Sri Yathothakari Perumal Temple, Thiruvekka, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram Dist, Tamil Nadu - 108 - DIVYA DESAM TEMPLES,.

7^th August 2016.

Kanchi is one of the 7 cities of salvation. The city of Kanchi was one of the most ancient settlements that nurtured culture, education, arts, religion, and philosophy at different periods. The city has been the birthplace of many popular philosophers, Vedic scholars, and religious leaders and Kanchi once served as a religious capital for many faiths during different times. Many prominent schools that functioned here include Jainism, Buddhism, Shaivam, Saktham and Vaishnavam. In the process except Saivam and Vaishnavam the other religions lost their identity due to the work of scholars in Vaishnavam and Shaivam. The urban planning of Kanchi is divided into Shiva Kanchi where many Shiva temples are there and Vishnu Kanchi where Vishnu temples are there. Sri  Devaraja Swamy otherwise called Sri VaradarajaSwamy temple has become the centre nucleus of the Vaishnavam with a massive construction.

In this Heritage trip organized by Ratham on 7^th August 2016, I had the darshan of Vishnu’s various forms at Thiruvekka, Ashtabuyagaram, Thiruvelukkai, Thoopul and Varadharaja Swamy. Sri Varadharajaswamy used to go out of the temple and bless his devotees in and around Kanchi and one such place is Nadaivaavi, Ayyangarkulam, which is about 10 KM from Kanchi on the banks of Palar River. It is interesting to note that Perumal is facing the west direction in all Kanchipuram Temples. Mr Madusuthanan explained the History, Culture, Society, art, architecture, religion, etc in each temple before the darshan to understand the importance of each temple.  We 15 plus 4 foreigners had the opportunity to participate in this heritage trip and finally, we had the delicious Kanchipuram idli as a prasada from Sri Varadharaja Swamy.

  

SRI YATHOTHAKARI PERUMAL TEMPLE, AT THIRUVEKKA, KANCHIPURAM.

This place is called after the name of Perumal. One of the names of Vega sethu has become “Vegavanai” and then changed to “Vekkanai” and finally called “Vekka”. There are 14 verses of songs sung by Thirumizhisai Alwar, Thirumangai Alwar, Poigai Alwar, and Namalwar. Sri Manavala Mamunigal explained, in his Sri Bhashyam. Poigai Alwar was born in this temple pond otherwise called Pushkarani.

Poigail Alwar has sung hymns in praise of Sri Yathothakaari Perumal in his Pasuram.

வேங்கடமும் விண்ணகரும் வெஃகாவும், அஃகாத

பூங்கிடங்கில் நீள்கோவல் பொன்னகரும், - நான்கிடத்தும்

நின்றா னிருந்தான் கிடந்தான் நடந்தானே,

என்றால் கெடுமாம் இடர்.”

-  பொய்கையாழ்வார்

Thirumangai Alwar had done the mangalasanam, in praise of Maha Vishnu as Vilakoli Perumal of Thiruthanka, Yathothakaari Perumal of Thiruvekka, Kanchipuram.

முளைக்கதிரை குறுங்குடியுள் முகிலை மூவா

        மூவுலகும் கடந்தப்பால் முதலாய் நின்ற

அளப்பரிய ஆரமுதை அரங்கம் மேய

        அந்தணனை அந்தணர்தம் சிந்தையானை

விளக்கொளியை மரகதத்தை திருத்தண்காவில்

        வெஃகாவில் திருமாலைப் பாடக் கேட்டு

வளர்த்தனால் பயன்பெற்றேன் வருக என்று

        மடக்கிளியைக் கைகூப்பி வணங்கினாளே

திருநெடுந்தாண்டகம் 14 - (2065)

The Sangam period poet Urthirangkannanar praises Maha Vishnu of this in his literature PerumpanaRRupadai. In that, he mentions that King Ilanthiraiyan came from the lineage of Maha Vishnu.

சங்க இலக்கியமான பெரும்பாணாற்றுப்படை எனும் நூலை உருத்திரங்கண்ணனார் எனும் புலவர் தொண்டைமான் இளந்திரையன் மீது பாடியுள்ளார். இதில் அம்மன்னனைத் திருமால் வழிவந்தவன் என்று காட்டுகிறார். அவன் ஆண்ட காஞ்சி மாநகரே திருமால் நாபியிலிருந்து தோன்றிய தாமரையின் வடிவம் என்கிறார். அதே போல திருவெஃகா எனும் திவ்யதேசத்தின் பெருமையைப் பாடுகிறார்.

'நீடு குலைக்

காந்தள் அம்சிலம்பில் களிறு படிந்தாங்கு

பாம்பணைப் பள்ளி அமர்ந்தோன்'

(அடி.371-373)

Moolavar : Yathothakari, Sonnavannam Seitha Perumal,

                Vegasethu & Athi Varadhar.

Thayar    : Sri Komalavalli

Some of the important features of this temple are …

The temple faces east, with a 5-Tier Rajagopuram. Rajagopuram, balipeedam and Dwajasthambam are at front. Moolavar is in a reclining posture resting his head on Adhiseshan and facing west direction, which is an unusual feature of this temple.  Sri Lakshmi is on his feet in a sitting posture. The Moolavar is in a reclining posture, made of stucco. And Urchavars are kept in front.

Thayar Komalavalli is in a separate Sannadhi. There are sannadhis for Pillai Logachariyar, Nagars, and Andal.

ARCHITECTURE

Since Moolavar is in a reclining posture ( Kidantha Kolam - Bhujanga sayanam ),  the sanctum is in the form of rectangular and vimanam is also in the form of Gopuram/Salakara style. The Vimanam is called as Vedasara Vimanam.

LEGENDS

The sthala purana says Thirumizhisai Alwar changed an old dasi into a young and beautiful lady, who used to clean the temple. The king married her after seeing the beauty.  The king was very much curious to meet Thirumizhisai Alwar and wanted to compose a song about him. The king ordered Kani Kannan one of Thirumizhisai Alwar’s disciples to leave kanchi even after the promised to give a gift of Gold and diamonds since he refused to make arrangements for meeting Thirumizhisai Alwar with the king to compose a song on the King. Thirumizhisai Alwar followed his disciple and asked Perumal also to follow. On seeing Perumal, Lakshmi also left.

   

The King realized his mistake and asked Thirumizhisai Alwar to return back to kanchi. Thirumizhisai alwar asked Peromal to return back to kanchi and others also followed. Hence Perumal is called as Sonna Vannam Seitha Perumal and in Tamil “சொன்ன வண்ணம் செய்த பெருமாள்”.

There is also another story. There was an argument between Saraswati and Lakshmi who wanted to know who was the greatest. When Brahma replied Ganga is the greatest since she starts from the feet of Vishnu. On hearing this Saraswathi left him. Vashistan one of Brahma’s sons called Saraswathi to come back and participate in the Ashwametha yaga conducted by Brahma. She refused to return back but wanted to destroy the yaga in the form of the Vegavathi River. Lord Vishnu stopped by placing Adhiseshan, to obstruct the flow of Vegavathi. Hence Vishnu here is also called Vega Sethu.

THE TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple is kept open between 07.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

This temple is about 2 KM from Sri Varadarajaswamy temple.

A lot of autos are available from the Bus stand.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:    CLICK HERE

……. To be continued

 --- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---