DivyaDesam– Lord Vishnu | One of the DivyaDesamVishnuSthalam |
Region | Thondai Naadu |
Thondai Naadu | 14thVishnuSthalam |
HISTORY:
Situated
a km off the Kanchipuram railway station, this Divya Desam has been designated
as a heritage temple and is under the archeological survey of India. The story
goes that a Gandharva beauty tried to distract Baradwaja Rishi in his penance.
A child was born to them and a perturbed Rishi prayed to Brahmma regarding the
child’s up bringing. Vishnu and Brahmma came to his rescue and promised to take
care of the child.
During
the same period, a Pallava king, who was childless, was undertaking penance.
They presented this child to the Pallava King and named him Parameswaran.
Another story goes that Lord’s security guards, Dwara Paalakaas, are said to
have born to a Vidarbha king, who was childless. Later the two are said to have
performed the Ashwamedha Yaagam, upon which Lord Vishnu is believed to have
appeared before them.
Mothers
Parvathi, Mahalakshmi and Saraswati came down to earth once to perform penance.
Sages Athri, Brugu, Kashyapa, Kaundilya, Triorisheya, Bharadwaja and others
helped them. After a while Lords Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva came there to take the
mothers back. The power of the penance of the Rishis was such that the Lords
could not go near their consorts. They sent a beautiful Gandharva virgin near
the sages. Sage Bharadwaja fell in love with her and had a son.
Lord
Maha Vishnu took the form of a hunter and brought up the boy and named him
Parameswara Varman. He was a staunch Vishnu devotee since his infancy. Lord
Vishnu taught him all the arts. By the time he was completing the courses, his
life was coming to end. In order to extend his life to a long span, Lord
reclined with his head on the northern side. Generally, it is believed that
this would affect longevity of the person. When Yama the God of Death came to
take the boy, he was shocked to see the Lord with His head towards north and
understood that some thing bad or strange would happen. Lord simply told Yama
that He would move only if he ensures long life to His devotee. Yama had no
choice. He simply obeyed and turned away assuring long life to the
boy-Parameswara Varman.
Boy
Parameswaran asked the hunter-father who He was. Lord granted him His darshan.
Parameswara Varman decided to build a temple with Lord’s three postures,
standing, sitting and reclining. According to some historians that Parameswaran
was the first of the Pallava dynasty.
In
his Mangalasasanam, Saint Tirumangai Azhwar mentions Parameswara Varman as the
builder of Parameswara Vinnagaram – “Parameswara Varman Panindha Parameswara
Vinnagaram Adhuve”. The place is also named after him. As Azhwar’s
Mangalasasanam has the name of the King, the grace of Lord to him stands
established.
Boy
Parameswaran asked the hunter-father who He was. Lord granted him His darshan.
Parameswara Varman decided to build a temple with Lord’s three postures,
standing, sitting and reclining. According to some historians that Parameswaran
was the first of the Pallava dynasty.
In
his Mangalasasanam, Saint Tirumangai Azhwar mentions Parameswara Varman as the
builder of Parameswara Vinnagaram – “Parameswara Varman Panindha Parameswara
Vinnagaram Adhuve”. The place is also named after him. As Azhwar’s
Mangalasasanam has the name of the King, the grace of Lord to him stands
established.
The
region was once known as Vidharba Desa ruled by King Virocha. Due to a curse
incurred in his past birth, he had no issues. A staunch Shiva devotee, he
prayed to Lord Kailasanatha in Kancheepuram conducting a yajna. Lord Shiva made
the Dwarapalakas of Lord Vishnu to be born as the king’s sons. Though born as
the princes, they continued to be devotees of Lord Vishnu and conducted a yajna
for the welfare and prosperity of the people of this region. Pleased with them,
Lord Vishnu granted darshan as Vaikundanatha to the princes.
Lord
is said to have appeared before the devoted Parameswara Varma in his three
postures. Lord Vishnu is believed to have stood up and taught Parameswara 18
different arts of life. In his grand sitting posture, he is said to have passed
on advice to Parameswara, as an acharya would to his disciple. And is then
believed to have got into a sleeping posture so as to be served by Parameswara.
To mark these event, Parameswara Pallava is said to have built this 3 tier
structure. The 2nd tier is open only on Ekadesi days.The steps to the 3rd Tier
are said to have been damaged during Pallava Times because of rains and hence
cannot be visited anymore.
So
attached was the Pallava king to this temple, that he used to invoke the
blessing of this Lord before he embarked on any battle, especially before he
went to face their arch rivals, The Pandyas. This has been brought out
beautifully by Thirumangai Azhvaar in several of his Paasurams in praise of the
Lord here.
The
temple has beautiful old sculptures around the prakaram depicting the different
stages of Parameswara’s life right from his childhood. The temple is a terrific
example of Pallava Architecture and is believed to have been built by them on a
single piece of rock.
Legend
has it that there was a secret underground tunnel laid out from this temple all
the way to Mahabalipuram , on the eastern sea shore, as well as to Parameswara
Pallava’s court. When Britishers got a scent of this, they came here to trace
this. Coming together as one, the devotees of this temple are said to have
built out steps across the tunnel to the temple sannidhi, thus turning away the
Britishers.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Vaigundanathan |
|
Ambal |
Sri Vaigundavalli |
|
Theertham |
Irammadha Theertham |
Prayer in the temple
cleanses the devotees of all their sins. Those seeking wedding and child boons
pray to perumal.
Prayer
in the temple cleanses the devotees of all their sins. Those seeking wedding
and child boons pray to Perumal. People offer sweet pudding (sarkarai pongal),
curd rice and flakes (Aval) nivedhanas to Lord and Mother. 10 day Vaikasi
Brahmmotsavam in May-June and Vaikunda Ekadasi in December-January are the festivals
celebrated in the temple.
HOW
TO REACH:
The
temple is at a walking distance from Kancheepuram railway station.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Vaikunda Perumal
Thirukkoil,
Thiruparamechura Vinnagaram,
Kancheepuram,
Tamil Nadu - 631502.
LOCATION:
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