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Tirukkalvanoor

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: Aadi Varaha Perumal,
Taayaar: Anjilaivalli Naachiyaar
Theertham:Nitya Pushkarini
Paasuram :Tirumangai Alwar
Vimaanam:Vamana Vimanam
Travel Base:Chennai, Kanchipuram
kamakvim.jpg (52901 bytes)
Description: This Divya Desam is represented by a shrine to Perumaal, near the sanctum of the revered Kamakshi Amman temple at Kanchipuram. Shown above, is the golden vimanam crowning the sanctum of   the Kamakshiamman temple at Kanchipuram.

Legend has it that Parvati meditated upon Shiva, under a mango tree at Kanchipuram to be united with him in marriage. She sought Vishnu (Vamana) her brother's help in her endeavour, and with his help, her prayers were answered. Vishnu is enshrined in a small shrine in the Kamakshi Amman temple. The name Kalvan is attributed to the legend that Parvati sighting Vishnu overhearing a conversation between Lakshmi and Parvati,  addressed him as Kalvan.

Another legend has it that Kamakshi  meditated upon Vamana and obtained his blessings and received Shiva's hand in marriage.

There are also three shrines to Vishnu near the temple tank, representing the reclining, sitting and standing postures of Vishnu (Kidandaan, Irundaan and Ninraan). The name Kalvan also refers to the deity at Kaarvaanam enshrined in the Ulagalanda Perumaal temple.

In a verse referring to Kachi Oorakam and Tiruvegkaa (both in Kanchipuram) Tirumangaialwar refers to Neerakam, Nilattingal Tundam, Kaarakam , Kaarvaanam and Kalva(nur). Nilattingal Tundam is a shrine in the Kanchi Ekambreswarar temple, Neerakam, Kaarakam and Kaarvaanam are shrines in the Ulagalanda Perumaal temple (Oorakam) . Kalvanoor is the name of the shrine to Vishnu (Aadi Varaha Perumaal) in the Kanchi Kamakshi Amman 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.

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