The word  Aadhi as a prefix for this Divya Desam indicates its ancient character; the suffix Thiru refers to its exalted state.  VeLLarai and Sveta Giri are names associated with the hillock here, which is made of white granite slabs. It is considered  ancient, since  the legend has it that this temple predates that of Srirangam. This divya Desam is located 15 Kilometers north of Srirangam on the Tiruchi-Turayur road.

The association of sibi Chakravarthy with this sthalam

 Sibi built a temple for the Lord at the site of the Anthill (Purru) and settled 3,700 purva sikhaa  Sri Vaishnavas, who had their homes between Ganges and Yamuna. One of them died soon after settling there and Sibi chakravathi was saddened by the untimely death of the Vaishnava. The Lord appeared before the sorrowing Sibi and comforted him with the statement that He will stand at ThiruveLLarai in place of the Vaishnava. Sibi dug five Pushkarani's for the Lord 's worship   today known as Varaha, Padma, Manikarnikaa, Kuchasthi     and Gandha Pushkarni  Theerthams. It is a tradition here that those, who are childless can bathe in these theerthams  on Sunday in the month of karthigai and have Darsanam of the Lord to be blessed with progeny. There is yet another theertham known as Maamiyaar -  MaNaatu PeNN theertham,  which has the shape of a  Swastik.Hhere, the shape of the tank makes it possible for the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to take baths at the same time without catching  the sight of each other.

 Periyaazhwaar is a descendant of one of these Purva Sikhai  Sri Vaishnavas. Some of them also moved to Thirukkoshtiyur. Selva Nambi, the acharya of Periyaazhwar is also one of the descendants of these Purva Sikhai Sri Vaishnavaas settled at Sri Svetagiri by Sibi Chakravathi.

 The breezee at ThiruveLLarai is known  for its medicinal qualities. It is rich and fragrant breeze laden with the scent of herbs and flower bushes occupying the numerous Nandavanams.  Swami Desikan pays tribute to the Nandavanam in the Kshetram in his  40th slokam of Hamsa sandesam this way:

O My friend! After you had offered your worship to the Lord of ThiruveLLarai (Slokam 39), Please do not miss seeing beautiful     Nandavanam of this divya desam. That expensive gorve will have cool shade  from the ever greens. It will be dark in hue like that of the Lord of this divya desam. A Rakshasi by name Neeli is forever protecting it and is keeping it safe and beautiful. The celestial damsels consider this Nandavanam   to be more beautiful than that of Indra and therefore they frequent this Nandavanam at ThiruveLLarai. It is  sufficient that you see this Nandavanam from the air itself without descending down. You will assess that this Nandavanam is so     far ahead of the Divine gardens of Indra and will conclude firmly that the latter is not worth much attention.

  Swami Desikan continues in the next slokam about the glory of the uniquely fragrant breeze of this Kshethram. All in all Swami Desikan     devotes four slokas to ThiruveLLarai Kshethram. The Lord  of ThiruveLLarai ,Srirangam, Thiruvenkatam, Kanchi and Thirumaalirumchaolai  are the other Archa Murthys besides that of ThiruveLLarai that Swami Desikan salutes in his Hamssa Samdesam. Tthat is the Level of regard that Sawmi Desikan had for the Murthy of this sthalam.

     Acharya Vaibhavam at ThiruveLLarai

As the Hamsam travels south, Lord Ramachandra points out to the Hamsam that it will pass over Thiruvenkatam, Kanchipuram and then it will enter Chola Desam. The first Divya Desam that was picked out for worship after Kanchi ( Satya Vradha Kshetram) was   ThiruveLLarai and it is followed by Srirangam and Thirumaalirumcholai. As the hamsam crosses the Chola Desam borders, Bhagavan  says in the words of  Swami Desikan that it will see the scared Svetha Giri appearing like the submerged Kailasa Parvatham slightly  lifting its head like white-hued Adiseshan (Magna Kailasa Dhrusyam Svetam Sailam Panipathimiva Dhrakshyasi). Next, Lord Ramachandra explains to the Hamsam and us through Swami Desikan the benefits of worshipping the Lord of ThiruveLLarai this way.

     (meaning) The Lord of ThiruveLLarai is standing on the white hillock and is splendorous with his own natural luminosity  (Svayam Jyothi). He has the highest of auspicious attributes Your worship of this Tejomurthy is going to result in the fulfillment of your prayers. That  Svayam PrakAsa murthy is without admixture of Prakrithi (Divyam). That murthy is the object of worship by evolved souls  (BudhAnam PrArtaneeyam). The Lord's affection (Sneham) and inseparable association with Sri Devi at ThiruveLLarai makes Him beam     with happiness and His eyes then remind one of the lotus in bloom. When those beautiful glances fall on the devotees, they destroy all of their ignorance. Please worship Sri Pundareekakshan at ThiruveLLarai as the consort of Sri Devi  (Pankaya Chelvi,SeNgamalavalli in this Divya Desam ) and all of His auspicous blessings will become close to you.
 
 
 

     Thiruvellarai -Engal Azhwan                                         Uyyakondaar - Thiruvellarai

There are other Acharyas associated withThiruveLLarai. Nathamuni's famous disciple, Uyyakondaar was born in this Divya Desam and  his given name was Pundareekhakshar. Since he propogated the sacred message of NALAiyira divya Prabhandham taught to him by his Acharyar  Nathamunigal,  he received the name of  Uyy AKKondAr.  RamAnujA spent  few months here after the unfortunate incident     related to the attempt to kill him by poison at Srirangam. The tank used by him during his stay is known even today as Udayavar kuLam.     The Lord of this Divya Desam instructed RamAnujA to partake of Pongal PrAsAdam presented to His Piratti.  Inview of that , even today , the Pongal PrAsAdam presented to the ThAyAr is brought with honors of Nathaswaram and Melam as accompanying UpachArams.

 A contemproary of RamAnujA revered as Engal AazhwAn is also a son of the soil of ThiruveLLarai. His given name was Vishnuchitta. Since  he was as talented  as  Kuresa,  RamAnujA called him affectionately as Engal AazhwAn. Once NadAthur AazhwAn of kanchi asked his grandson, NadAthur AmmaL to go to ThiruveLLarai and learn about Sri Bhashya Rahasyaarthams as taught by Ramanuja from Engal Azhwaan. Ammal knocked on Azhwaan's door during an afternoon and Azhwaan asked from inside, who is there?  Ammal replied ,it is " I "   Azhwaan replied from inside the house to return after the death of; " I  " . Ammal was confused and returned to kanchi to   report this  perplexing response to his grandfather. Latter explained to his grandson that Azhwaan asked you to return after your Ego(I) is banished. Please go back to ThiruveLLarai and introduce yourself as "Adiyen" and be blessed with Acharya upadesam.  Since Engal Azhwaan   became thus the Acharya of Nadathur Ammal, was called AmmaaL Acharyar and even today the descendants of this great Acharya are  known as Ammal AcharyAs.  Even today this Acharya Parmparai exist  at ThiruveLlarai which is known as Kezha Thiru Maligai and Mela  Thiru Maligai .

     The two  Acharyas of ThiruveLLarai,  UyyakkondAr celebrated Tamil Vedam (4000 Divya Prabhandham)  Engal Azhwaan     celebrated the sanskrit Vedam. Thus Ubhaya Vedhantham was practised here as a tradition of Bhagavth RamAnujA Sidhaantham..

 Thiruvellarai - Moolavar - uthsavar    Pankayachelvi - Pundareekaakshan.
                                               unjal uthsavam. Among AzhwArs, Periya AzhwAr and Thirumangai  AzhwAr performed MangalAsAsanam here with a total of 24 verses. In the first Pasuram     (1.6.8), PeriyAzhwAr requests the Lord to engage in Bala Cheshtaa (kreeta) known as Sengeerai Aadal. When the mother sings to the     child, it  always to the music from  one side to another. This is performed by a child at one particular stage of its growth. AzhwAr asks the Lord of ThiruveLLarai to reveal him the beautiful spectacle of Sengeerai Aadal and assumes the role of Yasodha Devi to enjoy that  experience.

     Periya AzhwAr uses the full decade (2.8) to invite the beautiful Bala Krishna for"Andhi Kaappu". In the earlier decades, he had assumed the     role of YasodhA  had performed Thirumanjanam, decoration of Krishna's hair with fragrant flowers.  Azhwaar  was overcome by the divine beauty of  Nandagopalan and wanted to do RakshA ( Kaapu). Azhwaar asks Krishna  to come near so that he can perform ceremonies to    avoid Dhrushti Dhosham as the evening approached. He asks Krishna not to stand in junction of the four roads, where Ugra Devathas  assemble at that hour. He reminds the Lord of ThiruveLLarai, of the lurking dangers and asks Him to accept "Thiruvanthi Kaapu" or Saayam Sandhyaa Rakshaa. The ten Kaapidal Pasurams of Periyaazhwar's are beautiful evocations of the beauty and Leelas of Lord Krishna    standing at ThiruveLLarai as Pundareekaakshan. In the final verse, Aazhwaar says that   the act of MangaLAsAsanam of the Lord is nothing     but the meaning of vedas (VedanthaTaatparyam) and those, who recite his verses of  the Lord of ThiruveLLarai will have the boon of the  banishment of the enemies of Bhagavad Anubhavam.
 Thirumangai Azhwaar  uses the entire decade of 5.3 of his Periya Thirumozhi to offer his MangaLAsAsanam. He describes the natural beauties of this Divya Desam -- the fragrant breezes, the many cool and deep ponds, the Hari Naama Sankeerthanam of the Honey bees -- and visulaizes the Lord as Hayagreevan (Mun Parimuhamaai,  isai koLL Veda Noolenrivai Payandavaneh, yenakku aruL puriyeh)  and asks for this Vidya Murthy (Jnaaanandhamayam Devam with Suddha Spatikaakrithi standing at Sveta Giri)  to bless him. He also salutes the Lord of ThiruveLLarai's earlier avatharams such as ParasurAmaa, VAmanA, Krishna, Bhuvaraahan, Kurmaavatharan, RamA and  HAMASAAVATHARAN to bless his son with theVedas. Swami Desikan composed Hamsa Samdesam and celebrated the Lord of   ThiruveLLarai and His Divya Desam, the seat of Bhakthi the two Azhwaars and few Acharyaas, who preceded him.

 Temple Structure at ThiruveLLarai.
 

There are FIVE prakarams here. At  very entrance are the 18 steps reminding one of the 18 chapters of Gita given to us by     Pundareekakshan. After climbing these 18 steps, one comes across 4 steps that are considered equal to the 4 Vedas. One now reaches   the Bali Peetam, where one prays for the fulfilment of one's wishes. Thirumanjanam is performed after the fulfilment of one's wishes.  Beyond the Bali Peetam there are five steps representing the  Pancha  Bhoothams. After ascending the five steps  and crossing the     Naazhai Kettaan VAsal, one arrives at this site , where one meets the 2 gates for ascent to the scared hill, where the Garbha Grahma is.   One gate is used during Dakshinaayanam and other during f Uttaraayanam. One climbs further 8 steps remind one of Ashtaaksharam and    therafter comes to the 24 steps reminding one of Gayathri Mantram. Now, one arrives Moolasthaanam,  where Senthaamarai KaNNan    (Pundareekaakshan) stands with His consort Pankayacchelvi Naacchiyaar under the VimalAkruthi Vimanam. There Rajathi Rajan with  Prayoga Chakram in one hand, aquiline nose, bewithching eyes, beautiful four shoulders and a winning smile welcomes the Sevaarthis and   blesses them. His Prayoga Chakram chases the enemies of Bhagavad Anubhavam.

     In this Sannidhi, the Lord has given over all His rights to His consort and in uthasavams, the Uthsava Murthy lets His con sort to go ahead Him and follows Her. All the landed property of the temple are in Her name. There is a seperate sannadhi for Sengamalavalli, His  consort. She joins the Lord only  the next  day after Panguni Brahmothsavam car festival.

There are many stone inscriptions (archeologiacal treasures) in this temple. The glory of this Divya Desam arises from the Azhwaar's   prayers  for  Jnana Laabham. PiLLai PerumaaL Iyengaar reminds us to desire only the holy feet of the Lord of ThiruveLLarai     (VeLLaraiaan TaaLeh Virumbhu).

Uyyakondaar was born here in Chittirai Karthigai and EngaL AzhwAn was born in Chittirai RohiNi.
 
 

AsthAm Sethasi Me nerantharamasavamBhodharasyamaLa::
puNNyae  Srimathi Pundareekanayana: svethAchalae dasthivAn|
mArkhanDEya vihankarAja BhujakAdeecha kshma sEvitha:
chandraAdhithya vidhootha chamarayugO lakshmeesahayO hari: !!

The Utsavams are as follows at this Kshetram.
 

Chittirai:  Poocchaathu (Poocchudal ) Utsavam
AAdi: Jyeshtaabishekam
AAvaNi:  Sri Jayanythi
Purattasi :Nava Raathri for Senkamalavalli Thayyar
Eippasi  :Dolothsavam
Karthigai : Deepothsavam
Thai : Sankaranthi, Paari Hunt
Panguni : Brahmotsavam
Panguni Sravanam : Car Festival