Details of Kshethram:Moolavar: Kolavilli Ramar* Thayaar: Margathavalli Thayaar Vimanam: Varthaga Vimanam Pushkarani: Sukra, Brahma, Parashurama, Indra Theertham Travel: 20 kilometers from Kumbakonam en-route Aaduthurai. Azhwar Pashuram:

Tirumangaiazhwar - 10 Pashurams

It is said that the Lord had taken this form to defeat demon king Bali. Bali was a very powerful demon king. He was the grandson of Prahalada. Bali was such a powerful demon that he individually was capable of keeping all the Devas at bay. The Devas then approached Lord Vishnu to help defeat Bali. Bali was a hence he could not be killed. He could merely be pushed down to Patala-Lokam. The Lord assured the Devas that he would look into the situation. At the same time, Aditi the mother to the Devas wanted to make sure that the Lord would be born to her. To ensure this, Aditi used the means of payovratam (complete milk-based diet over twelve days). The Lord was born in Aditi's womb to Aditi and Sage Kashyapa. The Lord was born as a dwarf. As soon as he was born, the Lord showed Aditi the different stages of his life and grew into a young boy. The upanayanam ceremony was performed and each of the gods presented Vamana with a gift. Brahma gave him a kamandalam and Brihaspati gave him the umbrella. Thus, the Lord set out to fulfill the promise given to the Devas. He reached Bali's palace where he was giving alms to the brahmins assembled. As the Lord reached the assembly, Shukracharya warned Bali that the person responsible for killing his grandfather had come to defeat him. He advised Bali not to give alms to him. Bali was honored that the Lord had come to his assembly. He proceeded with the program and soon reached Vamana. Bali asked him what he desired as alms. The boy replies saying all he desires are three paces of land. Bali granted the boy's wish. To stop Bali from giving alms, Shukracharya took a very small form and went and sat at the mouth of Bali's kamandalam. When water did not come out of the kamandalam, Lord Vamana took a dharba grass and poked the opening of the kamandalam. In the process of poking the opening, Lord Vamana poked one of Shukracharya's eyes. In pain, Shukracharya left the opening of the kamandalam. The boy started to grow. With the first step, he measured the entire earth. With the second step, he took the heavens. By the time he had to take the third step, there was no space left. Bali got onto his knees and with a posture of namaskaram bends his head and asks the Lord to place the third step on his head and push him into Patala-Lokam. The Lord now in his Trivikrama form fulfills Bali's wish and places the third step on his head sending him to Patala-Lokam.

It is said that Shukracharya performed tapas here and the Lord appeared as Kolavilli Ramar reclined in the bhujanga shayanam and granted Shukracharya his eye once again.  

***This is one of the special kshethrams in which one can find Lord Rama in a reclining posture.