Pandavathootha Perumal Temple located in Kanchipuram is a famous Vaishnavite temple dedicated to Sri Krishna and HIS consort Rukmini Thayar.It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Pandava Thoothar Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Rukmini.
Shrine’s History
Pandavathootha Perumal temple is considered one of three oldest temples in Kanchipuram, the other two being Ulagalantha Perumal Temple and Yathothkari Perumal Temple. The temple is originally believed to be built during the period of Pallavas. The temple has a set of inscriptions associated with Cholas. A record of the Chola king, Rajakesari Varaman alais Kulothunga Chola I, dated in his fifth year. Records that a merchant provided the temple with a flower garden and purchased from the village of Ovirukkai some lands for the benefit of the gardeners.
The cost of the 2,000 kulis(tax-free) was 11 kalanjus equal in the finesse of Madhuranthaka made and the assembly could not levy in consequences vellikasu, nirallai, silvari, sorumattu etc. The south wall of the temple has inscriptions of Kulothunga Chola I, dated in his 39th year. Records gift of two kalanjus and two manjadi by a merchant to the pujari(temple priest) who were to supply two malis of curd daily. There are inscriptions on the base of the western wall of the central shrine from the period of Rajadhiraja Chola II (1166-78 CE) indicating gifts of 32 cows for lighting lamps of the temple. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Legends Associated with This Shrine
As per Hindu legend, the temple is associated with a chapter in Mahabharata when Krishna went to the Kauravas as a missive to the Pandavas. Duryodhana, the king of the Kouravas, had a plan to arrest and kill Krishna while he was in Hastinapura. He dug a deep pit and covered it with a carpet and a chair studded with gems. He had wrestlers hidden in the pit to wrangle Krishna. Krishna, being the avatar of Vishnu portrayed Vishvarupa, a giant form to all the courtment and also to Dhritarashtra, the blind king and father of Duryodhana. When Krishna offered a boon to Dhritarashtra, he requested Krishna to make him blind again as he did not want to see anything after seeing the Vishwaroopa. Krishna also appeared in the same form to Janamajeya, the great-grandson of Arjuna, who was doing penance to view god in Viswaroopa. Pada means big and Agam means residence, signifying Thirupadagam as the place where Vishnu resides with his giant form.
Architectural Relevance of This Shrine
The temple is located in Big Kanchipuram near the Ekambareswarar The primary entrance of the temple faces east and the temple has a rectangular plan. The temple has a four-tiered rajagopuram and a single precinct enclosed in the walls. The Maha mandapa is believed to have been built by the Cholas, while the adjacent hall during the period of Vijayanagara Empire. The central shrine of the temple has a large image of the presiding deity Pandava Thoothar, which has a height of 25 ft (7.6 m). The deity is seen seated in Arda Padmasana posture with his right leg bent to the basement.
Since Krishna appeared as the human form, there are only two hands to the deity, unlike other temples, where the presiding deities have four or more hands. The right palm depicts the Abhaya Mudra for protection and the left arm depicts Varada Mudra for giving boon. The preceding hall to the main sanctum, Mukha Mandapa, has bronze images of the festival deities of the temple and Azhwars. The most prominent of them is of Arulala Permula Emburamanar, the disciple of Ramanuja, whose image is rarely found in other Vishnu temples. The Shrine of Rukmini is located to the south of the main shrine and has the image of Rukmini. There are modern additions like Chakrathazhwar with an image of Narasimha on it reverse located behind the main shrine. Matsya Theertham, the temple tank, is located on the north-eastern side of the temple.
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By Road
From Kanchipuram, there are many auto-rickshaws that drive you to the temple. Kanchipuram is well connected by several bus services from Chennai and other places in TamilNadu.
By Rail
From Kanchipuram Railway Station, private taxis are available to reach this temple. Kanchipuram rail-line is connected to Chennai, Pondicherry, Nagaercoil and Madurai.
By Air
Chennai is the nearest airport. From Chennai, the temple in Kanchipuram is 75 km’s away.
Shrine Timings
7.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Events Celebrated at This Shrine
Sri Krishna Jayanthi in August-September, Deepavali in October-November, Mukkotti Ekadasi, Panguni Uthiram in March-April and a festival called Sattrumurai for Arulala Perumal Emperumanar on Karthikai (November-December) Bharani Star day are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Extra Information About this Shrine
Temple’s Speciality: It is a rarest of the rare form in this temple that 25 feet tall Lord Krishna grace from the sanctum sanctorum in a sitting form.
This is the shrine where Lord Krishna graces His devotees with Viswapadhayoga powers pressing His feet on earth. Hence, those circumambulating in the temple in step by step method or roll around touching the earth with all parts of the body would have all their 72,000 veins healthy to resist any infection. Worshipping the temple on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Rohini Star days, Ashtami the eighth day from new moon or full moon days and on the eighth day of the month would gift the devotees with all prosperity and health.