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| 8th CE Vaikunta perumal temple, kanchipuram templepurohit.com |
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| lion pillars and relief work. prakara,Vaikunta perumal temple kanchi,TN.en.wikipedia.org |
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| panels of stone carvings, Vaikunta perumal temple.Kanchi nditales.com |
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| Vaikunta perumal temple, Kanchi. kancheepuramonline.in |
\Above images: The Vaikunta Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. The main attractions of this old temple are the relief works - beautiful carvings of episodes from Indian epics on the walls of the prakara and many attractive lion-carved pillars. The pillars appear to rest on the hind legs of sitting lions facing the open yard........
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| Kanchipuram town, Location map, TN. mapsofindia.com |
The Vaikunta Perumal Temple (dedicated to Sri Vishnu) of Uthiramerur near Kanchi, is a declared heritage monument and here the lord's consort is Lakshmi as Anandavalli. This region was under the control of various rulers - the Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas, Sambuvaraya, Vijayanagara Rayas and Nayaks. This village established in 750 CE, as per record, was donated to Vedic Brahmins following Srivaishanva samprathayam by Pallava king Nandivarman II (Pallavamalla) 730–795 CE. The village was planned as per Agama shastras with the assembly hall in the centre of the village. Originally, built by Pallavas, when the Chola dynasty ruled in the later part of the 9th century, they patronized this temple and made additions.
An unusual historical fact as revealed by the inscriptions in the temple is about the conduct of election to elect representatives for the village bodies during the regime of Parantaka Chola (907–955 CE). Democratic practices had been introduced 1000 years ago by the great Chola rulers. After Cholas, the the land was passed on to different rulers including Pandyas and finally the Vijayanagara Dynasty.
It was during the reign of Sri Krishnadeva rayar (1502–29) solid contributions were made to the Vaikunta perumal temple, besides Subhramanya temple and Kailasanatha temple in the same village.
The temple has no entrance tower-gopuramand the ceiling is a flat one. Have you ever heard of three grabagrihas (sanctums) in one place? It is rare among the Hindu temples. An odd design of this temple is there are 3 sanctuaries for god on three floors. - one on top of the other all enshrined with the image of God Vishnu in different postures; seated (ground floor), sayanam - sheshashayee, as the lord sleeps in the Kshirsagar (first floor) and standing (2nd floor). The latter one is not open to public. The first floor garbagriha (access is through a stairway) is a small and plain one and the king is seen serving the almighty. It is open to public only on Ekadashi or the 11th of every fortnight of lunar calendar. it is said the main deity in the sanctum is missing and is closed to public for some reasons. There is prakara - prathakshana path on each floor around the sanctum. On the prakara walls all alone there are intricate carvings of mythological stories from the epics Mahabharata, etc. they bear testimony to the amazing talents and skill of artisans way back in the 8th CE.
In this temple the main deity is with Sridevi and Bhudevi on his either side in the sanctum. The assembly hall built by Kulothunga Chola covering about 2,500 sq ft is an interesting one. Architecturally, the entire weight of the roof falls on the walls all around with no support either in the form of pillars or beams and rafters.
It is said the entire structure consisted only of just the assembly hall and when it caved in during the regime of Kulothunga Chola, he had it rebuilt along with the garbagriha.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaikunda_Perumal_Temple,_Uthiramerur
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/Kanchipuram/Vaikunda-Perumal-Temple/ps59217735.cms
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vaikunta_Perumal_temple_Kanchipuram_
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