VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Pavala Vanna Perumal Temple / Pavalavannam Temple, / Pavalavannar Temple / Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

Tuesday, 2 October 2018

Sri Pavala Vanna Perumal Temple / Pavalavannam Temple, / Pavalavannar Temple / Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

23^rd September 2018.

This is one of the 108 Divya Desam Perumal Temples also known as Sri Pavalannam and Sri Piravalavannar Perumal Temple. This temple is about 200 off from Kanchipuram Railway station to Kanchipuram Bus Stand Main Road (Big Kammala Street – Jawaharlal Nehru Street).

Thirumangai Alwar had done the mangalasanam, in praise of Maha Vishnu as Pavalavannar of Kanchipuram, in his pasuram.

வங்கத்தால் மாமணி வந்துந்து முந்நீர் மல்லையாய்

மதிள் கச்சியூராய், பேராய்

கொங்கத்தார் வளங்கொன்றை யலங்கல் மார்வன்

குலவரையான் மடப்பாவை யிடப்பால் கொண்டான்

பங்கத்தாய் பாற்கடலாய் பாரின் மேலாய் பணி

வரையினுச் சியாய் பவள வண்ணா

எங்குற்றா யெம்பெருமான் உன்னை நாடி யேழையே

னிங்ஙணமே யுழிதருகேனே

- திருநெடுந்தாண்டகம் 9 (2060)

Moolavar : Sri Pavala Vanna Perumal Temple.

Thayar : Sri Sri Piravalavalli Thayar

Some of the important details are…

The temple faces west with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Before Rajagopuram on the left Manavala Mamuni sannadhi in a mandapam. Immediately after the Rajagopuram Balipedam, Dwajasthambam (now removed due to damage), and Garudalwar. Moolavar is in a sitting posture, while the upper hand holds Shankha and Chakra, lower hand is in abhaya and Varada hasta. The color of the Moolavar is Coral. Urchavas Perumal is with Sridevi and Bhoodevi in front of Moolavar.

In the outer prakaram Sannadhi for, Andal (facing east), Yaga Sala, Mirror room, Thirumangai Alwar, Nammalwar, Udayar and Pavala Valli or Piravalavalli Thayar. Pavala Valli thayar is in a separate temple like sannadhi with sanctum, arthamandapama and Muka mandapam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum, Antarala, artha mandapam and a mukha mandapam.

On the north side the mandapa has pillars with reliefs of Vishnu’s various avatars and a Telugu inscription plaque. The Ceiling has reliefs of Eekamruga (whale-like fish with an elephant trunk), an elephant, a tiger, a man fighting with a tiger and elephant, and snakes, which may belong to the Vijayanagara Period and the British period.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was believed to have been constructed during the Chozha Period and later with Vijayanagara Contributions. Kulothunga Chozha I and Rajadhiraja's inscriptions are found on the sanctum walls. The temple tank – Chakra Tirtha is in front and a fragment of stone with Chozha period inscriptions. The temple activities are being managed by the hereditary Dharmakartha Mrs C Adhilakshmi.