Vaikunda Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram , Tamil Nadu

One long weekend we decided to visit Kanchipuram more on a social visit to a relatives house. After visiting the famous Kamatchi Amman Temple and Ekambareswarar Temple, on our way back, we saw an ancient temple just about 500 m away from their house. This board at the entrance made me curious and stop at the gates to make a visit here. 

                     

As I entered the gates of this temple I was awed at the peace and well maintained greenery. It lacked the usual thronging of devotees and it's serenity and carved structure brought a beauty of its own all around. 

view of the temple from the road

                  

the entrance to the sanctum

                   

This temple is situated right in the middle of residential buildings and is popularly known as The Thiru Parameswara Vinnagaram or Vaikunda Perumal Temple. It is dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu. Lord Vishnu is worshiped as Vaikuntanathan and his consort Lakshmi as Vaikundavalli here.

the outer  premise of the temple

                   

the outer structure of the temple

             

Vaikunda Perumal temple is believed to have been built by the Pallava king Nandivarman II (720-96 CE), with later contributions from Medieval Cholas and Vijayanagar kings. It's architecture is of the Dravidian style, with lion faced pillars around the corridors resembling that of at The Thousand Pillar Hall at Madurai.The temple is said to have been surrounded by a granite wall enclosing all the shrines and water bodies of the temple. 

Pallavamallan was a worshipper of Vishnu and a great patron of learning. He is said to have renovated old temples and built several new ones. One amongst them is the Vaikunta Perumal temple. The walls around the temple has inscribed panels of sculpture portraying the events leading up to the accession of Pallavamalla to the throne. 

the grey stones seen here are said to be melting hence no one is permitted to walk on them

           

the corridor around the temple with the lion faced pillar on one side and carved sculptures on the walls

            

sculptures on the wall

Three sanctuaries host the image of Vishnu in different postures here - seated form(ground floor), reclining (first floor; accessible to devotees only on Ekadashi days) and standing pose(second floor; inaccessible to devotees). The temple's architecture is said to have been a prototype for the much larger shrines which were constructed later all over Tamil Nadu. This temple is now under the maintenance of Archaeological Survey of India. It wears a worn out look standing tall for 3000 years. The priest here says that the stones have started to melt due to age and erossion. Adequate measures are being taken to safeguard the inscriptions and sculptures by the Government now.  

The Vaikunta Perumal Temple temple is classified as a Divyadesam (Divine Places)- and is one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the Vaishnava canon. The temple is one of the fourteen Divyadesams in Kanchipuram and is part of Vishnu Kanchi, the place where most of the Vishnu temples in Kanchipuram are located.

I would recommend a visit to this peaceful temple as a must do when traveling to Kanchipuram be it for the Silk Saree shopping or as a pilgrimage. 

Why Nag? (Poem)

It's a real quizzical gag

Wives always nag the husband(the dad)

When the hubby is around

He is always in the way,

Or spoils your day.

Forgets to do things,

Or the stuff you ask him to bring

The kids he does spoil 

After a hard days toil,

Do you have to do that?

You ask with a snap.

Then work calls and away he goes

For 30 days in all, maybe more!

You have your work cut out

And no time to sit and pout.

The stores today, shopping tomorrow 

The bank and the doctor all

in one go!

The kids keep crying 

And you won't stop sighing.

When will Dad get back they say 

Hey kids even I'm counting days,

Today's the day - here's dad back to stay,

With you Dad, no more days will go sad

dad - he smirks and asks 'was it that bad?'

And his grin gets you mad!!


(this was one of the first poems I had written for a Airforce magazine... now posting it on my blog, hope you like it.. )

Srivilliputur Temple (Temples Of Tamil Nadu)

Our trip to Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu was initially planned to attend a friend's wedding. However, our curiosity led us to venture out of our comfortable accommodation at 'Sparkle Inn' and explore the nearby temple in Sivakasi.

A short 10 km journey in a taxi brought us to the quaint temple town of Srivilliputur. This town is renowned as one of the 108 divya desams and is considered the most significant abode of Lord Vishnu. It is also the birthplace of two revered saints in the Vaishnavite tradition, Periyazhvar and Andal.

The temple tower as the back drop

The focal point of Srivilliputhur is the temple dedicated to Andal, the only female Alvar among the 12 Alvar saints of South India. Andal, who lived in the 8th century or earlier, is known for her devotion to Lord Vishnu and her literary works Thirupavai and Nachiar Thirumozhi. She is venerated as more than a saint in many Vishnu temples across India, particularly in Tamil Nadu.

Inside the Mirror Mahal at the Temple

The temple in Srivilliputur is a treasure trove for those who appreciate intricate sculptures and ancient artwork. The sanctum sanctorum features detailed wooden carvings depicting stories from the Puranas, supporting and adorning the ceiling in a unique manner

The Wooden Carvings On The Ceiling

The Ceiling Of The Mandapam

Aside from its religious and literary significance, the Srivilliputur temple is also admired for its impressive architecture. The towering Rajagopuram, standing at 192 feet with eleven tiers, is a prominent symbol of ancient Tamil architecture and can be seen from afar. It is even featured as the emblem of the Tamil Nadu State Government.

Lastly, Srivilliputur is renowned for its delicious milk sweet, Palkova, considered the most delectable in the region.