The Deepaprakasa Perumal Temple, also known as Tiruththanka and Tooppul, is a Hindu temple devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple, built in the Dravidian style, is mentioned in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, an early mediaeval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th to the 9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams devoted to Vishnu, known as Deepaprakasar, and his spouse Lakshmi, known as Maragathavalli.

Story/Legend of the Deepaprakasa Perumal Temple

According to Hindu folklore, Saraswati, Brahma’s consort, and Lakshmi once disagreed about who was superior. They went to Indra, the deva monarch. Indra regarded Lakshmi as superior, and Saraswati, dissatisfied with his reasoning, went to her husband, Brahma. He also selected Lakshmi as the superior one. Saraswati was dissatisfied with the choice and resolved to avoid Brahma. Brahma performed an Ashvamedha Yagna and extreme penance to Vishnu. Saraswati was still enraged because the yagna, which is traditionally performed with consorts, was performed without her by Brahma and Savitri.

She attempted to sabotage the penance by bringing darkness, but Vishnu intervened “like a light from the lamp,” which is why he is also known as Vilakoli Perumal. Another version of the narrative claims that Saraswati dispatched rakshasas to ruin the penance, which was ruined by Vishnu’s flood of light. Vishnu is known as Deepaprakasa Perumal because he appeared as light to conquer the darkness of the situation.

Vedanta Desika (1268-1369 CE) was a devoted follower of the Deepa Prakasa Temple at Thoppul. Saranagathi Deepika contains 59 poems about Desika’s devotion. He was born in this location. Inside the temple, there is also a shrine dedicated to Vedanta Desika. A temple is also next to a statue of Hayagriva that he worships. This temple is considered one of the 108 Divya Desams.

What is Divya Desams– A Divya Desam or Vaishnava Divya Desam is one of the 108 Vishnu and Lakshmi temples recorded by the Alvars, the poet-saints of the Sri Vaishnava faith. 105 of the 108 temples are in India, one is in Nepal, and the final two are thought to be in space, in Tirupparkatal and Vaikuntham. They are distributed over the Indian states of Tamil Nadu (84), Kerala (11), Andhra Pradesh (2), Gujarat (1), Uttar Pradesh (4), and Uttarakhand (3). Muktinath, Saligramam is Nepal’s sole Divya Desam. The 12 Alvars respect the Divya Desams in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, a collection of 4,000 Tamil hymns.

History of Deepaprakasa Perumal Temple

The temple is thought to have been expanded during the reigns of the Mediaeval Cholas and Vijayanagara kings. Inscriptions on the temple’s walls date from Rajaraja Chola III’s (1223 CE) reign. The temple is surrounded by a granite wall, which encloses all of the shrines and two pools of water. The temple has a two-tiered raja gopuram, which serves as the temple’s gateway tower. Brahma is said to have encountered Deepaprakasar.

The architecture of Deepaprakasa Perumal Temple

The temple, like the majority of Kanchipuram’s Vishnu temples, is located in Vishnu Kanchi. The gateway tower of the temple is a three-tiered raja gopuram. The temple has two precincts with a rectangular design enclosed by brick walls. The main deity, Deepaprakasa Perumal, is shown in a sitting posture in the temple’s central shrine. Lakshmi, Hayagriva, Andal, Vedanta Desika, and Alvars have shrines. It is where Vedanta Desika was born. Along with Vedanta Desika, Hayagreeva has her own shrine. Saraswati Tirtham, the temple tank, is located outside the premises.

In the temple, there is a shrine dedicated to Vedanta Desika facing south. Desika’s icon is said to have been placed by his son, Nayinar Varadhachariar. The image shows Abhaya Mudra (palm raised in a protective posture). Vaikhasana Agama is practised at the temple.

Facts about Deepaprakasa Perumal Temple

• Deepaprakasa Perumal Temple is a Vishnu temple located at Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
• In one hymn, Thirumangai Alvar praises the temple in Naalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th-9th century Vaishnava canon.
• The temple is built in the Dravidian style of architecture with a tiered raja gopuram or gateway.
• The temple is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book.
• The temple is thought to be where Brahma committed penance in order to obtain Vishnu’s wishes, as well as one of the few places where Brahma worshipped Vishnu.
• The temple is one of four temples in Kanchipuram, the others being Yathothkari Perumal Temple, Ashtabhujagara Perumal Temple, and Varadaraja Perumal Temple, all of which are related to the mythology of Brahma practising penance.
• The temple is also mentioned in Vedanta Desika’s poetry.
• Deepaprakasar, the personification of light, is said to be able to illuminate people’s lives with knowledge, wisdom, and joy.
• Devotees also pray here for progeny blessings and academic brilliance.
• The Brahmostavam festival during the Tamil month of Puratasi (September – October) is the major festival celebrated in the Vedanta Desika shrine.

Famous Festivals In Deepaprakasa Perumal Temple

• Brahmmotsavam is the major festival celebrated in the temple.
• Chitra Poornima is also a major occasion for celebration in the temple.
• Vaikuntha Ekadashi – Vaikuntha Ekadashi celebrated during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) is the major festival celebrated in the temple.

How to reach Deepaprakasa Perumal Temple

Deepaprakasa Perumal Temple is a Vishnu temple located at Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.

By Air: Kanchipuram is about 80 km from Chennai International Airport.

By Railway: Kanchipuram railway station is not very far from the temple.

By Roadways: The Kanchipuram town lies on the Chennai-Bengaluru highway and is well connected with other places. Local transport is also available in plenty in the town.

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