Jagannatha Perumal Temple, Nathan Koil… Sri Jagannatha Perumal Temple is one of the ancient, beautiful and excellent Temple situated in Nathan Kovil, a village situated in the outskirts of Kumbakonam and this temple is dedicated to the protector god MahaVishnu. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped in this temple as Sri Jaganathan and his consort Lakshmi as Shenbagavalli.
Since the great Lord Nandi Bhagavan had got relieved of his curse here the temple tank in this temple is called Nandi Theertham, the vimanam as Nandi Vimanam, the place called as Nandipuram and the other Theertham is known as Nandi Pushkarani. We can see the shrines of Srinivasa Perumal, Jagannatha, and the images of Bhoodevi and Sridevi who can be seen on both sides of Lord Srinivasa. The image of Nandi, which is otherwise found only in Shiva temples, is present here in the main sanctum. There is a separate shrine for Ma Shenbagavalli Thayar. The temple is maintained and capably administered by the Vanamamalai Mutt.
Temple Timings: 6.30AM to 12.00PM in the morning and 4.00PM to 8.00PM
As per ancient legend, Nandi, the sacred bull of Shiva, did not respect the Dwarapalakas, the gatekeepers of Vishnu. They cursed Nandi that his body would suffer from excess heat. Nandi informed it to his lord Shiva, who advised him to do penance in Shenbaranyam. It is the place where Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu was doing penance to get into the chest of Vishnu. Vishnu was impressed by the penance of Nandi and got his curse relieved. Vishnu also took Lakshmi in his chest. Since Nandi performed penance at this place it is known as “Nandipura Vinnagaram”. And Lord Narayana is called as “Nadhanadha”.
The Sri Jagannatha Perumal Temple is revered in the sacred Vaishnavite text, Sri Nalayira Divya Prabandham. The temple is especially visited by those devotees who are seeking timely wedding, reunion of married couples, children, court verdicts and cure from various health issues. It is also believed that those who visit this temple would never be born as a stray dog in their next birth!
Songs in praise of Lord Jaganatha (Krishna) are as follows: –
O Krishna! Great Son of Yashoda, the Sun is about to rise in the skies; please arise to listen to the prayers of your devotees.
Awake! O Govinda! Things like milk, curd and butter are ready for your early morning consumption. Please get up from your bed in order to protect the Universe.
Ma Rukmini, Goddess of prosperity resides on your heart permanently; O the great divine beauty of you attracts the minds of millions and millions of your devotees, O giver of boons, O my sweet little Krishna! I offer my humble salutations to you on this early morning.
O Sri Krishna Deva! A fine morning to you, whose eyes looks like that of a beautiful lotus flower, and the bright face of the sun; Lord Brahma, Shiva and Indra pay their respects to you. The ocean of mercy! Dear to your divine vehicle Lord Garuda!
O resident of Dwaraka! The great rishis are chanting your mantras and reciting your names, and offers beautiful lotus flowers and performs holy bath to you by taking the water from the holy Rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada and Godavari. Please get up soon, and accept their early morning prayers.
Celestial Devas from the heaven are wondering about your divine beauty, the Guru of Devas and Demons are praising you! O Lord! Please open your lotus like eyes and express your divine appearance in front of your devotees.
O the Lord of Dwaraka! The morning scenery is very beautiful and your holy temple Udupi is surrounded with full of trees and paddy fields. The morning breeze is blowing very nicely, which carries good fragrances, wishing a very good morning to you.
O Sri Krishna! The temple bells are ringing pleasantly, and I am able to hear the pleasant verses from Srimad Bhagavatham recited by the learned scholars. I convey my early morning wishes to you.
With his melodious musical instruments Sages like Tumburu and Narada sings wonderful songs on you, and I can witness that even some celestial goddesses like Ramba and Urvasi are also dancing before your shrine, in order to make yourself to feel delightful.
O Lord who dwells on the Holy Dwaraka, The bees jumps from flower to flower in order to gather tasty honey, and even they want to offer the honey for your holy bath, and also to get your Divine glimpse on this early morning.
O Lord of Universe! The cowherds are churning curd and are singing precious songs and praising your glories; their wonderful voice attracts even the birds and animals, and they surround them in order to listen to the cheerful divine songs. May this morning be glorious to you!
Lord Sun and the Moon produce more radiance, due to your blessings. Oh Lord of Dwaraka! Please awake soon in order to do your early morning chores.
O Krishna. The ocean of mercy, O Lord of beauty, O Lord of the seas, mountains and the land, let this morning bring happiness to you.
O Lord of Lords! King of Kings! Having taken their holy dip in the Holy Rivers, Gods like Brahma, Shiva and sages such as Sanandana and Bhagavathas like Prahalada and Dhruva are waiting inside your temple door in order to have your early morning darshan. My Dear Krishna, Very Good morning to you, and let this morning brings great cheerfulness to you!
Glory to you O Dwarakapati! Whose abode is mentioned in the Holy books, whose importance cannot be fully explained even by Lord Garuda, whose names gives great pleasantness to the devotees, who permanently resides in the souls of the Bhagavathas like Narada, Tumburu, Prahalada and Dhruva.
O Lord! Even the great Lords like Shiva, Brahma and Indra are desirous of serving you, and they bow their heads before you, Oh Sri Viswaroopa Krishna, please get up soon in order to accept the prayers from the great gods.
O Lord! The planets and the stars are waiting before you in order to offer you their service. Your devotees having been purified by touching your holy idol, and there is no doubt that all of your sincere devotees would attain Moksha in their next birth. Please show your divine vision to everyone, since it is the time for you to get up from your bed.
O Krishna! People are very much interested to rest at Your divine feet in order to attain salvation, and just by watching your charming face, they forget about their worries, and becomes more cheerful.
Morning wishes to you O Lord Krishna! You are the Lord of Ma Bhumi Devi, the earth goddess. You contain good qualities like compassion, Love and affection etc. Oh Lord of all Gods! Your near and dear devotees Ananta and Garuda are chanting your glories. Good morning to you.
O Padmanabha, Purushottama, Vasudeva, Vaikuntavasa, Madhava, you look more beautiful since you hold the Holy Sudarsana and the Panchajanaya on your hands, you are like the Divine Parijata tree and like the Divine Cow Kamadhenu in granting the wishes of those who surrender at your lotus feet. A marvellous morning wishes to you my Lord!
Your Divine posture looks very attractive and beautiful and you appear more beautiful than that of the love god Manmadha. You contain very good qualities which we cannot found with anyone in this universe. I offer my wonderful morning wishes to you.
O Sri Krishna! Gopala, Muralidhara, you have taken several avatars in order to destroy the evil elements from the world. I offer my very Good morning to you.
O Krishna Paramatma, I could hear the wonderful Vedic chants and I can also smell the delicious Prasad items which is under preparation at your temple. Please get up soon in order to taste those wonderful delicacies.
The sun has raised and the flowers have opened their petals; and I could hear the lovely noise of the birds, your devotees are waiting at the temple entrance, and sings song in your praise. Let this morning be glorious to you.
O my beautiful Krishna! You are the base of the Vedas, you act as the breath of everyone, you are the true Brahman, and, only with your help we could be able to cross the ocean of life. Glory to you my Lord Krishna, please get up soon.
Oh, Gopalaa, the bright son of Sri Vasudeva, you are very much capable of destroying the demons like Kamsa and Shisubala. You gave joy to everyone in the universe, and we praise you for ever in our lives. Even if you give me poison from your lotus hands, it would taste me like the divine nectar.
You have been seen decorated with various flowers, which adds much more beauty, and those flowers have attained great significance since you were worn those on your head. Even if you really fight with me, I would consider it as one of your playful activities.
You are shining with sparkling garlands and jewels. You contain dark hair and you contain a very bright face which can be compared to thousands and thousands of suns. Even without applying scent, your body gives a good smell, which attracts everybody. Even if you remove my eyes with your little hands, I would never hate you, since I would be able to see your divine beauty through my soul.
Your hair is wonderfully decorated with peacock feathers. I want to see you once again in your child form, and I want to witness your lovely sleep in a comfortable bed. Even if you hate me, I would consider it as the love shown by you.
I am finding very much happiness by singing your songs, Hey Krishna you are called by various names such as Achyuta, Keshava, Narayana, Damodara, Vasudeva, Shridhara and Madhava. Even if you make me to starve without food, I would imagine myself as if I ate food from your lovely hands.
I offer my humble salutations to the great Lord Krishna who loves his cowherd friends, who contains dark blue complexion, oh my Krishna Raja, please protect me, and kindly relieve me from this difficult life, and help me to cross this ocean of life. Even if you make me to take birth as an ant, with my tiny mouth, I would carry some food particle, in order to give it to you in your temple.
I salute you, My Lord, who is the giver of happiness and the remover of sorrows.
You have been praised in all the fourteen worlds, and appear more beautiful even than the celestial Devas. Even if I have been surrounded with thieves, I would never worry for that, since my dear immortal thief, Lord Krishna, the one who used to steal butter from neighbourhood, is there to protect me always from these mortal thieves.
Oh my lotus-eyed Krishna, you are the gentle cowherd, who used to kindly treat the cows.
Please once again come to this earth to take care of the innocent cows and the innocent people. Even if I have been asked to sleep in the bed of thorns, I would consider it as a bed of rose flowers, since due to your grace, even the thorns appear to me in the form of rose.
Oh Krishna, your thoughts are fully filled up in my heart, oh I am really scared that whether you have been suffering from any evil eye problems, since most of the people are jealous on seeing your divine beauty. Even if I suffer from any dangerous disease, my mouth would always keep chanting about you, till my death.
Oh Krishna, I do not have any desire, except to see your beauty again and again, and the music which comes from your flute increases my heart beats, and it makes me to listen to your flute music again and again. Even if I take the birth of a small insect, I want to dwell only on your idol.
Oh, my handsome Krishna, you are very playful, but you contain very good qualities, like sharing your food with your friends, animals and birds. Even if I lose my legs, with my hands I would crawl like a child, in order to visit you at your temple.
“OM SRI JAGANATHA PARAMANANTHA PARKADAL VASA NAMO NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR