Thiru Parameshwaram Sri Vaikunda Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram

Address

Thiru Parameshwaram Sri Vaikunda Perumal Temple, Thiru Parameshwaram, Periya, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631501, India

Diety

Vaikunthnathan, Amman: Vaikunda Valli

Introduction

The Vaikuntha Perumal Temple is one of the oldest of the temples in Kanchipuram which date to the same time as Kailasanathar Temple. We can say this by the structure and the similarity in the material used for construction and the sculptures. It is said that the temple was constructed in the 6th century by the Pallava King, Nandivarman. The entrance to the temple is very simple without any gopuram. A flat mantapa leads to the inner complex. The pillars of the mantapa are carved with deities, male and female. As we enter into the temple complex, we find the dhwajasthamba in front, which shines like gold. This is a latest addition after the Vijayanagara period. There is a a columned mantapa which leads to the inner sections. The Vaikuntha Perumal Temple is one the hundred and eight Divya Desams mentioned in our Vedas. This temple was originally known as “Parameshwara Vishnugriham” after the name of the King Nandivarman whose original name was Parameshwaravarman. The principal structure consists of three sanctuaries, one above the other on three ascending levels; these adjoin a columned mantapa which opens to west. The temple is surrounded by a colonnade. The entrance hall is an addition of the later Vijayanagara period.

Puranic Significance

Veerochana King, who ruled Vaitherpa desam doesnt have any childrens. So he prayed to God Kailasanathar in Kanchipuram. After that, two boy childrens named Pallavan and Vallavan born. These two childrens are said to be the “Dwara Balagars” (two devotees of Sriman Narayanan and can be on either side in the entrance of Moolavar Sannadhi). When these two where doing Ashwametha Yagnam for Punniyakoti vimanamat Vaayu end, Perumal Sri Emperumaan gave his seva in Irundha thirukkolam. He gave his seva as “Paramapadha – Sri Vaikundanathan”. Because of this, the sthalam is said as “Vaikunda Perumal Koil”. This sthalam also tells us how the vaishnavam and Saivam relationship should be treated. Veerochana king worshipped Lord shiva for the child, but it was the Vishnu Bhaktha who were born. So, it clearly tells that there should be no any fights (or) misunderstanding between the caste and all the Gods are said to be treated as a single one. The Vimanam of the temple is Ashtanga Vimanam. In the ground level (Nilai), Sriman Narayanan gives seva in Irundha Kolam, in the middle Nila, he gives seva in Kidantha kolam and in the top Nilai, he gives seva in Nindra Kolam and there is no poojas done for him.

Special Features

Paramesvara Vinnagaram is an earliest specimen of Dravidian architecture. The temple has a rectangular plan and approached through a flat granite gateway tower. The vimana has a stepped pyramidal roof and it resembles a Vihara. Three sanctuaries host the image of Vishnu in different postures – seated (ground floor), lying (first floor; accessible to devotees only on ekadashi days) and standing (second floor; inaccessible to devotees). The logical and complex plan of the temple provided a prototype for the much larger shrines to be constructed all over Tamil Nadu. The external cloisters, with their lion pillars, are predecessors of the grand thousand pillared halls of later temples. In modern times, the four lions have been replaced with Garuda (image of eagle mount of Vishnu). The niches on the walls around the sanctum are similar to the ones in Mahabalipuram. Some of the sculptures indicates various legends of Mahabaratha depicting the image of Dharmaraja, Arjuna and Bhima. The temple is built of granite with a mixture of sandstone. The three storied temple is the forerunner for various later built temples like Vaikunta Perumal temple at Uthiramerur, Koodal Azhagar temple at Madurai and Rajagopalaswamy temple at Mannargudi. The three stories are achieved with three concentric squares with a small passage in between with the top layer being closed by a filial.