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Ulagalantha Perumal Temple

Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, found near Kamakshi Amman Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Among the 108 Divya Desams, it's special. Inside, there's a huge idol of Lord Vishnu in his Vamana form, standing tall at 35 feet and 24 feet wide. He's depicted with one foot on the ground and the other reaching towards the sky.

Timings

The temple is open from 6:00 AM till 12 noon and from 4:00 pm till 8:00 pm

Entry Fee

Free of cost

According to the Bhagavad Purana, there was once an Asura king named Mahabali who forcefully took control of the heavens, ousting Indra. He was the grandson of Hiranyakashipu and the son of Prahlada. The gods in heaven sought help from Lord Vishnu to save themselves from Mahabali's tyranny. Vishnu then took the form of Vamana, a dwarf, to intervene.

Mahabali was renowned for his generosity and had gained immense power through intense penance. However, his unchecked power led him to believe he was the supreme ruler of the world, ultimately leading to his downfall. To humble him, Vishnu appeared as Vamana, a short priest, and asked for just three paces of land as a boon. Mahabali agreed, and Vishnu then transformed into a gigantic form, known as Trivikrama.

With his first step, Vishnu covered the heavens, and with his second, he spanned the earth. Mahabali, realising there was no place left for the third step, offered his head. Vishnu accepted, placing his foot on Mahabali's head and granting him immortality in the netherworld.


There are four Divya Desams in housed in this single temple – they are :


  1. Thiru Ooragam
  2. Thiru Neeragam
  3. Thiru Kaarakam
  4. Thiru Kaarvanam


Thiru Ooragam :-


To enable Mahabali to see him in a smaller form, Vishnu transformed into Adisesha in a sannadhi known as Thiru Ooragam. This place is associated with fulfilling the wishes of couples without children. The temple complex houses four different Divya Desams, making it unique among Divya desams. These temples are mentioned in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, a collection of hymns by Vaishnavite Alwars. These hymns celebrate the glory of Vishnu and are considered a treasure of Tamil literature.



Thiru Neeragam :-


In the second section of the Sri Ulagalandha Perumal temple, there's a lovely 16-pillared Mandapam. Behind it is the shrine of Thiru Neeragam, also known as Lord Jagadeesvara Perumal. He stands under a Jagadeeswara Vimana, facing south. His consort is called Nilamangai Nachiar.

Legend says that Lord Jagadeesvara Perumal appeared to the sage Markandeya. Markandeya wanted to witness the end of the world, so he meditated by the Bhadra river. The Lord, using his powers, showed Markandeya a vision of the end of the world, with himself as a child sitting on a banyan leaf. Neeragam is where this divine encounter happened.

The shrine here is small and only holds the Utsavar vigraham, a smaller form of the main deity. It's not clear why the main deity isn't present or where the original temple was located.



Thiru Kaaragam :- 


In the third section of the Sri Ulagalandha Perumal temple, we find the third Divya Desam, Thiru Kaaragam. Here, the Lord is called Karunakara Perumal. He sits on Adisesha, facing north under a beautiful Ramya Vimana. His consort is Padamamani Thayar.

According to the Alwars, Lord Karunakara Perumal appeared to Niketana rishi at this spot. The deity has been moved here, but we don't know where it originally stood.



Thiru Kaarvanam :- 



In one of the sections within Sri Ulagalandha Perumal temple, you'll find the Karvannam Divya Desam shrine. The deity here is also called Navaneeta Chora Perumal. He stands under a Pushpaka Vimana, facing north. His consort is Komalavali Thayar.

According to the Alwars, the Lord appeared in this form to Parvati, Mahabali, and Asvatthama at this spot. Just like in other cases, the deity has been moved here, but we don't know where it originally stood.




Do's and Don'ts

  1. Before entering the temple, it's important to take a bath and wear clean clothes.
  2. Show respect for ancient customs and fellow pilgrims while inside the temple.


  1. Smoking and drinking are not allowed in this temple.
  2. Avoid chewing betel leaves, tobacco, or gutka, and refrain from spitting inside the temple premises.


Dress Code

  1. Men should wear shirts and trousers, dhotis or pyjamas with an upper garment.
  2. Women are encouraged to wear sarees or half-sarees with blouses, or chudidars with pyjamas and an upper garment.
  3. Avoid wearing shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans, and short-length T-shirts inside the temple premises.


How to reach

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  1. By Air: The nearest airport is Chennai International Airport (MAA). From there, you can take a taxi or a bus to reach the temple.
  2. By Train: The nearest railway station is Kanchipuram Railway Station. From the station, you can hire a taxi or an auto-rickshaw to reach the temple, which is located approximately 10 kilometres away.

Nearby Cities and Rivers

The Sri Ulagalandha Perumal temple is situated near the banks of the Palar River in Kanchipuram, a historic city in Tamil Nadu, India. Close to the temple, you'll also find the Kamakshi Amman Temple, another revered religious site in the region.