Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

This temple is associated with an interesting episode found in the Mahabharata. When Krishna went as an emissary (Dhoodha) of the Pandavas to the court of the Karuvaras at Hastinapuram to request Dhuryodhana to follow the path of peace and avert war, Dhuryodhana hatched a plot to capture and imprison Krishna. Dhuryodhana digs a pit and tops it with bamboo sticks. On this bamboo topped pit, he puts up a grand stage, thus setting up Krishna for a mega fall. However, the Lord at that time assumed his Viswaroopam form and the crowd at Duryodana’s court began to worship him. With Krishna’s grace, the blind Dhritarashra was able to have the vision of the Lord’s Viswaroopam. Years after this episode, Arjuna’s Grandson Janamejaya, who listened to the Mahabharata story from Vaisampaayana wanted to revive the moment (that of Lord Krishna displaying his Viswaroopam) and undertook penance at this place. Krishna is believed to have provided Darshan to Janamejaya, as ‘Pandava Dhoodha’, in the same way he had in the Mahabharata episode.

The awe-inspiring, gigantic image of Lord Krishna at Paadagam is believed to be this Viswaroopa form, which he revealed to Janamejaya, acceding to the wish of this king who performed severe penance. Lord Krishna is praised as Pandava Thootha Perumal as he played envoy to Pandava brothers. He is mentioned as Dhoodha Hari in the epigraphs here. He also granted vision and darshan to blind king Dritharashtra in this place. Acharya Manavala Mamunigal also had visited this place. Lord Krishna is the servant of his devotees in the noblest sense of the word. He undertook the job of a messenger for Pandavas the five brothers to speak to Dhuryodhana to get back their share of land. Hence, He is praised as Pandava Dhoodha. He revealed his Vishwarupam darshan to blind Dridharashtira (father of the wicked Dhuryodhana brothers misled by their uncle Sakuni) in this place. The epigraphy in the temple shows the Lord’s name as Dhoodha Hari. This is the place where the Lord graces his devotees with his Viswapadhayoga powers pressing his feet on earth. The temple name Acharya Manavala Mamunigal.