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Summary of the Day

Date: 29-Jan-2016
Total Distance traveled: 129 Km
Temples Visited: covered most of the Divya Desams in Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram







Thiruvedanthai - Sri Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple (Divya Desam no. 61). We were up early inspite of sleeping at 11:00 pm and left home by 5:30 in the morning. The distance from Chennai to Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple was 31 Km and we left the temple by 7:00 am. We found the roads to be very good and were being newly laid.

The arch on the highway, road leading to the temple


The entrance to Nitya Kalyana Perumal Temple



Thiru Kadalmalai (Mahabalipuram) - Sri Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple (Divya Desam no. 62). It was a half an hour drive from Nithya Kalyana to Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple, a distance of 17 Km.

The entrance to Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple





We have earlier made a visit to the Chariot temples and other sightseeing places at Mahabalipuram, yet the deft fingers of the skilled sculptors has always been an incredible experience. My wife did a bit of shopping for miniature Ganesha idol that is carved on both sides. The sculptor shops were open early in the morning and the huge sculptures on display seemed to speak volumes to the pilgrims.




We had our breakfast at Anandas after having darshan of the Perumal. The restaurant could not handle the crowd as there were lots of people came at the same time to have breakfast. Though it was a wait, we quickly had what was easily available for breakfast and proceeded further. We subsequently had tea on the way.


The road from Chengalpet to Kanchipuram was not at all good and the drive was only on the 2nd gear. After Walajabad some stretches seemed to give relief. It is not recommended to take this route, the route from Chennai to Kanchipuram would have been a better option. We found almost 3/4th of the distance is on bad roads. My wife took on to the wheels after tea on the way. I had my morning nap and woke up after reaching Kanchipuram.


Thiru Vekka - Sri Yathothakaari Temple (Divya Desam no. 51). It was over 1:30 hour’s drive of 64 Km from Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple to Yathothakaari Temple, Kanchipuram, reaching at 10:30 am. The Perumal got his name Sonna Vannam Perumal because Vishnu 'listened' to the Alwar and left the temple, and again listened to his pleas and returned.

The entrance to Yathothakaari Temple






Thirukkachchi - Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple (Divya Desam no. 43). We have made couple of visits to this temple during our earlier trips to Kanchipuram and always come out with a totally cleansed aura overwhelmed with devotion.

Ashtabhuyakaram - Sri Aadhikesava Perumal Temple (Divya Desam no. 44). The moolavar has eight arms and hence the name Ashtabhuyakaram.



Outside the temple, is the temple pond which signifies the Gajendra moksham.







Thiruthanka - Sri Deepa Prakasar Perumal Temple (Divya Desam no. 45). After having darshan of the Perumal at Thiruthanka, adjacent was the sannadhi of Vedanta Desikar. After having darshan, the bhattachari offered curd rice and sweet Pongal to the devotees.


The Entrance to Deepa Prakasar Perumal Temple







Photo of entrance from inside the Deepa Prakasar Perumal Temple




We had our lunch “meals” at Hotel Saravana Bhavan and wifey did saree shopping nearby. We found that Kanchipuram is a hub for Saree lovers especially Silk Sarees. We found the cost to be very reasonable in comparison to metro cities.


One can spot weavers with silk yarn spread out on the streets and getting it ready to be spun.




It was a feast to the eyes to see such color. We also had an opportunity to interact with a weaver family who had their looms at a portion of their residence.




As we entered we saw the weaver in utmost concentration at his work with slokas chanting in the background. The saree he was weaving was a pure gold jari worth over a Lakh, as we were told it would take a month’s effort to complete such a saree.




We also realized how much divine vibration that yarns must have absorbed during the weaving process with the shlokas chanting in the background. The bride who will wear this saree will be a blessed one indeed. The entire weaving process was a very humbling experience as the next time we visit a saree shop, the effort taken to bring out such a masterpiece will always come to our mind.




We checked in at Yatri Niwas of Kanchi Mutt near Kamakshi Amman temple at Kanchipuram. We took rest for an hour and after refreshing we went to the next temple in our evening plan.

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We continue our travelogue from the previous post.

Thiru Velukkai - Sri Azhagiya Singa Perumal Temple (Divya Desam no. 46). The moolavar is of Narasimha form, similar to Yoga Narasimha at Sholingur. We reached this temple just before the Bhattachari was about to close the temple before noon. We had good darshan of the Perumal.

The entrance to Azhagiya Singa Perumal Temple.


The sign board indicating the direction to Azhagiya Singa Perumal Temple.



Thiruparameshwara Vinnagaram - Sri Vaikunda Perumal Temple (Divya Desam no. 56). Since each of these temples in Kanchipuram were within a radius of a Km or less, we spent less time commuting. This was the first temple we traveled in the evening after having rest. The temple is under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).




The sculptures on the walls, can be seen around the praharam of the temple







Thiru Paadagam - Sri Pandava Thoodhar Temple (Divya Desam no. 47). The moolavar is quite huge literally in vishwa roopam. As the story goes, Krishna came as Thoodhar for Pandavas. Krishna took vishwa roopam when Duryodhana tried to make the Perumal sit on the Aashan which had no base in the middle. The Thayar sannadhi is of Rukmani.





Thiru Nilathingal Thundam - Sri Nilathingal Thundathan Perumal Temple (Divya Desam no. 49). The Divya Desam Perumal is inside the praharam of Ekambareswarar Temple (this is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams).


The entrance to Ekambareswarar Temple




The pillared temple corridor

Attachment 1472577



Thiru Pachai Vannan - Sri Pachai Vannar Temple (Divya Desam no. 55b)

Thiru Pavala Vannan - Sri Pavala Vannar Temple (Divya Desam no. 55a)

Both these temples are opposite to each other separated by 300 mts. The name of the temples are derived from Pavala = Red and Pachai = Green.


Entrance to Sri Pachai Vannar Temple




Entrance to Sri Pavala Vannar Temple





Thiru Ooragam - Sri Ulagalantha Perumal Temple (Divya Desam no. 50). The temple has an entrance which is like you need to go down the steps rather than climb up the stairs. The moolavar is quite huge similar to Pandava Thoodhar and has one feet up in the sky. Within Ulagalantha Perumal Temple there are 4 Divya Desams each of them in the 2 sides.


Entrance to Sri Ulagalantha Perumal Temple






Thiru Neeragam - Sri Jagadeeshwarar Temple (Divya Desam no. 48)
Thiru Kaaragam - Sri Karunakara Perumal Temple (Divya Desam no. 52)
Thirukkaar Vaanam - Sri Thirukkaar vaanar Temple (Divya Desam no. 52b)
The above Divya Desams are inside the Ulagalantha Perumal Temple.


ThirukKalvanoor - Sri Aadhi Varaha Perumal Temple (Divya Desam no. 54). After having darshan of 4 Divya Desams in Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, we drove to Kamakshi Amman Temple. It was almost 7:30 pm when we reached this temple and prayed that it might be open. On the way we enquired about parking from one elderly person who was carrying his grand-daughter. He directed us to go around for parking.

We then entered into the temple and stood in the queue. My wifey sang Shyama Sastri song “Paalinchu Kamakshi” in raga Madhyamavati, Tyagaraja composed song “Kancha dalaya dakshi” in raga Kamalamanohari. When we were coming outside after having darshan of Kamakshi Amman & having kumkum, the same elderly person came and told us to have darshan from the door leading to the moolasthanam. He recommended us at the gate to let us in and we were able to sit in front of the Kamakshi Ambal. Inside we also had a darshan of the varaha moorthi and came out.

ThirukKalvanoor is actually inside the Sanctum Sanctorum of Kamakshi Amman and not knowing we missed to have the darshan and went outside the temple. We again met the elderly person and enquired where to have the darshan of Perumal and he directed us again to go inside the Sanctum Sanctorum. We could go inside again to have darshan of the Perumal and Thayar.

We walked down to have our dinner at Hotel Saravana Bhavan which was the 3rd building at the traffic signal. The dosa quality was not so good and thereby reported about the quality to the hotel manager. We had food at various places had including abroad. They then served us a crisp masala dosa which was of the Saravana Bhavan quality.

After having our dinner we planned for the next day to begin with Shiva Sthalams or Paadal Petra Sthalams. The details are updated in our separate travelogue page on 275 Shiva Sthalams: Paadal Petra Sthalams.


Thiruputkuzhi - Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple (Divya Desam no. 57)
. Enroute on our return to Bangalore from Kanchipuram, a small detour is where Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple is situated. We left Kanchipuram at 11:00 am and we took the bypass route to reach this temple by 11:30. We drove with little anxiety as we wanted to reach before the temple closure and with Gods grace, we had a relaxed darshan of Perumal.







The Garudar in front of the temple pond of Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple



The temple pond of Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple




The sign board on the highway NH45 directing to Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple





At 12 noon we started to drive towards Bangalore and had lunch enroute at A2B near Arcot. This A2B on the highway had a good ambience with a good display of information about the origin and evolution stories of the food such as mysore Pak, ladoo, Idli & Vada (to name a few). It was a revelation for us to know such simple, day-to-day food that we eat had so much history.











We returned back home at Bangalore with a blessed feeling of being able to complete 102 Divya Desams.

Every such trip that we make has been such a great learning experience and always overwhelmed by the vastness, richness in culture, heritage and diversity of our country. We can go endlessly…

We are embarking on our next plan to visit 275 Shiva Sthalams (travelogue in TeamBHP). I am signing off with prayers to be able to have darshan of the remaining 4 Divya Desams. Om Namo Narayana.

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As part of our pilgrimage trip, we were blessed to cover and have darshan of the remaining 2 Divya Desam.

DD no. 42 - Ulagalandha Perumal Koil, Tirukoilur-Asanur Road, Thirukoilure

Visit Date - 12-Dec-2016