Nettoor koti kanyadhana lakshmi kumara Thathacharyar
During 1585-1614 AD, the kingdom of Vijayanagara was under the reign of Sri Venkatapathi Maharaj. Nettoor Sri Thathacharyar was one of his ministers, and he was well-versed in state administration and had established many temples in provinces where he was administrator in charge. He is popularly known as "Nettoor koti kanyadhana lakshmi kumara Thathacharyar". There is a saying in Tamil that even the king will become a destitute person after getting his five daughters married. But Sri Thathacharyar was instrumental for one crore i.e., one hundred laksha [one laksha is one hundred thousand] marriages performed. He could conduct that many marriages since he had the blessings of Lakshmi Devi, the Goddess of wealth. Hence he was considered as son of Goddess Lakshmi Devi and was called Lakshmi Kumara. He is also known as "Ubaya vedanthaachar", for he had established many temples.
Forefathers of Sri Thathacharyar
Sri Thathacharyar hails from an illustrious family and is a descendant of Thirumalai Periyanambi. It
is said that one of his forefathers left his native place Nettoor to Aanaikunthi (Anakot) the then
capital of Vijayanagara samrajya, to receive presents from Sri Veerupaksha the king of Vijayanagara.
On reaching Aanaikunthi the person visited the palace and expressed his wish of offering discourses on
Maha Bharata. With the King's permission, he gave discourses on Maha Bharata for eighteen days. On the
concluding day, he was given gold coins and other presents. The next day he was astonished to see that
there was no palace and others in Aanaikunthi. He was unaware of the fact that Sri Veerupaksha had
shifted his capital from Aanaikunthi to nearby Hampi. On hearing the Mahabharata discourses the
spirits, of those who lost their lives in the war that was fought at Aanaikunthi before shifting the
capital to Hampi, had attained moksha.
Temple for Lord Anjaneya
Sri Thathacharyar, who was a descendant of such mahapurush, had built a beautiful temple for Lord Anjaneya near Kanchipuram. Normally a temple for Lord Anjaneya will have a small Gharbhagraham and a large hall in front of it. But the temple that Sri Thathacharyar built for the Lord Anjaneya is unique in many ways. If you take the route from Kanchipuram to Kalavai just after crossing the river Palar the first village to be sited is Iyankulam. The temple is situated in Iyankulam and one can see the temple from a distance.
Instead of constructing a small tank for the temple as normally found Nettoor Sri Thathacharyar had constructed a big lake measuring 136 Acres. The temple had been constructed in such a beautiful way that if seen from the lake, the temple will look as if it is floating in the lake.
Unique temple in many ways
Instead of constructing a small tank for the temple as normally found he built a big lake measuring 136 Acres. The temple had been constructed in such a beautiful way that if seen from the lake, the temple will look as if it is floating in the lake. The water from this lake was also used for irrigation. There are steps made of granite around this lake. It is said that while the lake was under construction, Lord Anjaneya Swami himself had come and helped by digging to complete the job on time.
Biggest Anjaneya Temple of the Bharat
On the south bank of the lake, he had constructed the temple for Hanuman. The Rajagopuram is facing the tank. Unlike the other temples, to enter this temple one has to pass through a large mantap which has twenty-four pillars with beautifully engraved forms of Lords and Acharyas. This mandap besides being built with unique architectural details also served as a comfortable place for pilgrims to stay. There is an entrance to the temple from the southern side as well where also a large mandap has been built for the pilgrims to take rest.
Lord Sanjeevi Rayar
As normally found in Vijayanagar architecture here also one could see four small mantaps, with a beautiful cupola over the four tall pillars made of a single stone on all four sides of the temple which adds to the majesty of the temple building. As one enters through the Rajagopuram he gets into the big hall with the roof painted artistically, and at the end of the hall is the main sanctum sanctorum of Lord Sanjeevi Rayar, the Anjaneya. Lord Sanjeevi Rayar is seen with anjali-hasta. There is a conch and chakra in the backdrop of the deity. With glowing eyes, Lord Sanjeevi Rayar blesses one and all who approach Him with piety.
Mahalakshmi at the sanctum
Just before the entrance to the sanctum of Lord Sanjeevi Rayar, one could see Sri Mahalakshmi on the
right side. Sri Thathacharyar was an ardent devotee of Sri Mahalakshmi and had installed the deity of
Sri Mahalakshmi at the north end of the lake in the 'natabavi' also. There are inscriptions on
the walls of the temple giving evidence, that many traders from far-off places like Sumatra, and Siam
had contributed their might to the upkeep of this temple.
Temple Festivals
There are two mandaps, one at the South-east corner and the other at the North-east corner. During Sri RamaNavami the 'uthsava moorthi' of Lord Rama and Sita Devi are placed here and the marriage function of Lord Rama and Sri Sita Devi is celebrated with gay and gaiety, which is witnessed by Lord Sanjeevi Rayan also. Kanchipuram Sri Varadharaja Perumal visits this temple on the full moon day of the Chitra month of the solar calendar.
Location of the temple: "Sri Sanjeevirayan Temple, Iyenkulam, Kanchipuram"
Experience
Lord Sanjeevi Rayar the Sita Lakshmi suthan is everready to bless one and all with His Lakshmi Kataksham in this kshetra.
SRI HANUMAN THINKS DIFFERENTLY, THINKS FAST
THINKS AHEAD AND ACTS FOR SURE
Ed [ed. 13.01.2002
Updates: Jan 2025]