VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Vaikunta Perumal Temple / Paramechura Vinnagaram / Parameswara Vishnu Gruham , Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

Wednesday, 3 October 2018

Sri Vaikunta Perumal Temple / Paramechura Vinnagaram / Parameswara Vishnu Gruham , Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

23^rd September 2018.

This 7^th Century Vishnu Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desam Perumal temples in Kanchipuram. The temple is located about a KM from the Kanchipuram bus terminus.

This 7^th Century Vishnu Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desam Perumal temples of Kanchipuram. Thirumangai Alwar has sung 10 pasurams on Vaikunta Perumal of this temple.

சொல்லுவன் சொற்பொருள் தானவை யாய்ச்சுவை

யூறொலி நாற்றமும் தோற்றமுமாய்,

நல்லரன் நான்முகன் நாரண னுக்கிடந்

தான்தடஞ் சூழ்ந்தழ காயகச்சி,

பல்லவன் வில்லவ னென்றுல கில்பல

ராய்ப்பல வேந்தர் வணங்குகழற்

பல்லவன், மல்லையர் கோன்பணிந்த பர

மேச்சுர விண்ணக ரமதுவே.

..... திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார் ( 1128 )

Moolavar : Sri Vaikunda Perumal in three stages, Standing, Sitting

and Reclining.

Thayar : Sri Vaikunta Valli Thayar.

Some of the important details are...

The Temple faces west with a base of a Rajagopuram built with stone and the front is like maadam. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Garudalwar are in the prakaram after the entrance. Nagars are under a peepal tree.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum, antarala and Artha mandapam and a muka mandapam. The Mukha mandapa doesn’t have a connection with the main sanctum sanctorum. Sannidhi for Sri Vaikunta Valli Thayar is in the mukha mandapam facing Perumal. The inner prakaram is with a raised verandah & covered corridor supported by the lion pillars, a mixture of sandstone and granite. The inner prakara walls on all four side sculptures speak of the historical events of the Pallava dynasty since 4^th -5^th Century up to the time of Nandivarman –II, in a sequence. His Coronation events are also a part of it. The sculptures also depict the war scenes of the Military, cavalry, elephant corps, battlefields, the joy of victory, the sorrow of defeat, Ashwamedha yagna, punishment like Kazhuvetram, etc,. Minute details like the throne of the kings, crowns, the jewellery are clearly shown in the sandstone sculptures.

The sanctum is with mummaada Vimana, and has three levels which bottom level is for Sri Vaikunda Perumal in sitting Posture. While the upper hand holds a conch and Chakra/discus and the lower hands are in Abhaya and Varada hastham. In the second level, Perumal is in a reclining posture, and in the top level, Perumal is in a standing posture, with little space around it. ( The second and third levels are restricted to the general public and kept locked ). The sanctum and ardha mandapa outer walls have sculptures of various avatars of Sri Vaikunda Perumal. Every corner is supported by the lion pillars.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the inscriptions the temple was built in Rajasimha style ( 674 – 800 AD ) architecture by Nandi Varma -II, Pallava King and called "Paramesvara Vishnu Graham". The temple has 7 inscriptions. One of the Nandivarman II ( 8^th Century ) inscriptions records about the coronation of a little Prince. After the death of Parameswara Varman II, the kingdom got confused for the coronation of the next King. The Officials requested Hiranya Varman Maharaja, who belongs to another Pallava family to crown as a King. In turn, when he asked his sons, the 12-year-old Parameswara Varman agreed to become the King. He was brought to Kanchipuram and crowed as Nandivarman-II, and was also called Pallavamalla. He led the Pallava Dynasty for 65 years. The temple is being maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI) as a protected monument.