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Sri Appan Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Thirumukkoodal, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu

Thirumukkudal is a small village close to Palayaseevaram in Uthiramerur Taluk of Kanchipuram District. This Temple is supposed to be more than 1200 years old and is said to be built by King Thondaimann Chakravarthy. Thirumukoodal is said to be a Divine place and the Temple has been built close to the confluence where Rivers Paalar, Vegavathi and Cheyyar converge. Thirumukudal is also called as Thiriveni Sangamam due to the aforesaid Rivers converging at this place. Appar or Thirunavukkarasar had sung very high of this Temple and therefore this Temple derives its name as Sri Appan Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple. This Temple does not have any Rajagopuram. Instead there is an East facing entrance and close to this is a huge Viruksham in the form of a Arasa Maram or Peepal Tree. A squarish podium has been built around this Viruksham. On this podium is a South facing Vinayagar Idol with several other East facing Idols of Naaga Devathas.

Closer to the main Temple is a Neivedhya Peedam or a Bali Peedam and a Dwajasthambam or Kodi Maram. There is a four pillared Mandapam built close to these. The four pillars of this Mandapam has Divine Images of Sri Hanuman, Maha Vishnu and others embossed on it. Devotees many have to climb 3 to 4 steps to reach the Moolasthana Mandapam. The entrance of this is East facing and there are pillars on either side with Simha Vaahanams. It is unique of this Temple since the Garudalwar Sannadhi is not along with the Dwajasthambam or Neivedhya Peedam. Instead the Garudalwar Sannadhi is built within the Moolasthana Mandapam facing South and looking towards the Moolasthanam. On either side of the Moolasthana Mandapam are two black Idols of Dwara Baalakas who are seen one on either side facing North. In the North facing Sanctum Sanctorum the Presiding Deity of Sri Appan Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal is seen in a standing posture. He is known here as Thirumoorthy. Though a Vaishnavaite Temple, the Presiding Deity is seen with a Jadaamudi. There is also an unusual Nettrikann on His forehead similar to that of God Shiva. The Presiding Deity flaunts the Sangu and Chakkaram which is typical of a Vaishnavaite Perumal. To show His affiliation towards Brahmma the Presiding Deity is seen holding a Thamarai Poo or a Lotus. Hence the name Thirumoorthy is apt for Sri Appan Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal. Idols of Sri Bhooma Devi, Brihu Maharishi and Sri Markandeyar are seen in the Moolasthanam along with the Presiding Deity. In the Moolasthanam there is an Urchavamoorthy Idol of Sri Srinivasa Perumal who is seen along with His Consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. A Sangu and a Chakkaram made of black Vigraham which was gifted to King Thondaimann Chakravarthy is also seen in the Moolasthanam. Around the Koshtam are two Idols of Sri Paramapathanathar and Sri Nara Narayanar. Devotees can circumambulate the Moolasthanam through the inner peripheral. In the Moolasthana Mandapam there is an East facing Shrine of Sri Padmavathy Thaayar who is seen in Her Shrine in a sitting posture. In the Moolasthana Mandapam the Idols of Sri Garudalwar, Sri Anjaneyar, Sri Venkatesa Perumal, Poigaialwar, Boothathalwar, Peialwar, Nammalwar, Thirumazhisaialwar, Madurakavialwar, Kulasekaralwar, Periyalwar, Thondaradipodialwar, Thirupannalwar, Thirumangaialwar and Ramanujar are seen juxtaposed. The Temple has a wooden palanquin which is used during festive occasions. The Temple has a Thulaabaaram facility for the sake of the Devotees.

On entering the Temple there is a four pillared Mandapam on the right facing the Temple in which the Temple Vaahanams are kept. Next to this is a Sub Shrine of Sri Anjaneya Swamy who is seen West facing. Unlike other Anjaneyar Temples Vadamalai is not garlanded to Him here. Instead this Anjaneyar is garlanded with Thenkuzhal Malai which is quite strange. Proceeding towards the Temple there is a multi pillared Mandapam on the left side and here too the Vaahanams of the Temple are kept. The Temple has a Sub Shrine for Sri Andal who is seen North facing and in a standing posture. In another multi pillared Mandapam there is an East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Kariyamanicka Perumal. The Temple has a Paramapatha Vaasal or a Sorga Vaasal. A Temple Kitchen or Madapalli too is seen. It is noteworthy to mention here that Kanchipuram Sri Varadharaja Perumal, Palayaseevaram Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar and Sri Appan Prasanna Venkadesa Perumal jointly give a Darshan to all Devotees on Kaanum Pongal Day which is a delight to watch. There are three Sthala Viruksham or Sacred Trees and they are Devadhaaru, Vanni and Sandhanam while the Pushkaranis are Rivers Paalar, Cheyyar and Vegavathi.

Totally 17 inscriptions pertaining to the Chola Period were found here. It has mentioned that Land, Sheep, Gold, Paddy etc were donated to the Temple for its upliftment. In ancient times a Vedic School or a Vedha Padasaala functioned under the control of the Temple. Likewise an organised Hospital too functioned under the control of the Temple. Both of them are defunct now. This Temple is dually taken care of. While the Pooja and other Rituals are done through the Tamil Nadu's HR & CE, the outer peripheral, Garden and all other monuments are under the Control of Archealogical Survey of India.

Contact Details: Sudharshan 95004 83321, Srinivasan 81246 13471 and 84896 15791

Temple Timing: 9 AM to 12 Noon and 4 PM to 6 PM

Distance from Palayaseevaram to Thirumukkoodal is 4 Kms

Distance from Walajabad to Thirumukkoodal is 9 Kms

Distance from Kanchipuram to Thirumukkoodal is 23 Kms

Distance from Singaperumal Koil to Thirumukkoodal is 26 Kms

Distance from Sriperumbudur to Thirumukoodal is 34 Kms

Distance from Parikkal to Thirumukkoodal is 141 Kms

Distance from Singirikudii to Thirumukoodal is 125 Kms

Distance from Poovarasankuppam to Thirumukoodal is 126 Kms

Distance from Singiri Kona to Thirumukoodal is 111 Kms

Distance from Singarayakonda to Thirumukoodal is 333 Kms