Sri Yatotkari perumal temple - Thiruvekka

About the temple

The temple is among the 108 divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas and comes under Tondai naatu divyadesams. The presiding deity is Sri Yatotkari perumal or Sonna vanna perumal. The Lord gives darshan in a unique reclining posture from right to left with head on the right side facing the devotees. It is the only such posture among divyadesams as the Lord usually is seen lying down from left to right in other temples. 

The place is the avathara sthalam of Poigai alwar. Kanni kannan was a disciple of Thirumazhisai alwar. When a King asked Kanni kannan to sing praises about him, he said he would sing praises only about the Lord. Angered, the king banished Kanni Kannan from the kingdom. Hearing this, Thirumazhisai alwar also followed him out of the place and asked Lord Vishnu also to come away from there. When the Lord followed them out of Kanchi, the entire place was left dark. Realising his mistake, the King called them back and all the three returned to Kanchi. It is believed that the Lord took his place in the temple in the reverse direction to mark the fact that he had left the place once and returned back. Also it is believed that the Lord lied down in the reverse direction in a hurry when Thirumaizhai alwar asked him to take his place in the temple. 

Goddess Saraswati is also seen in the perumal sannadhi at the Lord's feet. Thiruvekka is the avathara sthalam of Poigai alwar.

How to reach

The temple is at a 2 min walking distance from Astabuja perumal temple. Click on the pic to enlarge

Sannadhis

Sonna vanna perumal
Komalavalli Thayar
Andal

Temple vimanam and pushkarni

The temple tank is called Poigai pushkarni and the vimanam is known as Veda saara vimanam

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 8 am to 11 am and in the evenings from 5 pm to 8 pm.

Temples in proximity

Kanchipuram divyadesams

Sri Pandava dhootar perumal, Thirupaadakam/Thirupaadagam

About the temple

The temple is among the 108 divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas and comes under Tondai naatu divyadesams. One can leisurely cover all the 15 divyadesams in Kanchipuram in a day's trip. When Janamejayan, a descendant of Pandavas meditated on Sri Krishna and did Ashwamedha yagna here fascinated by Sri Krishna's vishwaroopa form as a messenger for Pandavas, the Lord appeared here as Pandava dhootar here. The Lord is 28 ft high in a sitting posture and really huge. There is a seperate sannadhi for Rukmini thayar here.

How to reach

The temple is close to the famous Kanchi kamakoti peetam and Sri Ekambareeswarar temple in Chinna Kanchipuram. Click to enlarge

Sannadhis

Pandava dootar perumal

Rukmini thayar

Ganesha

Alwars and acharyas

Ramanujar

Manavala mamunigal

Chakratalwar and Narasimhar

Vimanam and pushkarni

The temple tank is called Matsya theertham and the vimanam is known as Bhadra vimanam.

Temple timings

The temple is open from 7 am to 11 am in the mornings and from 4 pm to 7.30 pm in the evenings.

Temples in proximity

Kanchipuram divyadesams

Sri Aadinathar temple - Alwar thirunagari / Tirukkurukoor

About the temple

This is the final of the nava thirupathis and comes under the Pandiya naatu divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas. The presiding deity is Sri Aadinathar in standing posture and he is swayambu moorthy. The thayars in the temple are Aadinatha valli and Kurugoorvalli thayar.

The temple represents the Guru sthalam in the nava graha kshetrams. The temple is also famous for the Ariyar sevai which involves the recital of divya prabandam with expression, music and rhythm. Apart from this temple town, Ariyar sevai is done only in Srirangam and Srivilliputtur. There is a tamarind tree inside the temple where Nammazhwar stayed for 16 years and there is a seperate sannadhi for Nammazhwar. It is believed that Lakshmana here is in the form of the tamarind tree. Another interesting feature of the temple is that Sri Ramanujar gives darshan here wearing white dhoti instead of saffron as wore by saints.

Naatha munigal is said to have recited "Kannin suruthambinal" verse 12000 times here for Nammazhwar to appear and share the verses for the naal ayiram divyaprabandam (4000 verses sung in praise of the Lords in 108 divyadesams by alwars)

During the Vaikasi utsavam, all the lords from the nava thirupathi come together here and Nammazhwar comes in Hamsa vahanam.

How to reach

Alwar thirunagari station on the Tirunelveli - Tiruchendur railway route is the nearest station while Tirunelveli is the nearest railhead. Bus facilities and accomodation facilities are also available here.

Sannadhis

Aadinathar perumal

Rama

Pon ninra perumal

Garudan

Venugopala

Gnanapiran

Aadhi nachiyar

Paramapada nadhan

Kurugoor nachiyar

Chakratalwar

Anjaneya

Lakshmi Narasimhar

Thirupuli alwar

Nammazhawar

Nathamunigal

Srinivasar

Dasavatharam

Pushkarni and Vimanam

The temple tank is called Brahma theertham and the vimanam is known as Govinda vimanam.

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 7 am to 12 noon and in the evenings from 5 pm to 8 pm.

Temples in proximity

Nava tirupathis, Tiruchendur Murugan temple, Karungulam Srinivasar temple, Vana tirupathi - Srinivasar temple