| Description This Divya
Desam is located in the temple town of Kanchipuram, in Periya Kanchipuram near the railway
station. Located closeby is the Pachaivannar temple, facing this temple.
It is conventional to consider these two temples together as an integrated Divya Desam,
although Pachai Vannar has not been sung by the Alwars. Deities: The
Moolavar here is Pavalavannan, in a standing posture facing west; Vishnu here is also
referred to as Pravala Varneeswarar. Taayaar here is Pavalavalli. Pachaivannar is
enshrined in a seated posture (on Adi Seshan) as Paramapada Naathan.
Legend has it that Bhrigu Maharishi and Parvati worshipped
Vishnu here. Tirumangai Alwar's Paasuram refering to Vishnu as Pavalavanna and Kachhi
Oora in his Tiruneduntaandakam has been the basis for classifying this temple as a
Divya Desam.
The legend associated with Tiruvegkaa and
Bhrahma's ritual sacrifice is also associated with this shrine.
The temple under worship now, is a modern one (19th century)
constructed in place of the ancient temple. This temple covers a two acre area, and it has
a hall decked with mirrors all around. Two worship services are carried out here. This
west facing temple has imposing walls surrounding a single prakaram and a 5 tiered
rajagopuram. There are shrines to Aandaal, the Alwars and the Acharyas in the prakaram.
As in the Varadarajaswamy temple and the Tiru Oorakam temple, the Bhramotsavam is celebrated
in the month of Vaikasi. Vaikuntha Ekadasi in Margazhi and Pavitrotsavam in the month of
Pankuni are the other festivals celebrated here.
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. |
