| Description This Divya
Desam is located in Kanchipuram 1 km south west of Ashtabhuyakaram,
which is a mile west of Varadaraja Perumal temple.
It is in the vicinity of Tiruttankaa. 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 Azhagiyasingar or Mukunda Nayakar in a
standing posture facing east, while the Taayaar here is Velukkaivalli or Amritavalli. This
temple has a three tiered rajagopuram and a single prakaram. There are also shrines to
Aandaal and the Alwars.
Legend has it that Narasimhar while in his Hastisaila cave (the
Attigiri sanctum hill in the Varadaraja Perumaal temple,
with the cave shrine to Narasimhar), manifested himself yet again as Narasimhar, and
proceeded westward to banish the asura demons from the vicinity, where he stood in the
posture of Yoga Narasimha, in what is known now as Tiruvelukkai. The word Vel means
desire; since Narasimha, out of desire for this place, resided here, this shrine is known
as Tiruvelukkai. Legend also has it that Bhrigu muni was blessed with a vision of
Narasimha at this shrine.
The annual festival here is celebrated in the tamil month of Margazhi. |
