Sri Yathodkari perumal temple Kanchipuram- A divya desam

This is a very important Vishnu temple in Kanchi very close to the Varadaraja perumal temple .It is also known as Thiruvekka / Sonnavannan seitha perumal temple Divyadesam No 36 of 108.

How to Reach:

The temple is in Chinna Kanchi very close to the Varadaraja perumal temple .and across the road from the Ashtabhuja perumal temple.

Legends and Stories:

The temple is the birthplace of Poigai alwar who was born in the lily pond on the northeast side of the temple.

This is the temple where manavaala maamuni expounded his Sri Bhashyam. There is an idol of him here showing the Vyakya Mudra suggesting expounding of knowledge.

Once Brahma had a difference of opinion with saraswathy. Various temples quote various reasons as fight between Saraswathy and Lakshmi brahma sided Lakshmi,  Brahma was upset that he had no temple on earth hence wanted to do ashwamedha yagna to please perumal but as his wife Saraswathy was not prepared to accompany him he was aghast he prayed to lord and went ahead with the yagna with Savithri and his other wives. This angered Saraswathy and she tried to disturb the yagna with the asuras as well as by flooding the place as a fast river-Vegavathi, Brahma fervently prayed to Perumal laid down as a Dam to contain the river and save the yagna.Metaphorically the angry Saraswathy when confronted by a male lying down in her path turned coy and stopped there.This is represented with the Goddess as Veghavathi coyly siting down at the foot of the perumal in the temple he is thus called "Vega Sethu".This Vega Sethu then became Vegavanai and then finally named as "Vekkanai" and finally became "Vekka".

Thirumazhisai Alwar who worshipped the Lord of Thiruvekka was cared for by a couple.When the son Kanikannan was born to them,he became the Alwar's steadfast devotee.One day when Kanikannan saw a woman frail and bent with age,sweeping the temple premises offering worship to the Lord,he was moved.He stroked her hunched back in appreciation.The power of his guru surged into him and the woman regained her youth and was able to continue offering worship to the Lord with fresh vigour.The king of the period who greedily desired his youth restored to him requested Kanikannan to do so.But the young mann refused outright which enraged the king and he banished Kanikannan from his kingdom.The Alwar prepared to go with him and asked Lord Thiruvekka also to come too,as he could not live without Him. The Lord rolled up his serpentine bed and obediently followed the Alwar and Kanikannan. The three travelled some distance way from Kancheepuram on the northern bank of the Paalaar river and stayed the night there.But,with the Lord's departure,the town was plunged in darkness and disorder.The ruler realized his mistake and rushed to the trio,seeking their forgiveness.The Lord returned to Kanchi with his devotees.
The place where he stayed overnight came to be known as Oriravu irukkai,which later got shortened to Orirukkai. The Alwar told Perumal to lie down as they had come back the lord promptly obeyed him in the same place he was in such a hurry he laid down facing west unlike in other temples, He is thus called Sonna vannan seitha perumal one who obeys promptly ref:my blog manimandapam of Maha periyava

The main sanctum has a west facing perumal who is lying down with head on the east resting on his left hand and right hand raised as though he is stringing his bow. Goddess Veghavathi is at his feet and the sannidhi for Komalavalli nachiar is facing north in the main complex

 

A new Lakshmi Narayanan Vigraham in the temple

Mangalasasanam:

• Thirumazhisai Alwar - 3 Pasuram
• Thirumangai Alwar - 6 Pasuram
• Poigai Alwar - 4 Pasuram
• Nammalwar - 1 Pasuram
  Total - 14

Pavala vanna perumal koil Kanchipuram-A divya desam

Kanchipuram is an ancient town with such a great past.It has about 15 Divya desams of the total 108 Vishnu temples so designated.Kanchi is called Mokshapuri where salvation is guaranteed.On 7/6/15 I had an occasion to visit a few of them..Pavazha vanna perumal koil is the temple where Lord Vishnu gave darshan as a Coral hued lord on the request of Sri Bhrigu maharishi.It is Divyadesam No.43 of the 108

The Pachai vanna perumal temple opposite to this temple is a sister temple but not a Divya desam as it has not been sung about by the Alwars

How to Reach:

From the Chennai Bangalore Highway as you enter Kanchi cross the Railway station and on the right you will see the Pachaivanna perumal temple. Take a left turn into the road opposite and in 500 mtrs you will reach this temple

Temple tank in front

Legends of the temple:

The temple Lord is known as Paramapadanathan and Pavazhavanna perumal the Coral coloured Lord.He has given darshan to to Bhrigu muni, the Ashwini twins, Parvathy in answer to their prayers below is a pic from the temple itself

As you enter you see the main Sannidhi in front housing the sitting lord.

The complex on the left has the west facing Pavazhavalli Nachiar sannidhi. The sannidhi was crowded a there was a wedding being held there. There were nice sculptures in the pillars of the hall

View of the temple

Thirumangai alwar mangalashaasanam 1

Shri Nithyakalyana Perumal Thiruvidanthai A divya desam

This temple is closer to Chennai on the east coast road.It is very famous for marriage The lord here marries 360 daughters of a rishi so he is called nithyas kalyana perumal. Unwed men and women will have their weddings completed soon if they pray here.
How to reach
On the ECR from Chennai to Mahabalipuram after 40 kms from chennai and 1 km before the snake park you will see the temple arch the temple is just a furlong away

Legend:
Kaalava rishi had 360 daughters who he wanted to marry off to the lord. He did so after penance and the lord gracefully accepted the brides one on each day! so he is called Nithya kalyana perumal.
Bali chakravarthy was asked by the asuras to wage a war without reason he refused. He was pressurised to lead the asura army which won over the devas. To repent for waging an unwanted war he did penance here.
As you enter the main gate you see a long praharam with a  mandapam on the right
as you enter the second courtyard you se the moolavar in his sannidhi
The lord here is about 7 feet tall and is in the varaha avatara with the consort on his left thigh. He is standing with the right leg balanced on Adisesha and the left leg lifted and supporting mahalakshmi ( Pic from Wikipedia)

There is a seperate Mahalakshmi sannidhi and Andal sannidhi. The hall on the right also has a seperate Ranganathar sannidhi

(Pallikonda Ranganathar Sannidhi above) There will be copious puliyodharai here as prasadam of Kalyana utsavam
Mangalashasanam (from Wikipedia)
Thirumangai Alvar has sung is praise of Lord Nithyakalyana Perumal.

 

Thulambadu Muruval Thozhi Yarkku Arulaal
Thunai Mulai Saanndhu Kondaniyaal
Kulambadu Kuvalaik Kanninai Yezhudhaal
Kolan Naan Malar Kuzhar Kaniyaal
Maal Ennum Maal Ina Mozhiyaal
Ilam Badiyi Vulak Kenni Naindhirunndhaay
Idavenndhai Yenndhai Piraane!

Thiruninravur Bhaktavatsala perumal

This is the 55 th divyadesam of Vaishnava temples in India and is situated close to the Hrudayaleshwara siva temple in Thiruninravur.
How to reach:
Thiruninravur  is situated in Thiruvallur District and is about 35 kms Northwest of Chennai. On the road from Chennai to Thiruvallur,( the MTH road or chennai anantapur road) proceed west from padi  till you cross Pattabiram .When you reach Tiruninravur  you see the over bridge  across the railway rack take a right turn and climb on the bridge and proceed south as you get down on the other side look for the temple on the second left road the road takes you right to the back of the temple . You cam also reach it from Thirumazisai one has to take right turn after Kalki bhagwan ashram and sriram eng college and ask for the temple . From there Thiruninravur temple  is about 4 kms.
Thiruninravur can also be reached by Suburban trains from Chennai to Arakkonam, after Pattabiram.
Legend:
It is believed that Samudraraja (Lord Varuna), who is the father of Goddess Lakshmi worshipped Lord Vishnu here. It is also said that the Perumal here is always giving dharshan (ப்ரத்யக்ஷம்) to Lord Varuna. Thiruninravur is considered as the place of Goddess as she settled here first and then Lord came here to Her place. The rarity of this temple is that the Lord Sri Bhakthavatsala Perumal is staying permanently at his in-law’s place . As Goddess settled here first, the place itself had got its name after her. In Thamizh, ‘Thiru’ means Sri Lakshmi, ‘Ninra’ means stood, ‘Vur’ means place.
The Goddess of this temple is ‘Ennai Petra Thaayaar’  also called as Sri Sudhaa Valli.
According to legend, Thirumangai Aazhwaar had visited this temple and left to Thirukkadal Mallai - today’s Mahabalipuram without singing a single Paasuram on the Lord. After he left, Sri Bhakthavatsala Perumal gave Dharshan to him again at Thirukkadal Mallai. It is said that Thirumangai Aazhwaar had God’s dharshan from Mahabalipuram itself, after which he had sung 2 Paasurams on the Lord, admiring the beauty and similarities of the deities in Thirukkadal Mallai, Thiruninravur and Thirukkanna Mangai.
Later days, with the divine instruction of the Lord, a Pallava King had constructed this temple and arranged for Brahmotsavam
 

(view of the temple entrance and Raja gopuram)

(view of the Rajagopuram from inside)

View of the Main sanctum from outside
The main deity Sri Bhakthavatsala Perumal here gives dharshan in standing posture facing east. He has Sridevi and Bhoo devi as his consorts

The sudha valli thayar sanidhi is in the North west.
Other deities of the temple are  Sri Aandaal, Sri Chakkarathaazhwar and Sri Aadhiseshan. Paramapatha Vaasal is located on the Northern Praakaaram.

There is Sri Anjaneyar Shrine opposite the temple, facing west. The beautiful temple chariot is parked there adjacent to Sri Anjaneyar Shrine.

Wikipedia link to the temple

details of the temple in tamil snapped today 18/3/2012

Thiruneermalai,Kunrathur,Mangadu trip

whenever I travel by the Tambaram bypass from Maduravoyal I see this temple and always wanted to visit it.today was the oppurtunity and i combined it with a trip to kunrathur and Mangadu.which was a bonus!!
I started at about 7 am from kilpauk and reached pallavaram in about 40 mins  .just before the flyover there is a road to the right with a sign indicating Thiruneermalai.( there is an earlier road which leads to anakaputhur, pammal and thiruneer malai but on the map it looked very circuitous so I chose the more straighter road which was the second road) About 4 kms on this road leads us to the Base of the hill and the base temple. These are both Divya desam temples sung by Thirumangaialwar and Boothalwar  
The temple is built on a hill. There are two temples one at the foot of the hill, the other at the top. The Lord appears in four poses representing three of his incarnations in these temples. Rama below and Narasimha,Vamana above .
(View of the temple from pallavaram approach road)
Temple at the foothill

Sri Neervannaperumal Temple, Thiruneermalai

 

 

The moolavar is Neervannan, Neelamugilvannan seen in standing posture facing east.Thaayaar - Animaamalar Mangai..Thirumangai Azhwar also sang on Mother Animamalarmangai This temple is famous for quick marriages and there was one being arranged when I visited.This is usually held at the Ramar sanidhi .
Legend of the temple
Sage Valmiki appealed for Vishnu’s Darshan saying that he had completed the Epic Ramayana on him and the Lord complied.Thirumangai Azhwar, one of the 12 Azhwars of the Vaishnava School singing hymns only on the Lord, once camped here on a hilock awaiting darshan of Rama. The whole area was covered in water and it took 6 months for the floods to recede and hence Neervanna Perumal

 
View as you enter the main gate.

Anjeneyar statue in front of the main sannidhi
The thayar sannidhi and Ramar sannidhi is in front of you

and The perumal sannidhi is to your right.

The perumal here is in the standing Posture hence he is described as “Nindran” standing.Next to the lord on his right is a figure of Valmiki praying.

There is a seperate andal sannidhi behind

The temple legend as painted here

The temple is very neat. (there are neat toilets built outside and the flowerseller at the stall has the keys)
Next is
The Sri  Ranganatha temple on top of the hill. There are 220 steps which are quite small all the way to the top and can be climbed easily by the elderly too
:

 

There is a hanuman temple in the mid way

 

(View of the temple steps)

The samprokshanam of the temple  had taken place just a week before hence the temple was very bright. There are about 100 steps to climb quite easy and we can reach the hilltop temple.
After a winding climb you can see the glorious entrance gopuram called the Kalki mandapam

Below is a view of the Tambaram Maduravoyal byepass

Legend:

This temple is supposed to be in existance from the tretayugam and was one of the two perumal abodes the other was Ahobilam This temple is a divyadesam and also a swayambhu kshetram like Srimushnam.

As you enter the Main gate you see the dwajastanbham and Garudar sannidhi facing the lord
Moolavar (Kidandhaan) - Ranganathan seen in reclining maanicka sayana posture facing south.. The Thousand tongued Adisesha is seen spreading himself as a mattress and covering the top with his head as an umbrella, the Lord is seen in this temple in a lying pose with his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi both at his feet with Brahma in his Nabhi kamalam.The vigraham is swayambhu and there is a lotus at the feet of the lord. the lord manifested here to fulfill Bhrigu maharishi’s prayer for darshan. It is also called as Nadu Naatu Srirangam
In the  inner praharam we see the other  sannidhis
Thaayaar - Ranganayagi facing east is seen in the foreground of main sannidhi.
Behind  the Sriranganatha sannidhis we find the other two sannidhis

 

Moolavar (Nadandhaan) – Thrivikraman ( Vamana) seen in standing posture facing east.Reminding the Vamanavathara (Dwarf incarnation), the Lord is in the walking order asking where to place his third step after measuring all the worlds in two steps . The left leg is lifted up to shoulder level unlike in Kanchipuram and Tirukoilur where it is the right leg lifted to 90 degrees (http://drlsravi.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html)

Moolavar (Irundhaan) - Saantha Narasimhan seen in seated posture facing east.Considering the appeal of boy Prahlada who was afraid of his fury, the Lord appears in a calm and pleasant mood as Shantanarasimha and also as Balanarasimha. (There is a small moolavar with prahaladha kept in front of the main lord about 1 foot tall) The lord is welcoming bhaktas with the left hand and the right hand shows abayam  
 
Theertham - Manikarniga Thdaakam - Sheera Pushkarini, Kaarunya Pushkarini, Siddha Pushkarini, Swarna Pushkarini.
Mangalasasanam:
Thirumangaialwar - 1078-87, 1115, 1521, 1554, 1660, 1765, 1848, 2069, 2673 (73), 2674 (130)
Boothalwar - 2227.
Total of 20 Paasurams.

.There is a huge pond here common to both temples called pushkarini which is considered very holy. The tank in the temple measuring 3 acres, very beautiful, is called Suddha Pushkarani, Ksheera Pushkarani, Swarna Pushkarani and Karunya Pushkarani. Devotees bathe in the tank for cure from illness. They also get clarity of thoughts and prosperity. People use to tie cradles in the trees in the temple seeking child boon. Ladies come round the hill for removal of obstacles in marriage matters.

View from behind the entrance mandapam

The Rama temple as seen from above with the pushkarini
General information:
The Pujas in the temple are performed in accordance with the Vaikanasa Agama rules. The daily puja time is 8.a.m. to 12.00 in the day and from 4.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.