Thiruvindalur - Sri Parimala Ranganathaswamy Or Sugandhavananatha Perumal Temple

The Suganthavana kshetra has established for itself an indelible name in the story of temples for reasons more than one. First, the archamurti is called Vedamodan for not only restoring Vedas, but also purifying them from the putrid smell contaminated by Madhu Kaitabas, the wicked demons who stole, concealed and contaminated them with stinking smell. According to legend, after creation Lord Mahavishnu gave the four Vedas to Brahma, but two awful demons stole and hid themselves under sea. On hearing the piteous appeal by Brahma for restoration, he incarnated as a gigantic Matsya and gave them back to Brahma after killing the cruel giants. Due to demons' touching and keeping, the Vedas emanated durgandha - bad odor. So they did penance and got back their original fragrance from Lord Mahavishnu. Hence the Lord was appropriately called Vedamodar and the spot Veda thirtham. Unusual fragrance permeated the whole region and it was aptly called Suganthavanam and the Lord who accepted to abide in this land as desired by the Vedas, is called Parimala Ranganathar.

Secondly, once river Cauvery did penance to get first and foremost place among the holy rivers of India. Lord Mahavishnu appearing assured that He would dwell in several temples on its banks, like at Srirangam, Kumbhakonam and Sugandharanya kshetram. Moreover, Ganga too would visit once a year in the month of October to get purified by bathing in Cauvery for, she is getting polluted by the sins of the bathers at holy places like Kasi, Haridwar etc. Hence, the idols of Ganga and Cauvery are installed in the temple. In addition, a month long festival is celebrated here when the Utsavamurti of Par imala Ranganathar is taken out to the river bank to enabling the Cauvery to avail Bhagawan's darsan. Thirdly, another legend credits this kshetra with the curing of Moon God's Rajyakshama disease here as evidenced by the presence of the idol of Moon-God seen at the feet of the Moolavar. In the garbha griha, Lord Parimala Ranganathar gives darsan in his Veerasayana posture with four hands holding the usual weapons. The icon is made of emerald-Maragatham and measures 12.5 x 5.5 feet. A soul lifting sight ensuring moksha! About the name-Indalur is the modern name of the ancient Tamil word  Doopakal standing for the incense burning stand. Surely it is filling the entire kshetra with the divine aroma and filling the souls with Srimannarayana's aparupa divyafilas. Agantic worship is offered daily and the periodical festivals are celebrated with unprecedented colour and pageantry luring lakhs of devotees. There are many thirthas here and each has a legend. Thirumangai Alwar composed ten pasurams glorifying the Moolavar.

It lies near Mayuvaram, a famous town of Tamilnadu, accessible by four wheelers.

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