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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Vaikunta Perumal Temple
| image = Vaikunta Perumal, Uthiramerur1.JPG
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates = {{coord|12|52|49|N|79|42|45|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Kanchipuram district|Kanchipuram]]
| location = [[Uthiramerur]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Vaikunta Perumal ([[Vishnu]])<br>Anandavalli ([[Lakshmi]])
| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals =
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity =
| inscriptions = [[Tamil script|Tamil]]
| year_completed =
| creator = [[Pallavan]], [[Chola]]
| website =
}}
The '''Vaikunta Perumal Temple''' in [[Uthiramerur]], a city in the Kanchipuram district of the South Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]], is dedicated to the Hindu god [[Vishnu]]. The temple is constructed in the [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian style of architecture]]. Vishnu is worshipped as Vaikunta Perumal and his consort [[Lakshmi]] as Anandavalli. The temple was originally built by the [[Pallavas]], with later additions from the [[Chola|Cholas]]. The temple is known for the inscriptions indicating the democratic practices of electing representatives for the village bodies during the regime of [[Parantaka I|Parantaka Chola]] (907–955 CE).This Vishnu Temple is mentioned in Narsingh Puran.

The building is declared as a heritage monument and administered by the [[Archeological Survey of India]]. [[Rajiv Gandhi]], the then [[Prime Minister of India]] was inspired by the system after paying a visit to the temple and insisted on improving [[Panchayat Raj]], India's system of local bodies in villages.

==History==
[[File:Vaikunta Perumal, Uthiramerur4.JPG|250px|thumb|left|Inscriptions on the walls of the temple]]
Uthiramerur was ruled by the [[Pallavas]], [[Cholas]], [[Pandyas]], [[Sambuvaraya]], Vijayanagara Rayas and Nayaks. As per the inscriptions in the temple, the Pallava king [[Nandivarman II]] (Pallavamalla) 730–795 CE established the village around 750 CE.<ref name="Constitution 1,000 years ago">{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/07/11/stories/2008071151250300.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080714154459/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/07/11/stories/2008071151250300.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 July 2008 | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Constitution 1,000 years ago | date=11 July 2008}}</ref> It is believed that he donated the village to the Vedic Brahmins from the Srivaishanva community.<ref name=M/>

The [[Cholas]] captured the region and it came under their dominion during the later part of 9th century. There are inscriptions from the period of [[Parantaka Chola I]] (907–950), [[Rajaraja Chola I]] (985–1014), [[Rajendra Chola I]] (1012–1044) and [[Kulothunga Chola I]] (1070–1120) indicating various gifts to the temples. The process of democratically electing the local representatives through a system called Kudavolai during the Chola regime is documented in the inscriptions.<ref name=Nag1216>{{cite book|title=Uttaramerur|last=R.|first=Nagaswamy|ref=Naga|publisher=Tamil Arts Academy|location=Chennai|year=2003|pages=12–16}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: History, Art, and Traditions in Tamilnāḍu|page=88|first=T.|last=Padmaja|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=9788170173984}}</ref> The temple is known for the inscriptions indicating the democratic practices of electing representatives for the village bodies during the regime of Parantaka Chola.<ref name=M/><ref>{{cite web|title=Ancient Epigraphical Inscription on elections, Vaikuntha Perumal Temple, Uthiramerur, Kancheepuram District| url=http://tnsec.tn.nic.in/historical/Epigraphical%20Inscription.html|publisher=National Informatics Centre for Tamil Nadu State Election Commission, Government of India|year=2004|accessdate=7 November 2015}}</ref>

The region and the village went under the sway of the [[Pandyas]] during the 13th century and subsequently to the Telugu Chola ruler Vijaya Gandagopala. During the later period, the village switched hands to Pallava chieftains, Telugu Cholas, Samburavarayars and finally [[Kumara Kampana]]. The Vijayanagara emperor [[Krishnadevaraya]] (1502–29) made contributions to the Vaikunta temple, Subhramanya temple and Kailasanatha temple in the village.<ref name=Nag1216/> The temple is declared as a heritage monument and administered by the [[Archeological Survey of India]].<ref name=business/>

==Architecture==
[[File:Vaikunta Perumal, Uthiramerur7.JPG|250px|thumb|The main shrine of the temple]]
Vaikunta Perumal temple covers an area of about {{convert|0.5|acre|hectare|abbr=on}}. The sanctum houses the image of Vaikuntanatha in a seated posture with Sridevi and Bhudevi on either side.<ref name=M>{{cite book|title=Vishnu Temples of South India Volume 1 (Tamil Nadu)|first=Chithra|publisher=Chithra Madhavan|last=Madhavan|isbn=978-81-908445-0-5|page=71|year=2007|ref=Madhavan}}</ref> There is an assembly hall {{convert|2500|sqft|sqm|abbr=on}}. The roof of the temple rests on the walls and there are no pillars. The inscriptions from the Chola period are made on the walls of the assembly hall.<ref name=business/> Kulothunga Chola is believed to have built the roof of the assembly hall which made it an assembly hall along with the temple.<ref name=business/> As per another view, the entire structure was originally an assembly hall and it collapsed during the regime of Kulothunga Chola. He rebuilt the assembly hall along with the temple housing the image of Vaikunta Perumal in it. Some of the inscriptions also read that the village was planned as per Agamic texts with the assembly hall in the centre of the village and the temples of the village built around it.<ref>{{cite news|title=Constitution 1,000 years ago|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/constitution-1000-years-ago/article1434867.ece|date=11 July 2008|accessdate=7 November 2015}}</ref>

==Kudavolai system==
[[File:Vaikunta Perumal, Uthiramerur2.JPG|250px|thumb|left|Stucco image of Narasimha seen on the vimana]]
The inscriptions of the temple indicate that the villagers requested the rulers to allow them to choose their own representatives. Parantaka Chola readily acceded to their demand and instituted the Kudavolai system (ballot) of democratically electing the village representatives. The rules of electing and the eligibility of the representatives and voters are described in detail in the inscriptions. The villagers assembled at a common place and wrote the name of their preferred representative on a palm leaf and put it in a pot. ''Kudam'' in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] is a pot and ''volai'' means the palm leaf, leading to the name of Kudavolai. Only people in pilgrimage or senescence were exempt from voting. The eligibilities of the candidates were prescribed with minimum age, educational qualifications and property. There were strictures for the candidates should have built their house in their own property, should not be part of any other committee and be between 35 and 70 years of age. The voters had the right to recall their candidate for failing to fulfill their duties. The inscriptions also specified strict punishments for the corrupt like disallowing their next seven generations to contest if found guilty. The institution was dismembered along with the end of the Chola regime during the 13th century. [[Rajiv Gandhi]], the then [[Prime Minister of India]] was inspired by the system after paying a visit to the temple and insisted on improving [[Panchayat Raj]], India's system of local bodies in villages.<ref name=business>{{cite news|title=Temple of democracy|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/temple-of-democracy-112070700027_1.html|publisher=Business Standard|last=T.E.|first=Narasimhan |date=7 July 2012|accessdate=7 November 2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{commonscat}}
{{reflist}}

{{Famous Vishnu temples}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Kanchipuram district]]
[[Category:Vishnu temples in Tamil Nadu]]

Vaikunda Perumal Temple, Uthiramerur - Revision history

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