A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple tank is located opposite to the temple, outside the main entrance. The temple follows
Tenkalai tradition of worship. Four daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Chittirai Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Chittirai (during April–May), and Vaikuntha Ekadashi during Margali (December–January) being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu
Bhudevi falls in love with Varaha, whom he is believed to have taken in his lap in this place. A number of maidens awaited to marry the divine looking boar Varaha. As per the wish of sage Kalava, who wanted Vishnu to marry his 360 daughters. Varaha married the 360 daughters one per day during the course of the whole year. Since he is believed to marry maidens daily, he came to be known as Nithyakalyana Perumal (meaning the deity who marries for eternity).[2]
As per another legend, a king by name Harikesarivarman used to visit the temple every day from
Mahabalipuram and wanted to settle at this place. Vishnu was pleased by his devotion and appeared as Sthalasayana Perumal at Mahabalipuram – the legend is associated with the Thirukadalmallai temple at Mahabalipuram.[3]
Thiruvidanthai as their port towns and the two towns emerged as strong ports for the Empire. The temple is believed to have been built along with the monumental temples in the region.[5] The temple has inscriptions dated 959 CE from the Pallava times.[6]
One of the earliest inscriptions in the temple is from
Kulothunga Chola I during 1115 CE.[8] The temple is a declared monument of the Archaeological Survey of India on account of the inscriptions in the temple.[9] It is maintained as a monument under the Chennai circle and Mamallapuram subcircle of the institution.[10] The temple has a palanquin made of ivory, the one of its kind for any Hindu temple.[3] There are inscriptions during the period of Jatavarman Vira Pandyan II indicating gifts to the goddess of the temple.[7]
Architecture
The image of the pillared hall with sculptures before the temple
Nithyakalyana Perumal temple is located in
Mahabalipuram East Coast Road, 38 km (24 mi) from Chennai City. The sanctum is approached through a sixteen pillared sculpted hall in front of the temple. The pillars have sculptures indicating various legends, with one of them carrying the replica of the image of the presiding deity. The temple has two precincts approached through two flat gateway towers. All the shrines in the temple are enclosed within granite walls. The second precinct has two temple masts, each of them located axial to the sanctum and the entrance. The precinct also has a hall to house the temple chariot. The sanctum is approached through an assembly and prayer hall. The granite image of Nithyakalyana Perumal in the form of Varaha having Bhudevi on his lap, is housed in the sanctum. The image is around 7 ft (2.1 m) tall and is one of the rarest images of the deity.[4]Garuda, the eagle vahana of Vishnu has a small shrine facing the sanctum. The shrine of Ranganathar is located in the first precinct, parallel to the sanctum. The North-West corner of the temple houses the shrine of Komalavalli. There is a separate shrine for Ranganatha and his consort Ranganayaki around the first precinct. The shrine of Andal is located to the left of sanctum in the first precinct.[7] There are inscriptions on the walls around the assembly and the prayer hall.[2] There are three temple tanks associated with the temple. Kalyana Pushakarani is the principal temple tank located right opposite to the temple in the end of the street and visible from East Coast Road (ECR). Varaha Pushkarani is located near the northern compound wall of the temple, while Ranganatha Tirtham is located North-east to the temple. Punnai tree, which is usually associated with Shiva temples, is the sacred tree associated with the temple.[7]
Religious importance
Images of shrines in the temple
Nithyakalayana Perumal temple is revered in
Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. Thirumangai Alvar has glorified the powers of Komalavalli Thayar.[11] The temple also finds mention in later works by Nathamuni, Thirukachi Nambi, Ramanuja and Manavala Mamunigal. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar.[12] Following the legend of Nithyakalyana Perumal, where Vishnu is believed to marry daily, the temple is frequented by people seeking marriage or whose marriage is delayed. A common worship practice is to offer garlands to the presiding deity, wearing it and circumambulating the temple nine times. Ranganatha, the reclining form of Vishnu, is believed to have attended the first wedding and after finding that there is a marriage every day, he set his abode in the temple.[2] The presiding deity is addressed by various names like Varaha Deva, Alvar Varaha Deva, Vara Swami and Varaha Nayanar as seen from the inscriptions on the walls of the temple.[7]
Worship practices and festivals
A four pillared hall and the temple tank, Kalayana Theertham
Though the temple is an archaeological site, the temple is active in worship practices.
Tenkalai tradition of worship based on Vaikasana Agamic tradition. The temple is open from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: Ushathkalam at 8 a.m., Kalasanthi at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Nithyakalyana Perumal and his consort Komalavalli. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. Various festivals are celebrated in the temple, with the Chittirai Brahmotsavam during the Tamil of Chittirai (during April–May), and Vaikuntha Ekadashi during Margazhi (December–January) being the most prominent.[12] During Brahmotsavam festival, the festival deities of Nithyakalyana Perumal and Komalavalli is taken in procession around the streets of the temple. Thirumangai Alvar Utsavam is celebrated during the star of Kiruthikai during November–December.[7] The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.[4] The temple is one of the most visited tourist destination in the Chennai–Mahabalipuram region.[14]
