Adikesavaperumal Temple is a Hindu temple located in Thiruvattar, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the 108 Divya desams, the holy sites of Hindu Vaishnavism. The temple is a surrounded from three rivers River Kothai, River Pahrali and River Thamirabarani.
The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Adhikesava. The idol of the lord is made of a mixture of mustard, sugar, leaves and 16008 salagramas. It is not possible to bathe the idol with water. The temple si made in Kerela style and full figure of the deity cannot be viewed from a single entrance and can only be viewed in parts from three entrances. The construction of the temple resembles the plan of Ananthapadmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram.
History of Adhikesava Perumal temple
The demons who got their boons granted from the Lord after hard penance misused the power by terrorizing humans. The Sages and the Devas prayed to Lord Vishnu to rescue them from the wrath of the demons. Lord Vishnu fought with the Demon Kesan and asked his snake bed Aadhisesha to round up and squeeze his body to kill him. To take the revenge of his brother’s death, Kesi took the form of a river called Paraliaaru. Lord Vishnu directed the river towards the sea and placed 12 snakes on the head of Kesi. It is believed that Lord Shiva performed mediation and worshipped Lord Vishnu at this spot after seeing the war between Lord Vishnu and Kesi.
Significance of Adhikesava Perumal temple
Devotees visit the temple to get boon for business development, children, happy marriage alliances, family prosperity, education and longevity of life. People offer Neikathali variety of banana fruits, Tulsi water, Milk porridge to the Lord along with traditional nivedhanas. Feeding the visitors is also undertaken by devotees.
Ten day Aarattu Festival is celebrated every year in the month of October-November. More than 10, 000 devotees visit the temple in this occasion. Other important festival celebrated in the temple are ‘Vaikunta Ekadasi Day’ in December-January and Sandal Abishekam is performed to the Lord for 10 days in the month of January-February.