the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Koyilnet

Abodes of Vishnu

51. Arulmigu Komallavalli Thayar Sameda Yathooththagaari Temple, Thiruvekko

Mulavar   Yathooththagaari, Sonnavannam Seidha Perumal
Utsavar   Vegasethu
Thayar   Komallavalli
Kshethram    
Pose & Direction   Bujanga Sayanam facing West
Theertham   Poigai Pushkarni
Vimanam   Vedhasaara Vimanam
Sthala Vruksham    
Paadiyavar   Thirumangai Alwar
Travel Base   Kanchipuram
Nearest Railway Station   Kanchipuram

Location

This temple is located in Chinna Kanchipuram west of  Varadharaaja Perumal Temple and opposite to Attabhuyakaratha Perumal Temple.It is located 3 kms from Bus Stand and 1 km away from Varadharaja Perumal Temple on the way to Varadharaja Perumal Temple. While going to Varadhara Perumal Temple this temple will be found on the left side.

History

Five temples in Chinna Kanchipuram have stories relating to Brahma’s Aswamedha Yagam and Goddess Sarswathi’s anger at being ignored by her husband who was busy with the fire ritual. Brahma needed Saraswathi, his wife, to be by his side to perform the ritual. So, he sent his son Vashistan to make Saraswathi return to Brahma. Saraswathi refused and Brahma started the Yagam by keeping Savithri and his other wives next to him. The Asuraas (demons) wanted to stop this fire-ritual and so went to Saraswathi and carried tales that made her angry. Saraswathi took the form of Vegavathi River and began to flow in a southerly direction and across the area where the Yagam was being performed so as to destroy it. Sriman Narayanan decided to stop Vegavathi River to protect the Yagam. So, he stopped the river’s flow by lying across the river on his serpent Adiseshan. This is why this Perumal is also called Vega Sethu. This became Vegavanai, then Vekkanai and finally became Vekka—Thiruvekka. Legend also says that when on Brahma’s request Lord Vishnu came in a tearing hurry to block River Vega Vathi (Saraswathi), Perumal on his return to the sanctum is said to have slept in the opposite direction. This is 49th Divya Desam for Lord Perumal and located in Kanchipuram and the place is called as Thiruvekka (in olden times). The first of the 12 Alwars "Poigai Alwar" was born in this temple Theertham. The first 3 Alwars were collectively called as Muthalazwargal who are not known to be born from any human being and Poigai aalwar was first among the Muthalazwargal. The exact birth year of Poigai Alwar was not correctly determined. Traditional conviction indicates that he belong to Dwapara Yuga while modern analysis on his devotional songs suggest he belongs to 7 - 9th century AD. It is also said that Nammalvar was the first Alwar of the Kaliyuga which means all the Muthalazwargal should be of Dwapara Yuga. This gives better understanding of the temple history which goes back to Dwapara Yuga. The Theertham were Poigai Alwar was discovered in the lotus flower is still available and it is called as Poigai Pushkarani. Poigai Alwar is considered to be an Avataram of conch of Lord Perumal. This is one of the very oldest temples which might have been there since Dwapara Yuga. Manavala Maamunigal explained his ‘Sri Bhashyam’ to the world in this temple. Once Thirumazhisai Azhvaar’s disciple Kani Kannan was heard singing praise of the Lord. Pleased with his voice, the king ordered that Kani Kannan sing praise of him too. Kani Kannan refused stating that he would sing praise only of the Lord and not of others. An upset king banished him from the kingdom. Kanni Kannan narrated the happening to his preceptor Thirumazhisai Azhvaar who decided to accompany him out of the kingdom. Thirumazhisai Azhvaar went up to the Lord and requested him too to join them on their journey. And the three left the place- This action plunged the entire kingdom into darkness. Realizing his mistake, the king reached out to Thirumazhisai Azhvaar and requested that the three of them come back to the kingdom. Thirumazhisai Azhvaar asked the Lord to return to his residing place. The Lord is said to have followed this instruction immediately and in this hurried return is said to have slept in the opposite direction. In memory of the event marking Thirumazhisai Azhvaar leaving the place, the Lord along with the idol of Thirumazhisai Azhvaar is taken in a procession to the nearby river Vegavathi, every year during the Tamil Calendar month of ‘Thai’ (Jan-Feb).

Architecture

Thiruvekka Sri Yathothkari Perumal temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu situated in Kanchipuram. This temple of Lord Vishnu located near Rangaswamy Tank, Chinna Kanchi and it is just 1 km away from Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple. Yathothkari Perumal Temple is considered as one of the very oldest temples in Kanchipuram, which is said to be built in the 8th Century AD. As one enters the Sannidhi, one feels that there is something wrong, something different, that one is not normally used to seeing in Vishnu temples. It takes a little time for one to realize that Lord Vishnu, here at Thiruvekka, is seen in a different sleeping posture from right to left (Maaru Sayanam) with his head resting on the left hand. In all other Divya Desams, where the Lord is represented in a sleeping posture, he can be seen sleeping from left to right with his head resting on his right hand. The central shrine of the temple has the image of presiding deity, "Sonnavannam Seitha Perumal" sported in Bhuganja Sayanam posture. There is a separate shrine found in this temple for Goddess Komalavalli, the consort of Lord Yathothkari. The Utsavar (processional image) is called Vegasethu.

Timings: 7.00 am to 10.00 am, 5.00 pm to 8.30 pm