15th
December 2019.
The visit to
this Damodara Perumal temple was a part of the Kanchipuram and Vellore temples
visit scheduled on 15th December 2019. After Varaheeswarar Darshan went to this temple, which is almost at the center of the Village. This is
one of the Vishnu temples dedicated to Kannan/Krishna, who was tied with a
rope by his mother on his abdomen and called Damodaran ( Dama in Sanskrit
means rope, and Udara in Sanskrit means abdomen ). This is the only place where
Vishnu gives darshan as Damodara to his devotees.
Moolavar : Sri Damodara Perumal
Consort : Sri Thirumalazhagi
Some of the salient
features of this temple are….
The temple is
facing east without any Rajagopuram or arch. A Canopy is erected from the
recent period mandapa up to the entrance. Thadhiarathanai mandapa is on the
left and Anjaneyar Sannadhi is on the right. Garudan and Balipeedam are in front
of the Sanctum. The sanctum is about 4 feet high from the ground level with a
flight of steps. Moolavar Damodaran is with Sridevi and Bhudevi. There is a
rope mark on the abdomen of the Moolavar. Moolavar wears anklets that signify the
little Krishna, 108 salagrama garland, and Silver rope on his waist. The
urchavar or the processional deity also called Damodara is with
Satyabhama and Rukmini. Hanuman and Sudarshan are also in the sanctum.
Sri
Thirumalazhagi Thayar Sannidhi is on the right side of Moolavar Sannadhi facing
east. Thayar sannidhi is also raised from the ground level. In the concrete
mandapa, Andal and Alwars. Outside the Moolavar and Thayar sannidhi, Nandhavanam was created, and stucco images of
Anjaneya, Garudan, Kannan, Krishna with a rope tied onto a wooden mortar, Sripad
of Krishna and the Vijayanagara period Pillars with Hanuman relief.
ARCHITECTURE
Both Moolavar
and Thayar Sannidhis are built on an elevated level. Moolavar sanctum is rectangular on a padabandha adhisthana. The koshtas are empty. The prastaram
is of kaptha style and a two-tier vimana is over the sanctum. It seems that
the temple was reconstructed many times with brick and mortar.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
According to
the sthala purana this temple belonged to the Madhava community who gave the
temple as dhanam/gift to Vaishnavas, hence this village was called
‘Danamallapuram’ which got corrupted to the present name of Damal. But as
per the Chozha King Kulothunga-I ( 1070 – 1120 CE ) inscriptions
refer to this Village as Damar also called Nittavinodanallur in Damar Nadu in Damar Kottam. Damar ( Thamar ) which has been
corrupted to the present name of Damal.
Even
though it is claimed that the temple is more than 1400 years old, there is no
evidence or inscriptions to prove its
antiquity. With the
presence of Vijayanagara Pillars, we may conclude that this temple may be
more than 500 years old.
LEGEND
Damodara
is one of the many names of Krishna. When Krishna as a child was very
mischievous Yashoda had to run after him. He used to steal butter and curd
from neighbor houses along with his friends. This was complained to Yashoda
many times. So she decided to tie Krishna with a rope on a wooden mortar to
restrict his playful movement. When she tried to tie with a rope, every time
She could not do so due to the short length. Joined bits many times and failed.
Finally, Krishna gave way and allowed
her to tie. Hence Lord Krishna has got the name of Damodaran (Dama in
Sanskrit means rope and Udara in Sanskrit means abdomen).
FESTIVALS
Apart from
regular festivals and poojas, Kodai Thirumanjanam in Chithirai month, Vasanthotsavam in Vaikasi month, Thayar
Thiruvilakku Pooja in Adi, Pavithrotsavam in Avani, Damodaran is decorated as
Lord Venkateswara like Tirumala Tirupati in Puratasi, Deepavali, Bhakta
Hanuman Laksharchana in Karthigai, Sri Andal - Bhogi Urchavam in
Margazhi, Thirumal Azhagi Laksharchana and Sri suktha Homam in Thai, Maasi
Magam in masi and Panguni Uttara Thiru Kalyana Urchavam in Panguni are
celebrated in a grand manner.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The
temple will be kept open between 07.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT
Bhattar Sarangapani +919629406140 and Bhattar Mohan +919944812697 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO
REACH
This temple is in the middle of
the Village of Damal.
Buses are available from
Kanchipuram.
Damal is 16 KM from Kanchipuram,
33 KM from Arakkonam, and 90 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway Junction is
Arakkonam.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Garuda & Hanuman ( பெரிய திருவடி & சிறிய திருவடி)
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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