Thirumazhisai Jagannatha Perumal Temple
Shubodaya
Thirumazhisai Jagannatha Perumal Temple
Jagannatha Perumal Temple dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu located in Tirumazhisai, Chennai City, Tiruvallur district, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Jagannatha Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Thirumangaivalli. The temple is believed to be the birthplace of Thirumalisai Alwar, one of the twelve Alwars whose work is compiled as Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. The temple is Classified one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavite tradition.
Architecture
The temple is built in Dravidian architecture,the temple has a rectangular plan surrounded by 10 ft (3.0 m) high walls, pierced by a five-tier gopuram, the gateway tower. The presiding deity housed in the sanctum, is an image made of granite seen in seated posture with his right leg bent and left leg left hanging. The images of Rukmini and Satyabhama are located on either of his sides. The shrine of Garuda facing Jagannatha Perumal, the eagle mount of Vishnu, is located axial to the central shrine.
Legend
According to the Hindu legend, the Saptarishis, the seven sages, wanted to have a view of Madhya Jagannatha (literally meaning Jagannatha located in the middle). As per Hindu legend, the Jaganatha at Puri Jagannatha Temple is called Vada Jagannatha (located in the North) and the one located in Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple at Thirupullani is called Keela Jagannatha. Acceding to the request of the sages, Vishnu is believed to have appeared as Madhya Jagannatha at this place. The place is also believed to be the birthplace of Thirumalisai Alwar, one of the twelve Alwars whose work is compiled as Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. His works include Tiruvanthai and Tiruchanda Viruttam, which are included in the canon.
Various festivals are celebrated in the temple, with the Aani Brahmotsavam (during June – July), Aipasi Manavala Maamuni festival during October – November and Maasi float festival during February – March being the most prominent. During Aani Brahmotsavam, the temple car housing the festival deities of Jagannatha Perumal and Thirumanjavalli is drawn around the streets of Tirumalisai. During the float festival in February–March, the presiding deities are drawn in a float in the temple tank.
