Nithyakalyana Perumal temple

Nithya Kalyana Perumal
Nithya Kalyana Perumal
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geography
Coordinates 13°03′N 80°16′E / 13.05°N 80.27°E / 13.05; 80.27Coordinates: 13°03′N 80°16′E / 13.05°N 80.27°E / 13.05; 80.27
Country India
State Tamil Nadu
District Kanchipuram
Location Thiruvidandai
Culture
Primary deity Nithyakalyana Perumal
Consort Komalavalli Nachiyaar
Temple tank Kalyana Theertham
Shrine Kalyana Vimanam
Architecture
Architectural styles Dravidian architecture

Nithyakalayana Perumal temple in Thiruvidandai, a village in Chennai, Kanchipuram district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to 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 and his consort Lakshmi as Komalavalli Thayar.[1] 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 cnetury.

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple tank is located opposite to the temple, outside the main entrance. The temple follows Thenkalai tradition of worship. Four daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Chittirai Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Chittirai (during April - May), and Vaikuntha Ekadashi during Margazhi (December - January) being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Legend

Varaha, the presiding deity of the temple

As per Hindu legend, 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 practises penance and obtains boon from Brahma which makes him invicible by any animal or human. Hiranyaksha captures earth, personified as goddess Bhudevi and hides her under 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 have 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.[2] It is also believed that a number of maidens awaited to marry the smart looking boar Varaha. It is believed that it is 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).[3]

As per another legend, a king by name Harikesarivarman used to visit the temple everyday 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.[4]

History

Sculptures of Varaha and Narasimha on the pillars

The temple was built during the Pallava regime in 7th century.[5] Kanchipuram was the capital of the Pallavas who ruled the region during the 6th to 9th centuries. They had Mamallapuram and Thiruvidanthai as their port towns and the two towns emerged as strong ports for the Empire. The temple is believed to have been built along with the monumental temples in the region.[6] The temple has inscriptions dated 959 CE from the Pallava times.[7] There were later additions from the Chola kings as indicated from an inscription during the 35th regnal year of Rajadhiraja Chola during 1052 CE. Raja Raja Chola is believed to have commissioned the Panguni Uthiram festival during 1003 CE. There are inscriptions indicating benovelant contributions from Kulothunga Chola I during 1115 CE.[8] The temple is a declared monument of the Archaeological Survey of India on account of the inscriptions in the temple.[9] It is maintained as a monument under the Chennai circle and Mamallapuram subcircle of the institution.[10] The temple has a palanquin made of ivory, the one of its kind for any Hindu temple.[4]

Architecture

The image of the pillared hall with sculptures before the temple

Nithyakalyana Perumal temple is located in Thiruvidandai, a village in Kanchipuram district on the Chennai - Mahabalipuram East Coast Road, 38 km (24 mi) from Chennai. The temple tank is located right opposite to the temple in the end of the street. The sanctum is approached through a sixteen pillared sculpted hall in front of the temple. The temple has two precincts approached through two flat 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.[5] 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 are inscriptions on the walls around the assembly and the prayer hall.[3]

Religious importance

Images of shrines in the temple

Nithyakalayana Perumal temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Thirumangai Azhwar. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. Thirumangai Azhwar has glorified the powers of Komalavalli Thayar.[11] The temple also finds mention in later works by Nathamuni, Thirukachi Nambi, Ramanuja and Manavala Mamunigal. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar.[2] Following the legend of Nithyakalyana Perumal, where Vishnu is believed to marry daily, the temple is frequented by people seeking marriage or whose marriage is delayed. A common worship practise is to offer garlands to the presiding deity, wearing it and circumabulating the temple nine times. Ranganatha, the reclining form of Vishnu, is believed to have attended the first wedding and after finding that there is a marriage everyday, he set his abode in the temple.[3]

Worship practices and festivals

A four pillared hall and the temple tank, Kalayana Theertham

Though the temple is an archaeological site, the temple is active in worship practises.[12] The temple follows Thenkalai tradition of worship based on Vaikasana Agamic tradition. The temple is open from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: Ushathkalam at 8 a.m., Kalasanthi at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Nithyakalyana Perumal and his consort Komalavalli. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. Various festivals are celebrated in the temple, with the Chittirai Brahmotsavam during the Tamil of Chittirai (during April - May), and Vaikuntha Ekadashi during Margazhi (December - January) being the most prominent.[2] During Brahmotsavam festival, the festival deities of Nithyakalyana Perumal and Komalavalli is taken in procession around the steerts of the temple. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.[5] The temple is one of the most visited tourist destination in the Chennai - Mahabalipuram region.[13]

References

  1. ↑ M. S., Ramesh (1993). 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu. Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam.
  2. 1 2 3 "Sri Nitya Kalyana Perumal temple". Dinamalar. 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Anantharaman, Ambujam (2006). Temples of South India. East West Books (Madras). pp. 136–7. ISBN 978-81-88661-42-8.
  4. 1 2 R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001). An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam (1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 449–51.
  5. 1 2 3 T.A., Subramanian (31 May 2005). "Rare Vishnu sculpture found at Thiruvidanthai". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  6. ↑ Rao, P.V.L. Narasimha (2008). Kanchipuram – Land of Legends, Saints & Temples. New Delhi: Readworthy Publications (P) Ltd. p. 141. ISBN 978-93-5018-104-1.
  7. ↑ PILC Journal of Dravidic Studies: PJDS., Volume 13. Pondicherry Institute of Linguistics and Culture. 2003. p. 111.
  8. ↑ C., Dr.Chandramouli (2003). Temples of Tamil Nadu - Kancheepuram district. Chennai: Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu.
  9. ↑ "List of Ancient Monument and Archeological Sites and Remains of Chennai and Tiruchur Circle". ASI. Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  10. ↑ "List of Monuments and Sites: Mamallapuram subcircle". ASI. Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  11. ↑ Pēyāl̲vār; M., Rajagopalan (2004). Sri Pei Azhwar's Moonram Thiruvandhadi. N. Rajagopalan. p. 75.
  12. ↑ Sridhar, Ashaa (14 June 2012). "Conservation and worship at temples can co-exist". Chennai: The Hindu. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  13. ↑ Sekar, Sunitha (11 January 2014). "Hop-on, hop-off bus service in Chennai withdrawn". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
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