be recovered.
Pujas and Festivals
Every Sunday, there is ‘Abhisheka Seva’ to Moolavirattu and every month Hasta star for ‘utsavamurti’ also along with daily pujas. Every month on the day of Hasta star, there is Pallaki Seva to the Lord. On the occasion of Rathasapthami and Makara Sankranti, special pujas, ‘abhishekas’ and ‘alamkarana’ are performed along with ‘gramotsavam’.
During Dhanurmasam, special pujas are performed.
Final Word
Transport facilities are available from Tirupati. May Lord Suryanarayana Swamy shower His graceful blessings on His devotees! It is said that one who worships the Lord in this temple will be freed from health-related problems. Have a visit to this temple on your trip and be blessed with health, wealth and prosperity.
