Ulagalantha Perumal Temple

Ulagalantha Perumal Temple -Singanallur

Ulagalantha Perumal Temple is in Singanallur neighbourhood of Coimbatore district in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is also called as ‘Sree Thri Vikrama Narayana Swamy temple’. Moolavar is Ulagalandha Perumal. Utsav deity is also Ulagalandha Perumal. Utsav goddesses are Sridevi and Bhoodevi. Vriksha is Vanni tree.

The temple was built by Chola Karaikalan, 180 years ago. Moolavar is made up of ‘Panchloha’ (five metals) and it poses facing North. The utsav deity is also made up of Panchloha. Moolavar is in a standing posture, with his right leg on the ground and his left leg facing the sky. Out of his eight hands, six of them carry different weapons and the other two with the signs that bless the devotees.

During his visit to Karur, pertaining to war, King Chola Karikalan, also visited Vellalore in Coimbatore. Nearer to Vellalore is situated Singanallur which was then visited by him and he planned to construct a temple for the welfare of people of Singanallur. So, was constructed this temple thereafter. These inscriptions are found in the idol of Moolavar.

Legend

Ulagalanda Perumal means the Perumal – Lord who measured the universe. The Whole earth was measured by one step and the sky was measured in another step. And for third step there was no place as promised by Mahabali to the Lord Vishnu in the guise of Vamana (Bachelor Brahmin). So to fulfill his promise Mahabali sat on the ground and request the Lord to keep the 3rd step on his head. The Lord Vishnu gave darshan to Mahabali and kept his foot on the head of Mahabali and pushed him to the Patala Loka and made Mahabali the ruler of Patala and the lord himself served Mahabali there. Since he measured the world, he is known as Ulagu Alantha Perumal (Lord who measured the universe) and gave darshan to the devotees as Ulagalanda (he who measured world) Perumal. The measuring of the world was supposed to have been done at Vedhapuri. The name Vedhapuri was later changed to Singanallur. It is said that this place was called as Vedhapuri originally as Vedas were chanted and taught here at ancient times.

Brahmotsavam will be conducted every year in the month of Avani . The festival starts with the hoisting of the temple flag on the Vinayagar Chathurthi day. The festival is celebrated for 10 days. On the day of Vamana avathara which is on the Thiru Onam (Shravana star) day of Avani month, car festival (chariot procession) is taken out through the street. It is believed that this is the day Vamana in the form of Ulagalanda Perumal sent Mahabali to the Patala loka.