GabrielaPreiss at 12:31, 18 November 2025

2025-11-18T12:31:35Z

New page

{{Short description|Perumal temple in Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu, India}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Nithyakalyana Perumal Temple
| image = Thiruvidanthai8.JPG
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Nithyakalyana Perumal Temple, [[Thiruvidandai|Thiruvidanthai]], [[Chengalpattu district|Chengalpattu]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|12|45|47.9|N|80|14|31.2|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}[https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Nithyakalyana_Perumal_temple&params=12_45_47.9_N_80_14_31.2_E_type:landmark_region:IN]
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = {{flag|India}}
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Chengalpattu district|Chengalpattu]]
| location = [[Thiruvidandai]], [[Chennai]]
| elevation_m = 21.76
| deity = {{Plainlist|
* Nithyakalyana Perumal ([[Varaha]])
* Komalavalli Thayar ([[Lakshmi]])
}}
| facade_direction =
| temple_tank = Kalyana Theertham
| tower = Kalyana Vimanam
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals =
| architecture = [[Tamil architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity =
| inscriptions =
| creator =
| website =
|religious_affiliation=[[Vaishnavism]]
}}

'''Nithyakalayana Perumal temple''' in [[Thiruvidandai]], a village in [[Chennai]], [[Chengalpattu|Chengalpattu district]] of the [[South India]]n state of [[Tamil Nadu]], is dedicated to [[Varaha]], the boar [[avatar]] of the Hindu god [[Vishnu]]. Constructed in the [[Tamil architecture|Tamil style of architecture]], the temple is glorified in the ''[[Divya Prabandha|Naalayira Divya Prabandham]]'', the early medieval [[Tamil literature|Tamil]] canon of the [[Alvars|Alvar]] saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 ''[[Divyadesam|Divya Desams]]'' dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Nithyakalayana Perumal (Varaha) and his consort [[Lakshmi]] as Komalavalli Thayar.<ref>{{cite book|title=108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu|last= M. S. |first=Ramesh|publisher= Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam|year=1993}}</ref> The original structure of the temple was built by the [[Pallavas]] during the 7th century CE, with later additions from the [[Cholas]] during the 11th century.

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple tank is located opposite to the temple, outside the main entrance. The temple follows the [[Thenkalai|Tenkalai]] tradition of worship. Four daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Chittirai Brahmotsavam during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Chittirai'' (during April–May), and [[Vaikuntha Ekadashi]] during ''Margali'' (December–January), are being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
[[File:NithyakalyanarPerumal.JPG|left|thumb|[[Varaha]], the presiding deity of the temple]]
According to legend, Vishnu's [[dvarapala|gatekeepers]] [[Jaya-Vijaya|Jaya and Vijaya]] are cursed by sages that they would be born as [[Asura|asuras]] during their next birth. They were born on earth as [[Hiranyaksha]] and [[Hiranyakashipu]] to sage [[Kashyapa]] and his wife [[Diti]]. The demon brothers on account of their powers, take control of the universe. The elder brother Hiranyaksha practices penance and obtains a boon from [[Brahma]] which makes him invincible by any animal or human. Hiranyaksha captures earth, personified as goddess [[Bhudevi]] and hides her under the [[Causal Ocean]] called Garbhodhaka. All the celestial deities and sages went to Vishnu for rescue. Since Hiranyaksha did not include the boar in the list of animals that can slay him, Vishnu assumes this form with huge tusks and goes down to the primordial ocean. Hiranyaksha obstructs Varaha and the pair having a strong duel. Varaha lifts the earth on his tusks, which would go on to be the most common figurine representation of Varaha. The two fought each other with their mace, with Varaha emerging victorious after a thousand-year duel. Varaha emerges from the [[Causal Ocean]] with the earth in his tusks and repositions her in her original spot. The earth goddess [[Bhudevi]] falls in love with Varaha, whom he is believed to have taken in his lap in this place. A number of maidens awaited to marry the divine looking boar Varaha. As per the wish of sage Kalava, who wanted Vishnu to marry his 360 daughters. Varaha married the 360 daughters one per day during the course of the whole year. Since he is believed to marry maidens daily, he came to be known as Nithyakalyana Perumal (meaning the deity who marries for eternity).<ref name=A>{{cite book|title=Temples of South India|first=Ambujam |last=Anantharaman|pages=136–7|publisher=East West Books (Madras)|year=2006|isbn=978-81-88661-42-8}}</ref>

As per another legend, a king by name Harikesarivarman used to visit the temple every day from [[Mahabalipuram]] and wanted to settle at this place. Vishnu was pleased by his devotion and appeared as Sthalasayana Perumal at Mahabalipuram – the legend is associated with the [[Thirukadalmallai]] temple at Mahabalipuram.<ref name=R>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|pages=449–51}}</ref>

==History==
{{Multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=right
| total_width = 300
| width1 = 2234 | height1 = 3200
| width2 = 2268| height2 = 3242
|direction=horizontal
|image1=Thiruvidanthai9.JPG
|image2=Thiruvidanthai10.JPG
|footer=Sculptures of [[Varaha]] and [[Narasimha]] on the pillars
|footer_align=center
}}
The temple was built during the [[Pallava]] regime in the 7th century.<ref name=hindu1>{{cite news|title=Rare Vishnu sculpture found at Thiruvidanthai|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/31/stories/2005053111450500.htm|date=31 May 2005|access-date=29 November 2015|last=T.A.|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|first=Subramanian}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> [[Kanchipuram]] was the capital of the Pallavas who ruled the region during the 6th to 9th centuries. They had [[Mamallapuram]] and [[Thiruvidanthai]] as their port towns and the two towns emerged as strong ports for the Empire. The temple is believed to have been built along with the monumental temples in the region.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rao|first=P.V.L. Narasimha |title=Kanchipuram – Land of Legends, Saints & Temples|year=2008|publisher=Readworthy Publications (P) Ltd.|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-93-5018-104-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GTMTQLuCNSMC&q=thiruvidantai+history&pg=PA141|page=141}}</ref> The temple has inscriptions dated 959 CE from the Pallava times.<ref>{{cite book|title=PILC Journal of Dravidic Studies: PJDS., Volume 13|publisher=Pondicherry Institute of Linguistics and Culture|year=2003|page=111}}</ref>

One of the earliest inscriptions in the temple is from [[Rashtrakuta]] king Krishna III (939–67) during 959 CE indicating gift of lamp to the temple.<ref name=Madhavan/> There were later additions from the [[Chola]] kings as indicated from an inscription during the 35th regnal year of [[Rajadhiraja Chola]] during 1052 CE. [[Raja Raja Chola]] is believed to have commissioned the Panguni Uthiram festival during 1003 CE. There are inscriptions indicating benevolent contributions from [[Kulothunga Chola I]] during 1115 CE.<ref name=census>{{cite book|title=Temples of Tamil Nadu - Kancheepuram district|last=C.|first=Dr.Chandramouli|publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu|year=2003|location=Chennai}}</ref> The temple is a declared monument of the Archaeological Survey of India on account of the inscriptions in the temple.<ref name="ASI">{{cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_tamilnadu.asp|title=List of Ancient Monument and Archeological Sites and Remains of Chennai and Tiruchur Circle|access-date=28 February 2016|work= ASI |publisher= Archaeological Survey of India}}</ref> It is maintained as a monument under the Chennai circle and Mamallapuram subcircle of the institution.<ref name="ASI1">{{cite web |url=http://asichennai.gov.in/mamallapuram_sub_circle.html|title=List of Monuments and Sites: Mamallapuram subcircle|access-date=28 February 2015|work= ASI |publisher= Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai}}</ref> The temple has a palanquin made of ivory, the one of its kind for any Hindu temple.<ref name=R>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|pages=449–51}}</ref> There are inscriptions during the period of [[Jatavarman Vira Pandyan II]] indicating gifts to the goddess of the temple.<ref name=Madhavan/>

==Architecture==
[[File:Thiruvidanthai14.JPG|200px|left|thumb|The image of the pillared hall with sculptures before the temple]]
Nithyakalyana Perumal temple is located in [[Thiruvidandai]], a village in [[Chennai]] at [[Kanchipuram district]] on the [[Chennai]] - [[Mahabalipuram]] [[East Coast Road]], {{convert|38|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Chennai City. The sanctum is approached through a sixteen pillared sculpted hall in front of the temple. The pillars have sculptures indicating various legends, with one of them carrying the replica of the image of the presiding deity. The temple has two precincts approached through two flat gateway towers. All the shrines in the temple are enclosed within granite walls. The second precinct has two temple masts, each of them located axial to the sanctum and the entrance. The precinct also has a hall to house the temple chariot. The sanctum is approached through an assembly and prayer hall. The granite image of Nithyakalyana Perumal in the form of Varaha having Bhudevi on his lap, is housed in the sanctum. The image is around {{convert|7|ft|m|abbr=on}} tall and is one of the rarest images of the deity.<ref name=hindu1/> [[Garuda]], the eagle ''[[vahana]]'' of [[Vishnu]] has a small shrine facing the sanctum. The shrine of Ranganathar is located in the first precinct, parallel to the sanctum. The North-West corner of the temple houses the shrine of Komalavalli. There is a separate shrine for [[Ranganatha]] and his consort [[Ranganayaki]] around the first precinct. The shrine of [[Andal]] is located to the left of sanctum in the first precinct.<ref name=Madhavan/> There are inscriptions on the walls around the assembly and the prayer hall.<ref name=A/> There are three temple tanks associated with the temple. Kalyana Pushakarani is the principal temple tank located right opposite to the temple in the end of the street and visible from East Coast Road (ECR). Varaha Pushkarani is located near the northern compound wall of the temple, while Ranganatha Tirtham is located North-east to the temple. Punnai tree, which is usually associated with Shiva temples, is the sacred tree associated with the temple.<ref name=Madhavan/>

==Religious importance==
{{Multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=right
| total_width = 350
| width1 = 3264 | height1 = 2448
| width2 = 3264 | height2 = 2448
|direction=horizontal
|image1=Thiruvidanthai3.JPG
|image2=Thiruvidanthai5.JPG
|footer=Images of shrines in the temple
|footer_align=center
}}
Nithyakalayana Perumal temple is revered in ''[[Nalayira Divya Prabhandam|Naalayira Divya Prabhandam]]'', the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by [[Thirumangai Azhwar|Thirumangai Alvar]]. The temple is classified as a ''[[Divyadesam|Divya Desam]]'', one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. Thirumangai Alvar has glorified the powers of Komalavalli Thayar.<ref>{{cite book|title=Sri Pei Azhwar's Moonram Thiruvandhadi|last1=Pēyāl̲vār|last2=M.|first2=Rajagopalan|year=2004|publisher=N. Rajagopalan|page=75}}</ref> The temple also finds mention in later works by [[Nathamuni]], Thirukachi Nambi, [[Ramanuja]] and [[Manavala Mamunigal]]. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like ''108 Tirupathi Anthathi'' by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar.<ref name=dinamalar>{{cite web|title=Sri Nitya Kalyana Perumal temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=263|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=31 May 2014|year=2014}}</ref> Following the legend of Nithyakalyana Perumal, where Vishnu is believed to marry daily, the temple is frequented by people seeking marriage or whose marriage is delayed. A common worship practice is to offer garlands to the presiding deity, wearing it and circumambulating the temple nine times. [[Ranganatha]], the reclining form of Vishnu, is believed to have attended the first wedding and after finding that there is a marriage every day, he set his abode in the temple.<ref name=A/> The presiding deity is addressed by various names like Varaha Deva, Alvar Varaha Deva, Vara Swami and Varaha Nayanar as seen from the inscriptions on the walls of the temple.<ref name=Madhavan>{{cite book|title=Vishnu temples of South India, Volume 4, Tamil Nadu|isbn=978-81-908445-3-6|first=Chithra|last=Madhavan|publisher=Alpha Land Published Pvt. Limited|year=2014|edition=1st|pages=13–20}}</ref>

==Worship practices and festivals==
[[File:Thiruvidanthai15.JPG|200px|left|A four pillared hall and the [[theertham|temple tank]], Kalayana Theertham|thumb]]
Though the temple is an archaeological site, the temple is active in worship practices.<ref name=hindu2>{{cite news|title=Conservation and worship at temples can co-exist|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/conservation-and-worship-at-temples-can-coexist/article3525118.ece|location=Chennai|date=14 June 2012|access-date=29 November 2015|newspaper=The Hindu|last=Sridhar|first=Ashaa}}</ref> The temple follows [[Thenkalai|Tenkalai]] tradition of worship based on Vaikasana Agamic tradition. The temple is open from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: ''Ushathkalam'' at 8 a.m., ''Kalasanthi'' at 10:00 a.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 5:00 p.m. and ''Ardha Jamam'' at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Nithyakalyana Perumal and his consort Komalavalli. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. Various festivals are celebrated in the temple, with the Chittirai Brahmotsavam during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] of ''Chittirai'' (during April–May), and [[Vaikuntha Ekadashi]] during ''Margazhi'' (December–January) being the most prominent.<ref name=dinamalar/> During Brahmotsavam festival, the festival deities of Nithyakalyana Perumal and Komalavalli is taken in procession around the streets of the temple. Thirumangai Alvar Utsavam is celebrated during the star of Kiruthikai during November–December.<ref name=Madhavan/> The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref name=hindu1/> The temple is one of the most visited tourist destination in the Chennai–Mahabalipuram region.<ref name=hindu3>{{cite news|title=Hop-on, hop-off bus service in Chennai withdrawn|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/hopon-hopoff-bus-service-in-chennai-withdrawn/article5563325.ece|date=11 January 2014|access-date=29 November 2015|newspaper=The Hindu|last=Sekar|first=Sunitha}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Nithyakalyana_Perumal_temple&params=12_45_47.9_N_80_14_31.2_E_type:landmark_region:IN GeoHack - Nithyakalyana Perumal Temple]

{{commons category}}

* [http://www.indiantemples.com/Tamilnadu/df064.html About Thirukadigai]

{{Famous Vishnu temples}}

[[Category:Divya Desams| ]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Kanchipuram district]]
[[Category:Varaha temples]]

Nithyakalyana Perumal temple - Revision history

GabrielaPreiss at 12:31, 18 November 2025