 Sri Jagannatha Perumal Temple of Tirumazhisai is one of the significant Jagannatha Temples of South India. Tirumazhisai is a small and ancient village near Poondamallee in Tiruvallur district, which is about twenty-five kilometers north-west of Chennai. The place is considered sacrosanct to the Srivaishnavas for two reasons. It is venerated as the birthplace (Avatara-Sthala) of Tirumazhisai Azhvar, who is also popular as Bhaktisara. He authored the Nanmukan-Tiruvandadi and Tirucchanda Viruttam. It is also considered as an Abhimanasthalam. This is so because it is the home to the Jagannatha Perumal temple visited by numerous devotees everyday.
The temple of Sri Jagannatha at Tirumazhisai is the traditional and the antique temple. Hence a rich historical background is associated with the temple. According to the literary works of Srivaishnava it is evident that Tirumazhisai was originally called as Mazhisai and the prefix Tiru was added later. Hence the name Tirumazhisai indicates that it is a sacred place. It is also known as Mahisaram and Mahisarakshetram. The inscriptions found at Tirumazhisai reveal that this area was originally an agraharam or chaturvedimangalam. The consecrated place is inhabited by many learned Vedic scholars. It was also known as Agaram Cherakulavalli-chaturvedimangalam, Pakkaturaivalla-chaturvedi-mangalam and Panchanadivana-chaturvedimangalam during the Chola and Vijayanagara periods. Tirumazhisai was situated in the ancient territorial division of Mangadu-Nadu, a sub-division of Puliyur-kottam in Jayamkondachola-mandalam. The epigraphic evidences and historical texts also mention that in the ancient past, Jagannatha Perumal was called Tirumazhisai Emberuman and the temple was known as Tirumazhisai Vinnagaram. Later the temple came to be known as Jagannatha Perumal Temple. The antique and the historical temple of Sri Jagannatha Perumal have many legendary stories associated with it. According to the legend connected with the temple, the story of the seven sages (sapta-rishis) including Brighu and Bharghava among others worshipped Vishnu at Tirumazhisai is closely associated with it. These sages request to Lord to appear and in answer to their request He appeared to them as Lord Jagannatha at this place. The deity at Tirumazhisai is popular as Madhya Jagannatha as this shrine is situated in the middle (Madhya) between Puri (Orissa) and Tirupullani (Ramnad District, Tamil Nadu). In this place there are several well known temples dedicated to Lord Jagannatha. Architecture of Sri Jagannatha Perumal Temple The architecture of Sri Jagannatha Perumal Temple lends an additional grandeur to the Temple. The unique architectural and sculptural designs are evident of the antiquity and legendary greatness of the Temple. Festivals of Sri Jagannatha Perumal Temple The festivals observed in a temple reveal the cultural antiquity and traditional heritage of that temple. Sri Jagannatha Perumal Temple is not an exception. A number of festivals are celebrated in this temple, which are evident of the cultural heritage of the temple. In Sri Jagannatha Perumal Temple a number cultural activities are performed during the Brahmotsavam, which is considered as the famous festival here Inscription of Sri Jagannatha Perumal Temple The inscriptions engraved on the Temple walls are the evidence of the legendry greatness of Sri Jagannatha Perumal temple. The inscription not only provides information of the chronological significance of the temple and the historical stories associated with it. Moreover the inscriptions also exemplify the socio-cultural life of the people of the contemporary period. Also the inscriptions provide information about the creator and benefactors of the temple |
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