Tiruvidandhai Sri Nityakalyana Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram

Diety: Nithyakalyana Perumal, Amman: Komalavalli Thayar
Temple Address: Tiruvidandhai Sri Nitya Kalyana Perumal Temple, Tiruvidandhai-603 112. (Near Kovalam on Pudurcheery-Chennai East Coast Road), Kancheepuram district.
Open between: 06:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 04:00 AM to 08:30 AM

Introduction

Nithyakalayana Perumal temple in Thiruvidandai, a village in Chennai, Kanchipuram district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Varaha, the boar avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Nithyakalayana Perumal (Varaha) and his consort Lakshmi as Komalavalli Thayar. The original structure of the temple was built by the Pallavas during the 7th century CE, with later additions from the Cholas during the 11th century. Tower: Kalyana Vimanam Temple tank: Kalyana Theertham

Puranic Significance

Vishnu’s gatekeepers Jaya and Vijaya are cursed by sages that they would be born as asuras (demons) during their next birth. They were born on earth as Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu to sage Kashyapa and his wife Diti. The demon brothers on account of their powers, take control of the universe. The elder brother Hiranyaksha practices penance and obtains a boon from Brahma which makes him invincible by any animal or human. Hiranyaksha captures earth, personified as goddess Bhudevi and hides her under the ocean All the celestial deities and sages went to Vishnu for rescue. Since Hiranyaksha did not include the boar in the list of animals that can slay him, Vishnu assumes this form with huge tusks and goes down to the primordial ocean. Hiranyaksha obstructs Varaha and the pair having a strong duel. Varaha lifts the earth on his tusks, which would go on to be the most common figurine representation of Varaha. The two fought each other with their mace, with Varaha emerging victorious after a thousand-year duel. Varaha emerges from the ocean with the earth in his tusks and repositions her in her original spot. The earth goddess Bhudevi falls in love with Varaha, whom he is believed to have taken in his lap in this place. A number of maidens awaited to marry the divine looking boar Varaha. As per the wish of sage Kalava, who wanted Vishnu to marry his 360 daughters. Varaha married the 360 daughters one per day during the course of the whole year. Since he is believed to marry maidens daily, he came to be known as Nithyakalyana Perumal (meaning the Lord who marries daily). As per another legend, a king by name Harikesarivarman used to visit the temple every day from Mahabalipuram and wanted to settle at this place. Vishnu was pleased by his devotion and appeared as Sthalasayana Perumal at Mahabalipuram – the legend is associated with the Thirukadalmallai temple at Mahabalipuram.

Special Features

Nithyakalyana Perumal temple is located in Thiruvidandai, a village in Chennai at Kanchipuram district on the Chennai – Mahabalipuram East Coast Road, 38 km (24 mi) from Chennai City. The sanctum is approached through a sixteen pillared sculpted hall in front of the temple. The pillars have sculptures indicating various legends, with one of them carrying the replica of the image of the presiding deity. The temple has two precincts approached through two flat gateway towers. All the shrines in the temple are enclosed within granite walls. The second precinct has two temple masts, each of them located axial to the sanctum and the entrance. The precinct also has a hall to house the temple chariot. The sanctum is approached through an assembly and prayer hall. The granite image of Nithyakalyana Perumal in the form of Varaha having Bhudevi on his lap, is housed in the sanctum. The image is around 7 ft (2.1 m) tall and is one of the rarest images of the deity. Garuda, the eagle vahana of Vishnu has a small shrine facing the sanctum. The shrine of Ranganathar is located in the first precinct, parallel to the sanctum. The North-West corner of the temple houses the shrine of Komalavalli. There is a separate shrine for Ranganatha and his consort Ranganayagi around the first precinct. The shrine of Andal is located to the left of sanctum in the first precinct. There are inscriptions on the walls around the assembly and the prayer hall. There are three temple tanks associated with the temple. Kalyana Pushakarani is the principal temple tank located right opposite to the temple in the end of the street and visible from East Coast Road (ECR). Varaha Pushkarani is located near the northern compound wall of the temple, while Ranganatha Tirtham is located North-east to the temple. Punnai tree, which is usually associated with Shiva temples, is the sacred tree associated with the temple.