Ulagalanda Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram is one of the seven holy sites for Hindus. The ancient town is located around 75 km from Chennai city in the Tamil Nadu state of India.
Kanchi has a nickname - "the city of one thousand temples". This article focuses on Ulagalanda Perumal Temple, one of those innumerable vital temples of the city.
Ulagalanda Perumal Temple is located very near the most famous Kamakshi temple. The temple is considered the 50th Divya Desam located in the Tondai region. Besides, there are three other Divya Desams located within this temple complex. Nowhere else we can find four Divya Desams together. And, the 35 feet tall gigantic icon of the presiding deity is the major attraction of this temple.
Highlights
- Four Divya Desams in a single temple complex - Ooragam, Karagam, Karvanam and Neeragam
Ooragam
- Tirumangai Alwar and Tirumazhisai Alwar have sung about this site in their verses.
- It is considered the 50th Divya Desam temple. It is located in the Tondai region.
- Vishnu is found in the gigantic 35 feet high and 24 feet wide form
- God - Ulagalanda Perumal a.k.a. Tri Vikrama
- Goddess - Aaranavalli a.k.a. Amritavalli
- Vimana - Sarasreekara Vimana
- Teertha (sacred water) - Naga Teertha
Neeragam
- Tirumangai Alwar has sung about this site in his verses.
- It is considered the 47th Divya Desam temple
- God - Jagadeeswarar a.k.a. Tiruneeragathan
- Goddess - Nilamangaivalli
- Vimana - Jagadeeswara Vimana
- Teertha (sacred water) - Akroora Teertha
Karagam
- Tirumangai Alwar has sung about this site in his verses.
- It is considered the 52nd Divya Desam temple
- God - Karunakara Perumal
- Goddess - Padmamani
- Vimana - Vamana Vimana
- Teertha (sacred water) - Akraya Teertha
Karvanam
- Tirumangai Alwar has sung about this site in his verses.
- It is considered the 53rd Divya Desam temple
- God - Tirukkarvanna Kalvar a.k.a. Navaneetha Chora
- Goddess - Kamalavalli
- Vimana - Pushkala Vimana
- Teertha (sacred water) - Gowri Tadakam
Legend
Ooragam
The temple is associated with the legend of Vamana Avatar of Vishnu. However, it does not claim that Vamana lived on this site.
Let me briefly capture the legend first. Bali was a mighty Asura King. Indra sought the help of Vishnu to control Bali. Vishnu took the form of a dwarf (Vamana) and requested three feet of space to the King. When the King offered the same, Vamana took the gigantic form, Tri Vikrama, and measured the sky and the earth with his two feet. For the third foot, the King offered himself to Tri Vikrama. Thus, Tri Vikrama put his right foot on the head of the Asura King and sent him to Patala Lok. As the King could not get the darshan of the gigantic form, Vishnu appeared in the form of Sesha (serpent) and gave darshan to him.
This temple represents the images of Tri Vikrama and Sesha (Ooragam).
Neeragam
History
There are 21 stone inscriptions and one copper plate belong to this temple complex.
Some of the stone inscriptions belonging to Nandivarman III Pallava (9th century CE), Rajaraja Chola I (10th century CE), Rajendra Chola I, Kulotunga Chola I (11th century CE), Rajaraja Chola II, Rajaraja Chola III (13th century CE), Jatavarma Sundara Pandya and Sambuvarayas are found here. The copper plate belongs to Uttama Chola (10th century CE).
Ooragam
The Avatars of Lord Vishnu, such as Rama, Krishna and Narasimha, have many temples. But, the other Avatars of Vishnu have only a few temples. This temple of Ulagalanda Perumal is dedicated to the Vamana Avatar of Vishnu, which is rare.
The gigantic 35 feet high and 24 feet wide stucco icon of Ulagalanda Perumal, also called Trivikrama, is found in the sanctum. He has his left leg raised towards the sky, and his right leg rested on the head of Bali. It is an exciting experience to get the darshan of this magnificent deity.
The sanctum also enshrines the utsava icons of Vishnu along with Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. Lokanathan is the name of the utsava deity.
Architecturally, it is called Sandhara Sanctum. (The sanctum with a narrow prakara surrounded by walls on both sides is called Sandhara Sanctum.) Unfortunately, we do not have access to this prakara nowadays.
In the Ardha Mandap, Vishnu in Sesha form is found in a small north-facing shrine. Few people believe that this is Ananta or Balarama. This shrine is called Ooragam, whereas the main shrine is called Peragam. Both the shrines together form a single Divya Desam, which is popular in the name of Tiru Ooragam.
The Vimana above the sanctum is called Sarasreekara Vimana. This rectangular-shaped vimana is unusually broad like a gopura and looks very attractive and artistic. It was reconstructed during the period of Kulotunga Chola I. The Ardha Mandap and the Mukha Mandap belong to the later period.
The Goddess Aaranavalli or Amritavalli is found in a separate shrine in the prakara.
The bali peetah, tall flagstaff and Garuda are found facing towards the sanctum.
The sub-shrines of Andal, Vishwaksena and Alwars are found in a separate mandapa in the outer prakara.
Neeragam
The south-facing shrine of Karunakara Perumal is located in the prakara of the temple. It is considered as a separate Divya Desam. Vishnu is found seated on Sesha. However, this is not the original deity. As per the pasuram sung by Tirumangai Alwar, it is understood that the original deity was found in the standing posture.It is not known why the utsava icons of Neeragam, Karagam and Karvanam were brought to the premises of Ulagalanda Perumal temple. The stone icons, vimanas, teertha, the icons of Goddess, and the original structure of all these three sites are lost.
Outside the temple complex, the holy pond is located. Like many other ponds of Kanchipuram, this pond is also without water.
Facing towards the Raja gopura, outside the temple, the shrine of Hanuman is found. It is a rare idol. Hanuman has four arms holding conch and discus in his two upper arms.
Happy travelling.
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