Thiru Parameswara Vinnagaram or Vaikunta Perumal Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, located in Kanchipuram in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. 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 among the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Vaikuntanathan and his consort Lakshmi as Vaikundavalli.
Shrine’s History
Thiru Parameswara Vinnagaram has been built by Pallava King Nandivarman II named Pallavamallan in the late 8th century. He worshipped Vishnu and is a great patron of learning. He renovated old temples and built several new ones. Among the latter was the Parameswara Vinnagaram or the Vaikunta Perumal temple at Kanchipuram which contains inscribed panels of sculpture portraying the events leading up to the accession of Pallavamalla to the throne. The great Vaishnava saint Thirumangai Alvar was his contemporary. The temple has beautiful old sculptures around the prakaram depicting the different stages of Parameswaras life right from his childhood. The temple is a terrific example of Pallava Architecture and is believed to have been built by them on a single piece of rock.
Parameswara Pallava is said to have built this 3-tier structure. The 2nd tier is open only on Ekadesi days. The steps to the 3rd Tier are said to have been damaged by natural calamities. So attached was the Pallava king to this temple, that he used to invoke the blessing of this Lord before he embarked on any battle. This has been brought out beautifully by Thirumangai Azhvaar in several of his Paasurams in praise of the Lord here. Three sanctuaries host the image of Vishnu in different postures. HE is seen seated in his ground floor; on the first floor he is accessible to devotees only on Ekadashi, and in a standing posture in the second floor is inaccessible to devotees.
Legends Associated with This Shrine
As per Hindu legend, the region where the temple is located was called Vidarbha Desa and ruled by a king named Viroacha. Due to his misdeeds in preceding birth, Virocha had no heir. He prayed in Kailasanathar Temple and Shiva, the presiding deity of the temple gave a boon that the Dvarapalas of the Vishnu temple will be born as sons to him. The princes were devoted to Vishnu and conducted yagna for the welfare of the people of their kingdom. Vishnu was pleased with the worship and appeared as Vaikundanatha to the princes
Architectural Relevance of This Shrine
The Vaikunta Perumal temple at Kanchipuram which contains inscribed panels of sculpture portraying the events leading up to the accession of Pallavamalla to the throne. The great Vaishnava saint Thirumangai Alvar was his contemporary. Three sanctuaries host the image of Vishnu in different postures – seated (ground floor), lying (first floor; accessible to devotees only on Ekadashi days) and standing (second floor; inaccessible to devotees). The logical and complex plan of the temple provided a prototype for the much larger shrines to be constructed all over Tamil Nadu. The external cloisters, for instance, with their lion pillars, are predecessors of the grand thousand pillared halls of later temples.
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By Road
Bus services are provided by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation to and from Chennai, Bangalore, Villupuram, Tirupathi, Thiruthani, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Salem, Coimbatore and Pondicherry and to other major cities.
By Rail
The nearest railway station to reach the temple is Kanchipuram railway station. The Chengalpet ? Arakkonam railway line passes through Kanchipuram and travellers can access services to those destinations.
By Air
The nearest domestic as well as international airport to reach the temple is Chennai International Airport.
Shrine Timings
Ushathkala Pooja ? 7.30 AM Kalasanthi Pooja ? 8.00 AM Uchikala Pooja ? 12.00 PM Sayarakshai Pooja ? 5.00 PM Irandamkala Pooja ? 6.00 PM Ardha Jama Pooja ? 7.30 PM
Events Celebrated at This Shrine
Vaikasi Brahmotsavam May/June Vaikunta Ekadashi December/January
Extra Information About this Shrine
Specialty The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Vaikunda Perumal (Lord Vishnu), also called as Lord Paramapadha Nathan, found in a seated posture facing the west direction.
The goddess of the temple is Vaikunthavalli Thayaar (Goddess Lakshmi), the consort of Lord Vaikunta Perumal. The temple is completely surrounded by granite wall which encloses all the shrines and water bodies of the temple.
Sri Vaikunda Perumal temple is considered as one of the prominent tourist attraction of Kanchipuram, and it is managed by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
The temple sanctuaries contain the images of Lord Vishnu in different postures such as Kidantha Thirukkolam (Sleeping Position), Veetrirundha Thirukkolam (Sitting Position), and Nindra Thirukkolam (Standing Position). Sri Vaikunda Perumal temple is considered as one of the fourteen Divya desams in Kanchipuram and is a part of Vishnu Kanchi.