Thiruvisanallur also called Thiruvisalur (formerly known as Shahaji rajapuram) is a beautiful village located , amidst lush green paddy fields, citron trees wild lemon plants , mango jackfruit plantain groves, , and varieties of organic vegetable, fruit orchards with egolic sylvan surroundings of coconut Trees, on northern bank of Kaveri river near Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. The village is known for the Sivayoginathar and kasi viswanath Temples, dedicated to Lord Siva and Varadaraja perumal koil dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Srinivasa perumal is main diety in Sanctum Santorum of temple and utsavar idol is Varadaraja Perumal in that famous old Vishnu temple situated in Thiruvisaloor agraharam near Vedapadasala . Devotees from all places Amirit vahini foram and Kanchi mutt have taken initiative recently for renovation of old Vedapadasala . The history of Thiruvisanallur can be traced to the time of the Medieval Cholas who established the village as Vembarur or Solamarthanda chaturvedimangalam. There are inscriptions dating to the time of Raja Raja Chola . The Thanjavur Maratha king Shahuji endowed Thiruvisanallur to forty-six Brahmins as a brahmadeya in the year 1695. Following this endowment, the name of the village was changed to Shahajirajapuram. During that period, a Hindu saint by name Sridhara Venkatesa Ayyaval a companion of the Shankaracharya Bodhendra Saraswathi settled down in Thiruvisanallur and founded the Sri Sridhara Ayyaval Mutt.Further marudhanallur Sathguru Swamigal was born at Thiruvisaloor and pursued his religious activities for few years in that village and nearby places before shifting permanently to Marudanallur. Apart from above renouned saint Sadhasiva Brimandral had vedic education for longer period at Thiruvisaloor prior to shifting his base to Nerur for attaining Samadhi at his old age. Ramasubha sastrigal who was staunch devotee of god Vishnu and renouned Vedic scholar lived in Thiruvisaloor and his residence is next to Vedapadasala near Varadaraja perumal Kovil. After his demise, His descendents residing in that house and few prominent persons settled in that village are managing all activities pertaining to Varadaraja Perumal koil and Sridhar ayyaval mutt. Present managing trusty TN.Radakrishnan who is grandson of Ramasubha sastrigal's elder brother Akshaya Sastrigal is monitoring the renovation and Kumbabhisekam activities of Varadaraja perumal Kovil along with other trustees who are native of Thiruvisaloor village.
Most of manuscripts /Vedic research documents written by Ramasuba sastrigal are at Saraswati Mahal Tanjore. Few palm scripts were taken by Germans for their Vedic research study few years back. Ramasubha sastrigal photo is still preserved by his decedent temple trusty Radakrishnan at his residence situated adjacent to Veda patasala at Thiruvisaloor. Ramasubha Sastrigal who lived in Thiruvisaloor during period 1840 to 1922 was authority on sastras and was well known enough for some of his works mentioned in Krishnamachar's history of classical Sanskrit Litrature. During visit for his research work to Thiruvisaloor in year 2005 ,German Research scholar Hultzsch listed about 49 palm leaf manuscripts mainly on Dharma Sastras and 17 paper manuscripts on Vedanta in Ramasubha library at Thiruvisaloor. Most of his own compositions were written in Granda scripts on paper manuscripts. Further various books and manuscripts collected from ramasubha sastrigal family members residence were publications around period 1913 of original Sanskrit treatises written by Ramadubba sastrigal himself. Even though he is Smartha Brahmin devoted to Vaishnavisam he used to visit Siva temple also. He acquired spiritual powers and deep rooted Vedic Knowledge due his faith and devotion towards Srinivasa Perumal throughout his life. He looked after Temple administration and all religious activities of Varadaraja perumal Kovil along with other Trustees settled in Thiruvisaloor village. All festivals and religious activities like Homam yagyam and Puja for all dieties were conducted in grand scale at Varadaraja Perumal koil in the past and temple had enough fund and landed properties due to envolement and support given by famous Martha king Saroboji Maharaja of Tanjore ( Decendent of Vengoji , cousin brother of Sivaji Maharaja).Thiruvisaloor was called inam village and there was no interference in temple administration even during British Rule.Tenents who undertook cultivation of fertile lands belonging to above temple on lease promptly paid the agreed quantum of food grains due to temple.Trustees and king emissaries took care regarding welfare of priest and employees attached to both Vishnu and Siva temples at Thiruvisaloor village.In spite of financial constraints and lethargic attitude of Tamil nadu government towards temple maintenance for the past about 20 years, Trustees and devotees mostly native of village, ensure that Puja festival and various religious activities are conducted in that temple promptly as usual every year. Expenses envolved for all religious activities and payment of salary to priest etc are met by way contribution from Devotees and trustees who are native of Thiruvisaloor village.
Moolavar main Diety Srinivasa Perumal in Santum sanctorum is swayambu diety and utsavar Varada Raja perumal is golden vigraha / idol given to the temple by Martha king of Tanjore. So many devotees health,personal and domestic problems were solved due to miracular powers and blessing of perumal residing in that temple.It is unfortunate that Vishnu and Shiva temples at village thiruvisaloor where Devine saints lived, have not become prominent due to non availability of web sight and media coverage. Even Sridhar ayyaval mutt has become prominent only few years back due to efforts taken by Krishna Premi Swamigal , udayalur kalyana Raman and Ramakrishna Bhagawadar who look after all religious Puja activities of mutt for the past 12 Years. Krishna Premi Swamigal used to conduct religious lectures at Varadaraja Perumal koil during his regular visit to Ayyaval mutt every year for attending Ganga utsavam function .
Srinivasa Perumal appeared before king in dream and directed him to locate the spot where Honney is falling from tree in Ponnam canal mud near Uppali appan Koil which is about 6 km away from Thiruvisaloor village. King was instructed to take out the two swarna
idols ie Varadaraja Perumal and Devi Goddess Mahalakshmi buried under the canal mud at that spot and install the Varadaraja perumal vigraham at Thiruvisaloor Srinivasa Perumal Koil. King was told that other Devi Lakshmi idol can be installed in his palace temple.
Kanchi Paramacharya instructed several times that famous old temples constructed by kings , which are in dilapidated condition in remote places should be renovated and adequate fund should be made available by way of contribution from all sources for conducting important religious activities festival daily Puja etc and for covering additional administrative expenditure envolved for proper maintenance of temple. More funds by way of public contributions are available for newly constructed temples in all metropolitan cities but prominent old temples having marvel architecture structure for ensuring generation of positive energy in Sanctom Santorum where main diety is installed , are neglected. There are in pathetic condition due to non availability of fund even for conducting daily Puja and offering enough rice and related food items as neivedyam to main diety. Foreigners visit only such temples for getting mental peace through prayers and meditation. They have done lot of research study in old temples constructed by kings and published their findings regarding architectural beauty of temple construction and spiritual powers of main deities installed in such temples. Further meagre or no returns from temple fertile lands leased to different cultivating tenants are the bane of such old temples for the past 15 Years throughout tamil nadu .Tenants give only 25 percent of produce/ yield, against agreed quantity 75 pecent as rent and government protects them from eviction in case they fail to pay as per lease agreement. Frequent moratoriums on rent payment have also been given to them by goverment. State Hindu Religious and charitable Endowment Department could not find appropriate solution to sort out above problem .
The trust committee members of Varadaraja Swamy Temple appeal to all residing in India and abroad to render financial support by way of Liberal donation for renovation and Kumbabhisekam of vishnu temple and for meeting additional expenses envolved for performing Pujas, Homam and various religious activities for all deities installed in temple.
All donations are eligible for tax relief u/s
80G of income tax act. Donation can be made by account Payee cheque favouring Varadaraja Swami koil Trust, Tiruvisalour. Bank details are given below to facilitate on line Transfer.
Please contact below numbers to get more details
T.N.Radakrishnan
Cell no 9488418702
9445293787
Ramji
Cell no 9444056727
Reposting it from Amritha Vahini Forum
Courtesy: Sri TKS.MOHAN, MUMBAI