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Location:
Kanchipuram
(Tondai
Naadu)
Vishnu: Ulagalanda Perumaal - Trivikrama
(Vishnu)
Taayaar: Amritavalli
Theertham:Naga Theertham
Paasuram :Tirumangai, Tirumazhisai
Vimaanam:Sarasreekara Vimanam
Travel Base:Chennai
Description: This Divya Desam is the
well known Ulagalanda Perumaal temple in Periya Kanchipuram, and is also
home to three other Divya Desam shrines Tiruneerakam, Tirukkaarakam
and Kaarvaanam. It enshrines Vishnu in a mammoth
form of Trivikrama dominating the three worlds, in the process of subduing
Mahabali the demon king. The stone image here is about 35 feet high and
24 feet wide. The Divya Desams enshrining Trivikrama are Tiru
Oorakam (Kanchipuram), Tirukkovilur, Kaazhicheeraamavinnagaram
and Tiruneermalai. Shown above is an image of the
Tirukkovilur Divya Desam.
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 here is Trivikraman (Ulagalanda Perumaal) facing west
while Taayaar is known by the name Amritavalli. The Utsavar here is Perakattaan.
Legend
has it that Mahabali upon whom Vishnu placed his foot, during his Trivikrama
Avataram, dominating the three worlds - desired to worship Vishnu in the
form of Trivikrama (as he had not been able to see this form as Vishnu's
foot had been placed on his head). Vishnu is said to have answered his
prayers by appearing in front of him as Trivikrama at Kanchipuram (Satyavrata
Kshetram). As Mahabali was not able to comprehend the immensity of this
manifestation, Vishnu is said to have manifested himself as Aadi Seshan,
in a smalll shrine next to the imposing shrine of Ulagalanda Perumaal,
at Oorakam. Legend has it that Vishnu gave Anjaneyar a vision of Trivikrama
and Vamana here.
The temple:
This temple occupies an area of about 60000 sq feet. Inscriptions from
the Chola period are seen here. Parimelazhakar, who wrote a commentary
on Tirukkural was a priest here, and an image of him riding a horse is
seen in the temple.
Festivals:
Two worship services are carried out each day here. The annual Bhramotsavam
is celebrated in the month of Thai. Kamakshiamman temple
celebrates its Bhramotsavam in the month of Maasi while the Ekambreswarar
temple celebrates its annual festival in the tamil month of Pankuni.
Thus Periya Kanchi wears a festive look for three festival seasons (months)
in a row. Other festivals here are Purattasi Sravana Dwadasi, Vamana Avatara
Utsavam, Vaikuntha Ekadasi and Avani Shukla Panchami.
In a verse referring
to Kachi Oorakam and Tiruvegkaa (both
in Kanchipuram) Tirumangaialwar refers to Neerakam,
Nilattingal Tundam, Kaarakam, Kaarvaanam
and Kalva(nur). Neerakam, Kaarakam and Kaarvaanam are
shrines in the Ulagalanda Perumaal temple (Oorakam).
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