Yathothkari Perumal Temple

Coordinates: 12°49′27″N 79°42′44″E / 12.82417°N 79.71222°E / 12.82417; 79.71222
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Tiruvekka Temple
Yathokthakari Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictKanchipuram
DeityYathothkari (Vishnu)
Location
LocationKanchipuram
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Yathothkari Perumal Temple is located in Tamil Nadu
Yathothkari Perumal Temple
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates12°49′27″N 79°42′44″E / 12.82417°N 79.71222°E / 12.82417; 79.71222
Architecture
TypeDravidian architecture

Tiruvekkaa Temple or Yathothkari Perumal Temple (locally called Sonnavannam Seitha Perumall) is a

Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Yathothkari Perumal, and his consort Lakshmi
as Komalavalli.

The temple is considered one of three oldest Vishnu temples in Kanchipuram, the other two being

Rajadhiraja Chola (1018–1054 CE). A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all the shrines. There is a three-tiered rajagopuram
, the temple's gateway tower, in the temple.

Yathothkari Perumal is believed to have appeared for

Thirumalisai Alvar. Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple. The temple houses a rare image of Ranganatha
recumbent on his left hand unlike other temples where he is recumbent on his right.

Poigai Alvar, one of the Alvars
, was born at this temple's lotus tank. Panguni Brahmotsavam celebrated during April - May and Poigai Alvar birthday during Aipassi Thiruvonam star are the two major festivals celebrated in the temple.

Legend

Stucco image indicating the legend

As per Hindu legend, once there was an argument between

Adishesha. Saraswati, on seeing Vishnu in her path, accepted her defeat and subsided in the form of river Vegavathi. As Vishnu interfered the path of the river, it was termed Vegavani, then as Vegannai and gradually corrupted to Vekka. The presiding deity thus got one of his names, Vegasetu.[2][3][4] As per historian Nagaswamy, the temple was called Vehha meaning Vishnu leaning as a slanted slope, which gradually became vekka.[5]

Once sage Bhargava had a son through Kanakangi, a celestial dancer. The boy was stillborn and was not fully developed during his birth. Kanakangi left his son under bushes and left to celestial world. It is believed that the child was a divine incarnation of one of Vishnu's weapons, the

Thirumalisai Alvar.[2][3]

Thirumalisai had a disciple by name Kanikkannan. He also had an old lady serving him - Thirumalisai prayed to the presiding deity of the temple and by the grace of Bhujangasayana Perumal, the old lady became a beautiful young lady. The Pallava king who was ruling the region at that time got attracted by the lady and married her. With time while the king was growing older, the lady remained young. He called up Kanikannan and ordered to sing praise of him so that he also turned young. When he refused, the king ordered Kanikannan to be banished out of the country. Kanikannan explained this to his master Thirumalisai, who prayed to Bhujangasayana Perumal. When the king heard this, he ordered the three to be sent of the country, which they obliged. When the three left Kanchipuram, it was engulfed in darkness. Realising his sin, the king worshipped Bhujangasayana Perumal to return along with his two devotees. Since the presiding deity obliged to his devotees wishes, he is called Yathothkari Perumal. Yathothka means as requested and kari denotes the person who accomplishes the task.[2][3] One of the Alvars, poet saints of 7-10th century, Poigai Alvar was born at this temple.[6]

History

Poigai Alvar
in the temple

The temple is considered one of three oldest Vishnu temples in Kanchipuram, the other two being

Kulothunga Chola III (1178–1218 CE) indicates a gift of village to feed 32 Brahmins.[2] The inscriptions also detail the float festival and the summer festival celebrated in the temple.[8] The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu
.

Architecture

Temple tank where Poigai Alvar originated

The temple in Chinna Kanchipuram, a locality in the Eastern side of

Poigai Alvar was born is located outside the main entrance, parallel to the shrine. The Mahamandapa has ornamental sculpted pillars built during the Vijayanagara period of 15-16th centuries.[8] The temple has two precincts with the second precinct enclosed by granite walls pierced by a five tiered rajagopuram (gateway tower).[12]

Festivals and religious practices

The temple follows the traditions of the

tavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple.[11] Aipassi Thiruvonam, the birth star of Poigai Alvar, is celebrated every year. Brahmotsavam celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (April - May) is the major festival of the temple.[12] To indicate the legend of Kanikannan, the festive image of Yathothkari, Tirumalisai Alvar and Kanikkannan are taken in procession to Orikkai village to have a short stay during the Thai Magam festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Thai (January - February).[8] Alvar Utsavam is a festival celebrated annually during the birth date of the Poigai Alvar based on Tamil calendar in the temple.[14]

Religious importance

Poigai Alvar
in the temple

The temple finds mention in Perumpaanatrupadai written by

acharyas have also written songs on the various forms of God in this Temple.[2]

The temple is considered the birthplace of

Alvar saints. He was found in a small pond (called Poigai in Tamil) near the temple. The temple and the pond are thus considered holy as it is the birthplace of the saint.[15][16][17]

Notes

  1. ^ https://archive.org/details/pattupattutentamilidyllschelliahj.v._108_Q/page/127/mode/2up
  2. ^ a b c d e MS 1993, pp. 66-72
  3. ^ a b c R. 2001, pp. 557-8
  4. ^ Rao 2012, p. 52
  5. ^ a b Aiyar, Indira S (1 September 2013). "Visnu Temples of Kancipuram". Marg, A Magazine of the Arts. Archived from the original on 27 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  6. ^ Ayyar 1991, p. 539
  7. ^ Madhavan 2007, pp. 4-5
  8. ^ a b c d Madhavan 2007, pp. 17-20
  9. ^ https://archive.org/details/pattupattutentamilidyllschelliahj.v._108_Q/page/127/mode/2up
  10. ISBN 978-81-87952-12-1
    .
  11. ^ a b "Sri Son vannam seitha perumal temple". Dinamalar. 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  12. ^ a b Chari, T. V. R. (1982). The Glorious Temples of Kanchi. Big Kancheepuram: Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Ambal Devasthanam and Sarada Navaratri Kalai Nigazhchi Trust. pp. 17–24.
  13. ISBN 978-93-83440-34-4
    .
  14. ^ "Alwar utsavam". The Hindu. 20 October 2003. Archived from the original on 3 January 2004. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  15. ^ Dalal 2011, p. 308
  16. ISBN 9788120810983
    .
  17. ^ Bühler, Georg; Kielhorn, Franz; Lüders, Heinrich; Wackernagel, Jacob (1897). Grundriss der indo-arischen Philologie und Altertumskunde: (Encyclopedia of Indo-Aryan research). K.J. Trübner. p. 4.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yathothkari Perumal Temple.
Part of a series on
Vaishnavism
Closeup of Vishnu, seated in the lotus position on a lotus. From depiction of the poet Jayadeva bowing to Vishnu, Gouache on paper Pahari, The very picture of devotion, bare-bodied, head bowed, legs crossed and hands folded, Jayadeva stands at left, with the implements of worship placed before the lotus-seat of Vishnu who sits there, blessing the poet.
Supreme deity
Vishnu / Krishna / Rama
Important deities
Dashavatara
Other forms
Consorts
Related
Holy scriptures
Puranas
Sampradayas
Others
Teachers—acharyas
Related traditions
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yathothkari_Perumal_Temple&oldid=1221275919"