Tiruttankaa

One of the 108 Temples & Celestial Abodes of Vishnu revered by the Tamil hymns of the Alwars of the 1st millennium CE

Location: Kanchipuram (Tondai Naadu)
Vishnu: Deepaprakasar,
Taayaar: Maragatavalli
Theertham:Saraswathi Theertham
Paasuram :Tirumangaialwar
Vimaanam:Sreekara Vimanam
Travel Base:Chennai, Kanchipuram
DescriptionThis Divyadesam is located again in Kanchipuram close to the Ashtabhuyakara Divya Desam, which is in turn a mile west of the Varadaraja Perumal temple. It is also referred to as Vilakkoli Perumaal temple.

The Divya Desams revered by the Alwars in Vishnu Kanchi are Attigiri (the vast Varadaraja Perumal temple), Ashtabuyakaram, Tiruttankaa, Tiruvelukkai and Tiruvegkaa, while those in Shiva  Kanchi are Tiru Oorakam (Ulagalanda Perumaal Koyil) , Tiru Neeragam, Tiruppaatakam, Nilaattingal Tundam, Tirukkaaragam, Tirukkaarvaanam, Tirukkalvanur, Tiruppavalavannam and Parameswara Vinnagaram. The vast Ekambreswarar temple(Prithvi Stalam)  revered by the Tevaram hymns, is located in Periya (Shiva) Kanchi, as are the Kamakshiamman and the Kumara Kottam temples.

Deities: The Moolavar here is Deepaprakasar, also known as Vilakkolipperumaal, Divyaprakasar - in a standing posture facing west. Taayaar here is Maragatavalli. This west facing temple has a 3 tiered rajagopuram and 2 prakarams. There are shrines to Lakshmi Hayagreeva, Aandaal, the Alwars and Desikacharyar.

Legend has it that the demons darkened the world in an attempt to disturb the yagna (ritual) conducted by Bhrama; Vishnu is said to have manifested himself as bright light, to enable the yagna to continue unimpeded, hence the name Deepaprakasar.

Tiruttankaa is the birthplace of Desikacharyar, whose image is enshrined here along with that of Lakshmi Hayagreevar (see Tiruvahindrapuram) which he held in worship. Murals depicting the life history of Desikacharyar are seen in the circumambulatory passage in this temple.

Festivals: Two worship services are carried out each day. Vaikuntha Ekadasi is celebrated here.

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