| Description: This Divya
Desam is the well known Ulagalanda Perumaal temple in Periya Kanchipuram, and is also home
to three other Divya Desam shrines Tiruneerakam, Tirukkaarakam and Kaarvaanam.
It enshrines Vishnu in a mammoth form of Trivikrama dominating the three worlds, in the
process of subduing Mahabali the demon king. The stone image here is about 35 feet high
and 24 feet wide. The Divya Desams enshrining Trivikrama are Tiru Oorakam (Kanchipuram) , Tirukkovilur, Kaazhicheeraamavinnagaram and Tiruneermalai. Shown above is an image of
the Tirukkovilur Divya Desam. 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 here is Trivikraman (Ulagalanda Perumaal)
facing west while Taayaar is known by the name Amritavalli. The Utsavar here is
Perakattaan.
Legend has it that Mahabali upon whom Vishnu placed his foot, during
his Trivikrama Avataram, dominating the three worlds - desired to worship Vishnu in the
form of Trivikrama (as he had not been able to see this form as Vishnu's foot had been
placed on his head). Vishnu is said to have answered his prayers by appearing in front of
him as Trivikrama at Kanchipuram (Satyavrata Kshetram). As Mahabali was not able to
comprehend the immensity of this manifestation, Vishnu is said to have manifested himself
as Aadi Seshan, in a smalll shrine next to the imposing shrine of Ulagalanda Perumaal, at
Oorakam. Legend has it that Vishnu gave Anjaneyar a vision of Trivikrama and Vamana here.
The temple: This temple occupies an area of about 60000 sq feet. It
has two prakarams and a three tiered rajagopuram. The Nagatheertham tank is located across
from the temple. Inscriptions from the Chola period are seen here. Parimelazhakar,
who wrote a commentary on Tirukkural was a priest here, and an image of him riding a horse
is seen in the temple. There are also shrines to Aandaal, Manavaalamaamuni.
Festivals: Two worship services are carried out each day here. The
annual Bhramotsavam is celebrated in the month of Thai. Kamakshiamman
temple celebrates its Bhramotsavam in the month of Maasi while the Ekambreswarar temple celebrates its annual festival in the
tamil month of Pankuni. Thus Periya Kanchi wears a festive look for three festival seasons
(months) in a row. Other festivals here are Purattasi Sravana Dwadasi, Vamana Avatara
Utsavam, Vaikuntha Ekadasi and Avani Shukla Panchami.
In a verse referring to Kachi Oorakam and Tiruvegkaa (both in Kanchipuram) Tirumangaialwar
refers to Neerakam, Nilattingal
Tundam, Kaarakam , Kaarvaanam and Kalva(nur).
Neerakam, Kaarakam and Kaarvaanam are shrines in the Ulagalanda
Perumaal temple (Oorakam). |
