| Description: This Divya
Desam is located in Chinna Kanchipuram. 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 Pandava Dhootar (the messenger of the Pandavas) in a seated posture
facing east - an imposing 28 feet high image. Rukmini and Satyabhama are also enshrined
here. There is a separate shrine for Rukmani. This is an east facing temple with a 3
tiered rajagopuram. The temple tank is located within the temple precincts. There are
shrines to Ganesha, the Alwars, Ramanujacharyar and Manavaala maamuni.
Legend has it that the descendant of the Pandavas Janamejayan, heard
of the the legend of the great epic Mahabharatam from Vaisampayana, and was fascinated by
the epic instance of Krishna proceeding to Hastinapuram as a messanger of the Pandavas. He
is believed to have performed the Aswamedha sacrifice, and meditated upon Krishna and at
the conclusion of the sacrifice, Krishna is said to have appeared before him as Pandava
Dhootar at Kanchipuram. |
