Ulagalantha Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu .It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Ulagalantha Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Poongothai.
Shrine’s History
Temple was originally made of bricks, but during the period of Virarajendra Chola , a granite structure was developed. Narasimha Varma constructed the other shrines also in granite. The temple received benevolent contributions from most of the later Chola rulers like Rajadhiraja Chola , Rajendra Chola II and other rulers of the region like Vikramapandiya, Koperujinga and Vijayanagara rulers like Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya and Sadasiva Raya as seen from the inscriptions in the temple. The temple was expanded during the rule of the Vijayanagar kings and Nayaks. The temple was the fortress to the British during the Carnatic wars. It was also attacked during the days of the period of Hyder Ali.
Legends Associated with This Shrine
The Bhagavata Purana describes that Vishnu descended as the Vamana avatar to restore the authority of Indra over the heavens, as it had been taken by Mahabali, a benevolent Asura King. Bali was the grandson of Hiranyakshipu, the son of Prahlada. King Mahabali was generous, and engaged in severe austerities and penance and won the praise of the world. With the praise from his courtiers and others, he regarded himself as the all-powerful in the world. Vamana, in the guise of a short Brahmin carrying a wooden umbrella, went to the king to request three paces of land. Mahabali consented, against the warning of his guru, Sukracharya.
Vamana then revealed his identity and enlarged to gigantic proportions to stride over the three worlds. He stepped from heaven to earth with the first step, from earth to the netherworld with the second. King Mahabali, unable to fulfil his promise, offered his head for the third. Vamana then placed His Foot and gave the king immortality for his humility. In worshiping Mahabali and his ancestor Prahláda, he conceded sovereignty of Pátála, the netherworld. Some texts also report that Vamana did not step into the netherworld, and instead gave its rule to Bali. In giant form, Vamana is known as Trivikrama. The legend is associated with Thrikkakara Temple in Kerala, but also with this temple and Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram.
Architectural Relevance of This Shrine
The temple has an eleven-tiered rajagopuram with a height of 192 ft , the third tallest temple tower in Tamil Nadu, after the one in Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple and Srivilliputhur Andal Temple. The temple covers an area of 5 acres and houses residential buildings in the precincts around the temple tower. The presiding deity, Ulagalantha Perumal, has an imposing image made of Tharu wood with foot raised. The images of Azhwars are housed in the hall preceding the sanctum. A number of water bodies are associated with the temple. Chakra Theertha, the temple tank located outside the temple is believed to have been from the waters used by Brahma to wash the feet of Vamana.
It is believed that the water is a source of river Pennar, which flows nearby the temple. Chank Theertha, located in the east, Akasha Ganga, Varava Theertha and Kalava Theertha are the various other temple tanks in the temple. The image of Krishna is made of saligrama stone and is housed in a separate shrine. There are separate shrines in the first precinct for Venugopala, Lakshmi Narayana, Lakshmi Raghava, Lakshmi Narasimha, Rama, Veera Anjaneya, Andal and Shukracharya, the Guru of Asuras. Durga, otherwise housed only in Shiva temples, is a rare feature of the temple.
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By Road
Viluppuram is well connected by roads to major cities and to the rest of the state. Villupuram has the longest National roads of any district in Tamil Nadu, which connects all the major cities.
By Rail
Viluppuram has a well-known railway station. The Viluppuram Railway Junction at Viluppuram serves as the distribution point for rail traffic from Chennai, the state capital of Tamil Nadu, towards the southern part of the state.
By Air
The nearest airport is Pondicherry airport, approximately 40 km from Viluppuram. Pondicherry Airport is connected to Bangalore by commercial airlines. The nearest major airport is the Chennai International Airport, approximately 147 km from the town, the next closest major airport is Tiruchirapalli Airport, approximately 160 km from the town.
Shrine Timings
7 A.M to 10 P.M
Events Celebrated at This Shrine
Panguni Brahmmotsavam March or April
Masi Magam festival February or March
Purattasi Pavithra Utsavavm Navarathri, Srirama Navami, Sri Ramanuja Jayanthi, Vasanth Utsavam April or May Vaikasi Visaka Garuda Seva, Nammazhwar Sattrumurai May or June Aani
Periazhwar Sattrumurai June or July
Aadi Thiruvadipooram, Andal Utsavam July or August
Avani Sri Jayanthi, Uriyadi Utsavam August or September
Aipasi Mudalazwar Sattrumurai, Sri Manavala Mamunigal Utsav October or November
Karthikai Kaisika Ekadasi, Tirukarthikai November or December
Margazhi Rapathu, Pagal Pathu and Vaikunta Ekadashi December or January
Extra Information About this Shrine
Nearby Temple
Aadhi Tiruvarangam Perumal Temple
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Chinnamailam Arulmigu Subramaniya Temple
Sivalokanathar Temple
Swarnakadeswarar Temple
Atulya Nadeswarar Temple
Maha Kaleswarar Temple
Selva Lalithambikai Temple
