16th November 2019.
The visit to this temple was a part of Thirumukkudal temples Visit scheduled on 16th & 17th November 2019. After Uthiramerur Vaikunda Perumal Temple’s Visit, had been to this temple. The sun started to set behind the temple and light was falling, when we reached the temple. The temple was a model to many temples. The Ashta Lakshmi Temple, Besant Nagar, Chennai was built after seeing this. This place Uthiramerur was a 1200 Brahmin settlement established in 8th Century by Nandhivarma Pallavan-II ( 720-796 AD ) and called as Uthiramerur Chaturvedhi Mangalam.
Moolavar : Sri Sundara Varadaraja Perumal
Thayar : Sri Sundara Valli
Some of the salient features of this temple are…….
The temple is facing east with a 7 tier Rajagopuram. A Veera Anjaneyar sannadhi is infornt of Rajagopuram ( The Anjaneyar is in the form of bas relief. It is believed that this Anjaneyar is one of the Anjaneyar statues installed by Vyasaraja ). Balipedam and Dwajasthambam and Garudalwar are immediately after the Rajagopuram. The sanctum sanctorum entrance is about 5 feet above the ground level and there is a 2 tier vimana with 5 kalasas at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. The Perumal is in three levels with three postures as Nindraan ( Standing ), Irundhaan ( Sitting ) and Kidandhaan ( Reclining ).
In the Ground level Sri Sundara Varadar is in standing posture with Sridevi and Bhudevi. Around the main sanctum there are sannadhis for Achuthavaradar, Anirudra Varadar and Kalyana Varadar.
In the first level Sri Vaikunda Perumal is in sitting posture with Sridevi and Bhudevi. In addition to this the other deities are Krishnar as Parthasarathy, Arjunar, ( Naranarayana? ), Yoga Narasimhar and Lakshmi Varahar. Lakshmi Varahar is in sitting posture with Lakshmi on his lap.
In the second level Ranganathar / Ananda Padmanabha is in sayana / reclining posture on Adishesha with Ganga, Yamuna, Brahma, Shiva, Markandeyar, Bhudevi and the demons Madhu & Kaidapan. Ganga and Yamuna are in standing posture as Dwarapalakis like Kodi penkal at the Rajagopuram. And this is one of the place where Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma are in one Sannadhi. Thayar and Andal are in separate sannadhis at the ground level.
The Ashtanga Vimana has the stucco images of various Vaishnava and Saiva deities which includes Dakshinamurthy.
ARCHITECTURE
The Sanctum sanctorum is built on a Upana, adhisthana with Jagathi, Tripatta Kumuda, Kandam, patti, etc,. The corner projections are with silambu kumuda. The three small sanctums around the main sanctum may be approached through flight of steps (Shobana ) on both sides. The south side face of the steps ( shobana ) has the bas-relief of Gajalakshmi. In the Gajalakshmi panel the elephants are shown little different postures ie. one is pouring water on Lakshmi and other is fetching water from the pond. Rathi/ Vakdevi and Manmathan are on the North side. Manmathan's 5 arrows are shown as flowers like Lotus, Mango, Jasmine, Asok and kuvalai ( தாமரை, அசோகு, மா, மல்லிகை, குவளை ). Muthkalar Maharishi image is shown sitting on a lotus pedestal on the west side with Venkotra kudai and Samara on the top. The Thoranas are filled with various postures of rishis, animals, Ladies, etc,. The Vimana is a ashtanga Vimana to accommodate Vishnu’s 3 postures in 3 levels. The prakara pillars are of simple cylindrical / virutha type built during pallava period.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
This place was a Brahmin settlement established by the Pallava King Nandhivarman-II, during 750 AD and called as Uthiramerur Chathurvedi Mangalam. During Chozha period Uthiramerur was called as Rajendra Chozha Chathurvedi Mangalam, Telugu Pallava period Vijaya kanda Gopala Chathurvedi Mangalam and Vadamerumangalam etc,. Perumal was called as Vellai murthy Emperuman, Vellai Murthy Alwar and Sri Rajendra Vinnagara Alwar.
As per the inscription this Varadharaja Perumal temple was constructed as per Vasthu sasthra and Mayamatham Temple architecture sasthira by the Paramesuvara Thachan of Padakam during Nandhi Varman-II.
Due to sannadhis of Vaikunda Varadar, Sundara Varadar, Achutha Varadar, Anirudra Varadar and Kalyana Varadar this temple is Pancha Varada Kshetram. Also the presence of 9 forms of Vishnu, this temple is also called as Nava murti sthalam.
The temple was patronized by Rajendra Chozha-I (1013AD ), Sambuvarayas, Pandyas, and Vijayanagaras, Krishna Devaraya (1520 AD), and Nayak periods.
Since the temple was patronized by Nandhi Varman-II, the temple might have existed even before 8th Century.
LEGEND
During exile the Pancha Pandavas visited Uthiramerur. Yudhishtira worshiped Sundara Varadar, Bheema worshiped Sri Vaikunda Perumal, Arjuna worshiped Achutha Varadar, Nakula worshiped Anirudra Varadar and Sahadeva worshiped Kalyana Varadar. Draupadi worshiped Sri Ananda Valli Thayar.
Those who pray Sri Kalyana Varadar with their horoscope on 5 consecutive Wednesdays will get married soon. Those who offer prayers to Achutha Varadar on Tuesdays will get job.
FESTIVALS
Apart from regular functions Bramotsavam will be conducted in Tamil Month Chithrai, Pavitrotsavam will be conducted in Aadi, Rama Navami and Andal Pavitrotsavam will be conducted in Aadi month. The Sudharsana Homa with recital of 4 vedas will be conducted in Puratasi.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Bhattars may be contacted on their respective mobiles. Aravamudhan on +919442311138/ +919751035544, Rajagopala Bhattar +919486369455 and Seshadri ( trustee ) +919443068382 for further details.
HOW TO REACH:
The temple is about a KM from Uthiramerur Bus stand.
Uthiramerur is 30 KM from Kanchipuram, 31 KM from Chengalpattu and 92 KM from Chennai
Nearest Railway station is Chengalpattu.
Gajalakshmi
Rathi/ Vakdevi and Manmathan
Muthkalar Maharishi
Adhisthanam
Anjaneyar Sannadhi
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
Very Nice and wonderful explanation of the temples. Chennai to Kanchipuram Cabs
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