Vittalapuram Premika Vittala Temple, Kanchipuram

Address

Vittalapuram Premika Vittala Temple, Vittalapuram, Kanchipuram District Mobile: +91 – 92458 94065

Diety

Premika Vittala (a form of Lord Krishna) Amman: Rukmini and Satyabama

Introduction

Premika Vittala Temple at Vittalapuram is under Archeological Survey of India. Vittalapuram is a small little known village near the popular tourist site Mamallapuram in South India. This Temple is dedicated to Vittaleshwarar / Premika Vittala (a form of Lord Krishna). Muralidhara Swamigal is closely associated with this temple. Bairahi madam is located at about 3 kms from Vittalapuram and has a legend connection with the Perumal temple of Sathurangapatnam. This Temple is located on the ECR, after Mahabalipuram, 2 km from Pudupattinam.

Puranic Significance

This temple was built during the reign of the Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadeva Raya in the beginning of the 16th century CE. It was built by the emperor’s representative named Kondaiya Chola Maharaja. The main deity Premika Vittala is found with both his hands resting on his hip. A unique feature in this temple is that he is found along with his two consorts Rukmini and Satyabama. Generally, only Rukmini is found in the Vittala temples. The temple built in the Vijayanagara architectural style has sub shrines for the Goddess Santana Lakshmi, Ramanujar & Vishwaksenar, Srinivasa Lakshmi and Varadarajar Lakshmi. The flag post, Bali peeta and Garuda idol are located facing the main shrine. The idol of the main deity is extremely beautiful. The main Vittala temple is at Pandarpur in Maharashtra, called the Panduranga Vittala. The most important feature of the temple is the ‘Nama Sankeerthanam’ or songs and music. Bronzes of Vittala with Rukmini, Sathyabama, were also in the Sanctum sanctorum along with Santhana Lakshmi, Gopala Krishna as well. Vittala was the Shiva Version of Vishnu, so Shiva Rathri is more important here than Vaikunda Ekadesi.

Special Features

The temple is facing east with a Mottai gopuram. Anjaneyar sannadhi is opposite to the temple or the mottai gopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Garudan are after the mottai Gopuram. Moolavar Vittalar is with Rukmini and Satyabhama. In the prakaram Sri Santhana Lakshmi Thayar, Sri Srinivasa Perumal, Sri Varadharaja Perumal, Sri Ramanujar, Sri Vishwaksena and old head less Rukmani and Satyabhama. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam and Mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is about 4 feet above the ground level. A flight of 5 steps provided on south and north side of mukha mandapam. The mukha mandapa is supported with 4 pillars with kapothabandha adhisthana. The main sanctum is on an upana and Padmabandha adhisthana. The sanctum walls have kostas /niches and there is idol. The Mukha mandapa prastaram is with kodungai. Two tier stucco (Brick & mortar) vimana is above the sanctum without much stucco images.