Sri Adhikesava Perumal Temple / Lord Perumal Temple / ஆதிகேசவ பெருமாள் கோயில், ஆர்பாக்கம் / Arpakkam, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Adhikesava Perumal Temple at Arpakkam was a part of the REACH Foundation’s Epigraphic field visit on 26^th February 2023. Thiruvaliswarar Temple and Adhinathar Jain Temple are close to this Adhikesava Perumal Temple. This Arpakkam Village is on the banks of river Cheyyar, a tributary of the Palar River, and about 2 KM from Magaral, a Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva temple.

இந்த ஆர்பாக்கம் கிராமம் காஞ்சிபுரம் மாவட்டம் பாலாற்றங் கரையில் அமைந்துள்ளது. இவ்வூர் ஒருகாலத்தில் சமணம், பவுத்தம், வைஷ்ணவம் மற்றும் சைவம் சிறப்புற்று இருந்தது. இன்றும் வழிபாட்டில் இருக்கும் சமணர் கோயில் பெருமாள் கோயில் தெருவின் கடைசியிலும், புத்தரின் பின்னப்பட்ட சிலைகள் இக்கோயில் வளாகத்தினுள்ளும் மதில் சுவர் அருகேயும் காணப்படுவது அதற்கான சான்றுகளாகும். மூலவர், ஸ்ரீதேவி மற்றும் பூதேவியுடன் சுமார் 7 அடி உயரமாக காணப்படுகின்றனர். சுதையால் செய்யப்பட்ட துவார பாலகர்கள் கருவறை வாயிலின் இருபுறமும் காணப்படுகின்றனர். 

இக்கோயில் சோழர்களால் கட்டப்பட்டு நாயக்கர் காலத்தில் புரணமைக்கப்பட்டு இருக்கலாம் என ஆய்வாளர்கள் கருதுகின்றனர். கல்வெட்டுக்களின் படி இவ்வூர் ஜெயங்கொண்ட சோழமண்டலத்து எயிர் கோட்டத்து எயிர் நாட்டு ஆர்பாக்கம் என அழைக்கப்பட்டது. மூலவர் கேசவ பெருமாள் என்றும், வீர விண்ணகர ஆழ்வார் என அழைக்கப்பட்டார். 

Moolavar  : Sri Adi Kesava Perumal

Consort    : Sri Amirthavalli Thayar

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces west with 2 tala Rajagopuram. Deepa sthamabam, balipeedam, broken Dwajasthambam / kodimaram and garudan are after the Rajagopuram. Stucco images of Maha Vishnu’s 10 avatars are on the top of the mandapam. Moolavar Sri Adikesava Perumal is with Sridevi and Bhudevi in the sanctum sanctorum and is about 7 feet tall. Stucco images of Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Alwars and Old Moolavar Adhikesava Perumal are in the ardha mandapam.

In Praharam Amirthavalli Thayar, Andal and a damaged Loose sculpture of Buddha. Viswaksenar is in a separate sannidhi.

The Alwars

The original Moolavar

Utsavars

Garuda

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, a maha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and pattikai. The Bhitti starts with Vedika. The Brahmakantha pilasters are shown on the Bhitti. From adhistanam to prastaram the structure was built with stone. The prastaram consists of Valapi, kapotam with Nasis and Vyyalavari. A two-tala brick vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. 

Sri Amirthavalli Thayar and Andal are in separate Sannidhis with sanctum sanctorum and mukha mandapam, facing east.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the inscriptions, this place was called Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu, Eyirkottathu Eyir Nattu Arpakkam, and Moolavar was called Kesava Perumal and Veera Vinnagara Alwar. The temple was constructed between 1003 CE to 1008 CE. The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Chozhas and Vijayanagaras.

Rajaraja-I, period inscription records the endowment of the Sandhi lamp for which donations are given to the temple.

The inscription also records measurements like Chozhiyam and Arumozhithevan. A 1039 CE Inscription records the appointment of 7 Musicians, which shows that this temple was very popular during that period. ( as per Mr Saikumar )

Maha Samprokshanam was conducted after attending repair works in 1646, during the Vijayanagara period, and on 24^th May 2010 along with the replacement of Kodimaram made out of Athi / fig tree. ( The same is also found in damaged condition during our visit on 26^th Feb 2023 ).

  

LEGENDS

It is believed that worshiping Anjaneyar will get rid of the problems due to Saneeswarar since Anjaneyar is facing south similar to Saneeswarar.

This is a Parihara Sthalam for Marriages since Thayar faces east direction. Devotees believed that marriages would be finalized after,  lighting 5/7 ghee lamps in front of Garuda on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Since Moolavar faces west, in the same direction as Sukra, praying Perumal of this temple will get rid of doshas in Kalathra sthanam

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas as per Vaikanasa agama special poojas are conducted on Saturdays, Margazhi Utsavam, Thirukalyanam for Andal on Adipooram day, Vada mala to Anjaneyar on Saturdays.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 09.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Santhana Krishna Bhattachariyar’s mobile number  +91 9790481309 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

Arpakkam is about 2.2 KM from Magaral one of the thevara Paadla Petra Sthalam, 15 KM from Kanchipuram, 37 KM from Chengalpattu, 51 KM from Tambaram, and 82 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest Railway Station is Kanchipuram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Outside mandapa ceiling reliefs

BUDDHAS 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---