Ulagalantha Perumal Temple Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu

SRI ULAGALANTHA PERUMAL TEMPLE

Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu, India

God

The main deity of this temple is Ulagalanda Perumal is know as Trivikrama Perumal. Here lord is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu faces in West direction. The image of Ulagalantha Perumal is over 35 ft. (11 m) in height and 24 feet wide depicted with his left leg at a right angle to the body and parallel to the ground. Perumal graces with his right leg pressed on the ground while the left is scaling up. Lakshmi as Amudavalli is along with Lord Vishnu.

Goddess

Godesses Amuthavalli thayar is consort of Lord Vishnu.

Interesting Facts

A Kanchipuram sari is a type of sari traditionally made by weavers from Kanchipuram.

Best Season To Visit

The best season to visit this temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to February.

Weather

Highest - April to June (38°C during day and 26°C during night)Average - May (33.7 °C during the day and 21 °C during night)Lowest - October to February (26 °C during day and 17 °C during night)Monsoon season - June to September

Dress Code

For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
These rules are applicable for foreigners also. Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.
Pilgrims/visitors will not be allowed inside the temple if dress code is not followed.

Do's & Dont's

Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the Temple.
Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at Temple.

Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the Temple Premises.

transport connections

Name	Distance	Contact Number
Kanchipuram Bus Stand	600 MTRS	91-44-2722 2084
Kanchipuram New Railway Station	1.3 KM	139
Chennai International Airport	67.6 KM	044-22561122

Railway Station Name	Distance	Contact Number
Kanchipuram New Railway Station	1.3 KM	139

Airport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Chennai International Airport	67.6 KM	044-22561122

Architecture

As Ooragam signifies Snake and Lord Vishnu gave darshan once again to Bali as the Serpent lord, this place came to be called Ooragam and the lord came to be known as Ooragathan. Temple faces West and Dravidian style of architecture. The temple has a has a three tiered Raja gopuram (main towers) with seven kalasas. The Vimanam (tower above the sanctum sanctorum) of Ulagalantha Perumal Temple is called Saara Srikara Vimanam, which accommodates the huge idol of Lord Ulagalantha Perumal.

The temple has 15 inscriptions from various dynasties like Pallavas, Chola and Sambhuvarayars. The earliest inscription is from 846 C.E. during the regime of Nandivarman-III (846 - 869 C.E.). The temple still continues to possess this grove. The inscriptions in the temple also indicate increased trade and commerce during the Pallava period, with licenses provided to shops like oil, ghee, arecanut, vegetables, flowers, coconut, sugar, cloth and sandal. The Pushkarani (temple tank) of Ulagalantha Perumal Temple is called Naga Pushkarani and Sesha Pushkarani.

Religious Significance

Vamana Avathaar - Bhagavata Purana, describes that Vishnu descended as the Vamana avatar to restore the authority of Indra over the heavens, as it had been taken by Mahabali, a benevolent Asura King. Bali was the grandson of Hiranyakashipu, the son of Prahalada. King Mahabali was generous, and engaged in severe austerities and penance and won the praise of the world. With the praise from his courtiers and others, he regarded himself as the all-powerful in the world. Vamana, in the guise of a short Brahmin carrying a wooden umbrella, went to the king to request three paces of land. Mahabali, consented against the warning of his guru, Shukracharya. Vamana then revealed his identity and enlarged to gigantic proportions to stride over the three worlds. He stepped from heaven to earth with the first step, from earth to the netherworld with the second. King Mahabali, unable to fulfill his promise, offered his head for the third. Vamana then placed his foot and gave the king immortality for his humility. In worshiping Mahabali and his ancestor Prahalada, he conceded sovereignty of Pátála, the netherworld. Some texts also report that Vamana did not step into the netherworld, and instead gave its rule to Bali. In giant form, Vamana is known as Trivikrama. The legend is associated with the Thrikkakara Temple in Kerala and also with this temple and Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Tirukoyilur. Thiru Vikrama Darshan to Mahabali: Bali, who was thus crushed, wanted to see the full form of the Lord who measured the entire world. Answering his prayers, Lord is said to have appeared before Bali at this place as Ulagalantha Perumal (the one who measured the entire universe).

Another Darshan in a smaller form - Having been reduced to a normal human being in the nether world, Bali was not able to see the full manifestation of Lord Vishnu in this gigantic form. Hence, it is believed that the lord appeared once again before Bali in a smaller form at this place as the serpent lord Adishesha. This is also mentioned in the Mangalasasanam hymn of Saint Tirumangai Azhwar as in his hymn for the other three temples. The temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha.

History

There is a Chola inscription dated 1110 C.E during the reign of Kulothunga Chola-I (1070 - 1120 C.E.) indicating his visit to the temple and his gift of land to the temple whose income was to be used for the maintenance of the temple. Another similar inscription indicates the donation of a village by the king on behest of his queen Kampamadeviyar. There are inscriptions from later Chola kings like Rajathiraja Chola-II (1166–78) and Rajaraja Chola-III (1216-56) indicating various records of gifts to the temple. There are also inscriptions from minor chieftains like Vijaya Gandagopala indicating gifts to the temple. The Sambuvarayar rule of the 16th century records the gift of a pond and a grove in Sevvanmedu village. That the shrine is praised also by Saint Tirumazhisai Azhwar is an added importance.

Temple Timings

Day	Timings
All Days	05:30 AM - 12:00 PM	04:00 PM - 08:00 PM

Pooja

Name of the Pooja

Day

Timings

Persons

Duration

Price

Ushathkalam Pooja

All Days

07:00 - 07:30

Kalasanthi Pooja

All Days

08:00 - 08:30

Uchikalam Pooja

All Days

12:00 - 12:30

Sayarakshai Pooja

All Days

06:00 - 06:30

Tours

Airports

Airport Name	Distance
Shamshabad	40 KM
Lorem Ipsum	12 KM

Railway Stations

Railway Station Name	Distance
Secunderabad	10 KM
Nampally	12 KM
Begumpet	6 KM
Lingampally	20 KM

Bus Stations

Bus Station Name	Distance
MGBS	35 KM
CBS	28 KM
kukatpally	20 KM
Lingampally	30 KM
Uppal	35 KM

Private Transports

Transport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Private Transport	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757