Aanur Vedha Narayana Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram

Address

Aanur Vedha Narayana Perumal Temple, Aanur, Chengalpet, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu 603405 Phone: +91-9551066441, +91-9841716694

Diety

Vedha Narayana Perumal

Introduction

Vedha Narayana Perumal Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu located in Aanur Village near Chengalpet in Kanchipuram District of Tamilnadu. This ancient temple is in a dilapidated condition. Two years ago, two ancient idols were stolen from this dilapidated Pallava-era Perumal temple. Vedanarayana Perumal temple is in a state of disrepair. It is located approximately 13 kms from Chengalpattu and situated very near River Palar. In a totally dilapidated condition, as the roots of trees and creepers have taken a firm hold on them, the only heartening feature is that worship is still continued in this temple which follows the Vaikhanasa code. It is only from the numerous inscriptions etched on the walls of this shrine that one comes to know that this was an important center of worship even in the Chola times starting from the 10th century A.D. The entrance to the main temple and also the sanctum-sanctorum face east. Vedanarayana Perumal enshrined here is seated in the ardha-padmasana posture, with his left leg placed on the pedestal and right leg placed in front and hold the conch and discus (Sanghu and Chakram) in his upper left and right hands respectively. His lower right hand is in the abhaya hasta pose while his lower left hand in in chin mudra (gesture of teaching). To his right and left are Sri Devi and Bhu Devi respectively, also in a seated pose and sharing the same pedestal with Vedanarayana Perumal. The processional deity, also of the same name, is four-armed Vishnu in a standing pose holding the Sankhu and Chakra in his upper arms, his lower right hand in chin mudra and lower left hand in varada hasta, giving boons to his worshippers. The temple has no electricity.

Puranic Significance

The walls of the Perumal temple have many inscriptions from different periods in history. One of them, built into the back wall of the temple, is from the 15th year of the reign of Raja Raja I. It is an inscription, which, when recorded by R.Krishnaswami Iyengar in 1933, was complete and mentioned Raja Raja’s victory in Kandalur. However, the reference to Kandalur is now missing. Maybe that portion of the slab broke off during the repairs in 1933, which incidentally, was the last time such works were carried out. Every sale, agreement or donation by anyone had to be preceded by a reference to the king to be legally binding. If it was a direct grant from the king, then the inscription would carry the words Konerinmai Kondaan. Not only did the temple reverberate with Vedic chants, but with the sound of music as well. Again it is a Raja Raja I period inscription that mentions ‘Tirunaattu Perugachan’ and ‘Eesanan,’ as being the two appointees responsible for playing musical instruments during Tiruppalli Yezhutchi.