Swamithoppu

Swamithoppu Temple is formally known as "Poovandanthoppu" and situated in village of Thamarakulam in Kanyakumari district. Swamithoppu is the birth place of Ayya Vaikundar. At the age of 24, Ayya Vaikundar got enlightenment at Thiruchenthur on Mar3, 1833. Thoppu pathi is considered as the first pathi. Dedicated person in this temple conduct daily "Pnaividai" and managing all the activities. Daily panividai (pooja) starts everyday early morning 3’o clock. Ayya Vaikundar married with Thirumalammal and had two sons Puthukutty and Retnavadi.

Panividai Timings:

Early Morning 3o’clock

After Noon 11’o clock

Evening 5o’clock

Main functions of this temple are "Kodiyettam Thirunal" and Car festival conducted thrice a year during the Tamil months of Avani, Thai and Vaikasi. People are coming here from different parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala take part in this festival. This festival starts on first Friday of Avani and Thai month, and second Friday of Vaikasi month.

Swamithoppu, formely known as Poovandanthoppu, is situated in Thamarakkulam village of Nanchi naadu in Kanyakumari District.This is the birth place of Ayya Vaikundar. After the enlightenment at Thiruchenthur in March 3, 1833, at the age of 24, Ayya Vaikundar returned to this place where he started his social reformation. This can be considered as the first pathi.

The successors of Ayya Vaikundar conduct the daily Pani Vidai and they administrate the activities. The elder male member will be in charge of Swamithoppu. Ayya Vaikundar - Thirumalammal couple had two sons –Puthukutty and Retnavadi. Among them Puthukutty was very noble and wise. He was married at the age of seventeen.He had three sons. The elder was Narayana vadivu.His only son expired before marriage. Krishna narayanan , the broher of Narayana vadivu had one son and four daughters. That son Chella vadivu came in the charge of Swamithoppu.It was he who developed the activities of Ayya cult.He started daily pooja ( pani vidai ) and daily feast ( nithya bhojan ). He widely propagated the principles of Ayya Vaikundar.

Chella vadivu had two sons . Elder was Krishnanamani and younger was Bala Krishnan nadar.In continuation with Chella raj , the son of Krishnanamani, Bala praja pathi adikalar son of Bala Krishnan nadar , is now continuing as the chief administrator of Swami thoppu.

Every day morning at 3’o clock the pani vidai starts at Swamy thope.The Gurus and the people staying at the temple go to Munthiri Kinaru and take holy bath. After their return the Gurus chants yuga padippu and the devotees repeat it. Then they open the door of Sanctum Santorum in the amidst of bells and conch .After that there is vahana pavani. Vahana pavani comes around the temple and along the four car streets. The nithiya pal is prepared daily and offered to Ayya Vaikundar.It is the only food Ayya Vaikundar ate when he was in human form at Swamithoppu.This offering is done daily without fail. The descendants of Pudukkuty ,the first Guru of the gurukulam ,prepares this daily at the temple. Chavanipal , a gruel prepared with rice and green gram ,is distributed to the devotees. The noon pani vidai starts around 11’O clock . Daily Uchipadippu is chanted. The devotees will repeat it and Thavanipal is distributed to the devotees. On Sundays, large number of people from far and near comes over here to participate in the Uchipadippu.

In the evening, pani vidai starts around 5’O clock. The door of the Sanctum Sanctorum is opened amidst the sound of the bells and shanka naadam.Then, the guru would chant yuga padippu .Those who congregate for the evening pani vidai would repeat this. Then, there will be vahana pani vidai. The vahana is taken around the temple before anna dhana. This is the daily routine of Swamithoppu temple. One can have darshan at any time of the day in this temple.

Car festivals are conducted thrice a year during the months of avani, thai and vaikasi. The festivals start on the first Friday of avani and thai . In vaikasi , the festival starts on the second Friday of the month. The festival starts with the hoisting of the saffron coloured holy flag, early in the morning. To routine procedures of the festival are followed. In the evening ,Ayya Vaikundar is carried around the temple and through the four car streets in a cradle vahana.

On 19th of masi people from south Tamilnadu assemble at Thiruchenthur. They take sea bath with the presence of the guru from Swamithoppu. He applies namam on everybody’s forehead and the procession starts in a number of vehicles at 9’O clock.

The procession goes through Seekatchi, Nainarpathu, Udangudi, Chetirapathu, Theriyoor, Santhayadi, Kottankadu, Muthukrishnapuram, Padukkapatu, Tatarmadam, Tesiyanvilai and reaches Ermaikkulam at noon. Here the people particiapate in anna dhaanam.

The procession continues from there and travels through Ayyankulam, Karaichettypudhur, Koodankulam, Chettikulam ,Chalaipudhur, Avaraikulam, Ambalavanapuram, Aruvaimozhi, Thovalai and reaches Athalavilai. The vehicle procession from Thiruvananthapuram travels through Balaramapuram, Parassala, Marthandam, Thackalai and reaches Athalavilai at about 6'O clock.

The Vaikunta Jyothi is lighted on a hill top called Vaikunta malai. Then the joined procession proceeds to Nagercoil and goes around the town. A religious conference is conducted at Nagercoil in which many eminent persons participate. People stay there over night.

On the next day the procession to Swamithoppu begins in the early morning. A guru of Swamithoppu will lead the procession. It will be huge assembling of Ayya devotees with a saffron flag in their hands. Decorated elephants and horses used to become an attraction in the procession.

The procession passes through Edalakudi, Sucheendram, Vazhukkamparai, Ethankadu and north Thamarakkulam. On the way the native people welcome the procession and garland the leader. They reach at Swamithoppu at about 12'O clock and go to the munthiri kinaru first and then four car streets. Later the procession goes around the temple .Before entering the temple the participants hand over their flags at the entrance.