Location: Kanchipuram
(Tondai Naadu)
Vishnu: Adikesava Perumal (Ashtabhuja Perumaal)
Taayaar: Alarmelmangai
(Padmasini)
Theertham:Gajendra Pushkarini
Paasuram :Tirumangaialwar, Peyalwar
Vimaanam:Gaganakriti, Chakrakriti
Travel Base:Chennai, Kanchipuram
Description: This Divyadesam
is located in the temple town of Kanchipuram, 1.5 km west of the Varadaraja
Perumal 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 Kanda Kottam temples.
Deities:
The Moolavar here is Adikesava Perumal also known as Gajendravaradan or
Chakradharar, in a standing posture facing west. Taayaar here is Alarmelmangai
or Padmasini. The image of Adikesava Perumal has 8 arms, with 8 weapons
(the discus, sword, a flower, an arrow, the conch, a bow, a shield and
a mace). The Utsavar has 4 arms bearing a mace and a spear.
Legends:
This temple is associated with the legend of Gajendra Moksham, where it
is believed that a devout elephant Gajendran, who was in the habit of
making an offering of lotus flowers from the Ashtabhuja temple tank, to
Vishnu was caught by the grip of a crocodile. The pleas of the elephant
were answered by Vishnu who vanquished the elephant with his disc.
This temple covers
an area of about an acre. Bhramotsavam is celebrated in the month of Chittirai,
and Gajendramoksham in Aadi.
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