Sri Anantha Narayana Perumal Temple Abharanadari

Sri Anantha Narayana Perumal Temple- Abharanadari

Anantha Narayana Perumal Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Abharanadari Village near Sikkal in Nagapattinam District of Tamilnadu. The Village is also called as Avarani. Presiding Deity is called as Anantha Narayana Perumal /Ranganathar

and Goddess is called as Alankara Valli.

This Temple is considered as one of the Pancha Narayana Kshetrams in this region.The unique feature of this temple is that the Moolavar Lord is seen with ornaments from head to toe.

History

The Village was called as Abharana Dhari Chathurvedhi Mangalam during Rajaraja Chola -II period in 12th Century AD. The name of the deity during the days of the Vijayanagara rulers was Pallikonda Perumal. But there are a large number of inscriptions of the days of Kulottunga III and Raja-raja III, found on stones built into the walls of the temple, which furnish interesting information on the change that took place in the temple in the post Chola period.

In this temple Lord Anantha Narayana Perumal/ Ranganathar  is facing east. He is in Anantha Shayana Posture resting on seven headed Adhisesha. Sridevi and Bhoodevi Goddesses are sitting next to the Lord and with Lord Brahma in Nabhi Kamala (Navel). Sage Brighu and Sage Vyasa can also be found near Lord Vishnu. The presiding Deity is a colossal size of Lord Ranganatha measuring 21 feet in length. It resembles to the Anantha Padmanabha Swamy of Thiruvananthapuram in many factors like in size and posture.

The garbhagriha having three doors to enable the devotees to view him from head to feet similar to Thiruvattaru Divya Desam. Lord cannot be viewed fully in the sanctum. Lord Vishnu’s feet can be viewed from the window first, then his body from the sanctum and finally his face from another window.The deity used to be adorned with jewels from head to toe and thus the name of the village was Aabharana (jewels) Dhari (One who is adorned with).

It is believed that Lord Rama rested here in the form of Mahavishnu on the requests of Sage Brighu and Vyasa Muni.

Seetha Mata embellished herself with all the jewels left here before going to further South. On the return journey to Ayodhya, she took them back. The name Aabharana Dhari coveys this (Aabharanam in Tamil means jewels).

All the other deities in the temple except Garuda are also seen sporting ornaments.