Set in Thiruvelliyangudi, Tamil Nadu, Kolavilli Rama Perumal Temple is dedicated to Kolavilli Rama Perumal, also called Ksheerabdhi Nathan, with consort Maragadhavalli Thayar. It is also known as Kola Valvilli Ramar Temple, Sri Kolavilli Ramar Divya Desam, Ksheerabdhi Nathan Temple.
The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu temples glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham composed by the Alvar poet saints, and is sung here by Thirumangai Alvar. It is counted as the Vaishnava Shukra (Venus) Kshetram, associated with the legend of Sukracharya seeking healing for his eyes at this spot, which is why the deity is also called Nethra Murthy. Local tradition holds that worshipping Kolavilli Rama here is equivalent to worshipping Vishnu at all 108 Divya Desams. Legend holds that Mayan, a demon sculptor, performed penance here and was blessed by Maha Vishnu as Kolavilli Rama; Rama entrusted his conch and discus to Garuda for safekeeping, so the deity here is depicted holding only a bow and arrow.
Tamil Nadu carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Land of towering gopurams and living Dravidian temple traditions, from the Chola masterpieces to the great Pancha Bhoota Sthalas.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM |
| Evening | 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
Darshan hours can vary; it is advisable to confirm with the temple before visiting.
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Rama Navami | Tamil month of Panguni/Chithirai (March-April) | Celebrates the birth of Rama, the presiding deity's principal form |
| Vaikunda Ekadasi | Tamil month of Margazhi (December-January) | Major Vaishnavite festival observed at the temple |
History and architecture
Architecture
Dravidian style temple with a three-tier east facing rajagopuram, enclosed by brick walls. The single tier Pushkalavarthaga vimanam is in salakara style with stucco images of the avatars. The layout proceeds through sanctum, antarala, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam, built on a stone base rising to a brick superstructure.
History
Legend holds that Mayan, a demon sculptor, performed penance here and was blessed by Maha Vishnu as Kolavilli Rama; Rama entrusted his conch and discus to Garuda for safekeeping, so the deity here is depicted holding only a bow and arrow. In another episode, when Rama rested with his head on Sita's lap and Jayanta, son of Indra, misbehaved in the form of a crow, Rama used his own fingers as a bow and a blade of grass as an arrow, a posture said to give the place its name Kolavilli.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Thiruvelliyangudi is about 19 km from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam-Chennai highway, roughly 4.5 km from Cholapuram bus stop and about 30 km from Mayiladuthurai; Kumbakonam is the nearest railway station.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Core deity, legend and Shukra Kshetram details are corroborated across multiple pilgrimage sites, but specific festival dates, poojas, entry fee and dress code could not be independently verified and are left blank or given only as general Hindu-calendar periods