Yathothkari Perumal Temple also known as Sonnavannam Seitha Perumal is one of the oldest Vishnu shrines also Divya Desam located in Kanchipuram. The Lord is enshrined here as Yathothkari, which translates into Tamil as Sonnavannam Seitha Perumal. Goddess Komalavalli serves as his consort.

The Lord was claimed to have been seen by Goddess Saraswati and Thirumazhisai Azhwar here. The presiding deity is unusual in that he is lying on the snake couch with his head to the left and his feet to the right, as opposed to the customary head-to-the-right and feet-to-the-left orientation.

This Lord has received honour in the devotional compositions of the Azhwar saints, and hence this temple remains a Divya Desam, a particularly revered Vishnu dwelling. This also happens to be the birthplace of the Azhwar saint Poigai Azhwar. In traditional tales, this holy location is also known as Thiruvekka.

Story/Legend of the Yathothkari Perumal Temple

According to Hindu folklore, Saraswati, the wife of Brahma and Lakshmi, once debated superiority. They went to Indra, the celestial deity’s king. 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 Brahma performed the yagna alone, rather than with his consorts.

She attempted to disrupt the penance, but Vishnu was stopped by his serpent Adishesha. When Saraswati saw Vishnu in her way, she accepted defeat and subsided in the form of the river Vegavathi. Because Vishnu obstructed the river’s path, it was dubbed Vegavani, then Vegannai, and finally Vekka. As a result, the governing deity gained one of his names, Vegasetu. According to historian Nagaswamy, the temple was originally called Vehha, which means Vishnu leaning as a slanted slope, and then became vekka.

Once upon a time, the sage Bhargava had a son through Kanakangi, a celestial dancer. The boy was stillborn because he was not fully formed at birth. Kanakangi abandoned his son under bushes and departed for the divine world. The infant is thought to be a celestial manifestation of one of Vishnu’s weapons, the Chakra. The infant recovered and began to cry thanks to Vishnu and Lakshmi’s favour. A childless farmer couple passing by took the youngster, called him Sivavakkiyar, and began raising him.

When the boy reached adulthood, he was divided between Shaivism and Vaishnavism. Pey Alvar overcame him in arguments. He converted to Vaishnavism and became a follower of Pey Alvar. Sivavakkiyar was also known as Bhakthisarar and Thirumalisai Alvar. 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 Yathothkari Perumal Temple

The Yathothkari Perumal Temple is one of Kanchipuram’s three oldest Vishnu temples, the other two being Ulagalantha Perumal Temple and Pandava Thoothar Perumal Temple. There are 12 inscriptions from the Chola and Vijayanagara periods in the shrine. The temple was initially thought to have been built during the Pallavas period. The temple contains inscriptions related to the Cholas.

A record of the Chola king, Parantaka I (907-950 CE), indicates an individual’s contribution of 367 kalanju of gold to the temple. Inscriptions from the reign of Rajendra Chola I (1012-44) can be found on the south wall of the temple’s central shrine, suggesting gifts of one tuni of land and 127 kalanju of gold to the temple.

Inscriptions from the reign of Kulothunga Chola I (1070-1120 CE) on the base of the eastern wall of the central shrine indicate a donation for lighting temple lamps. Inscriptions on the temple’s southern wall from the reign of Kulothunga Chola III (1178-1218 CE) suggest a community gift to feed 32 Brahmins. The inscriptions also describe the temple’s float festival and summer celebration.

The architecture of Yathothkari Perumal Temple

The Yathothkari Perumal Temple at Chinna Kanchipuram, a neighbourhood of Kanchipuram, a South Indian town in the state of Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity, “Sonnavannam Seitha Perumal,” is depicted in the Bhuganja Sayanam pose in the temple’s central shrine. The flagstaff-topped, pillared halls, Mahamandapam and Ardhamandapam, lead to the west-facing sanctuary. The presiding deity’s stucco figure is a rare one of Ranganatha reclined on his left hand, as opposed to other temples where he is recumbent on his right. Perumal is thought to have been lying left to right like in other temples, but when he heard Thirumalisai Alvar sing, he shifted his lying posture from right to left.

The shrine also contains a picture of Saraswati praying at his feet. The sanctum’s roof is known as Vedasara Vimana, and it features five kalasams and stucco depictions of numerous legends. Poigai Alvar shrines are placed to the north of the flagstaff at the temple. Along with Seetha, Hanuman, and Garuda, there are other Rama shrines. Vedasara Vimana is the name of the major shrine’s vimana.

The shrine of Komavalli, Yathothkari’s consort, is positioned on the temple’s eastern side, facing the principal shrine. Outside the main gate, next to the shrine, lies the temple lotus tank where Poigai Alvar was born. The Mahamandapa includes sculpted ornamental pillars created during the Vijayanagara period (15-16th centuries). The temple is divided into two precincts, the second of which is surrounded by granite walls pierced by a five-tiered raja gopuram (gateway tower).

Facts about Yathothkari Perumal Temple

• Thiruvekka, Son Vannam Seitha Perumal temple or Sri Yathothakaari Perumal Temple is located in Thiruvekka, Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu state, India.
• The Yathothkari Perumal Temple is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book.
• The main God here is Yadhothakari Perumal, Sonna vannam seitha and Amman (Thayar) is Komalavalli Nachiyaar.
• Patanjali’s book Perumpaanatrupadai mentions the temple. Silappatikaram (2nd-3rd century CE), Patanjali Mahabharatham, and Tolkppiyam (3rd century BCE) all reference the temple.
• Poigai Alvar, Peyalvar, Bhoothathalvar, and Thirumalisai Avar worship the shrine in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th-9th century Vaishnava canon.
• The Alvars have praised the many versions of Yathothkari Peruamal. Poigai Alvar, one of the first three Alvar saints, is said to have been born in this temple. He was discovered in a tiny pond near the shrine (named Poigai in Tamil).
• As the saint’s birthplace, the temple and pond are consequently deemed holy.
• This Perumal is thought to be exceedingly kind in this area, doing anything his worshippers asked of him. As a result, there is a conviction that the Lord will hear and bless prayers.

Famous Festivals In Yathothkari 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.
• Alvar Utsavam is a festival celebrated annually during the birth date of the Poigai Alvar based on the Tamil calendar in the temple.

How to reach Yathothkari Perumal Temple

Yathothkari Perumal Temple is a Vishnu temple located in the ancient town of Kanchipuram, in the state of Tamil Nadu.

By Air: The nearest airport is Chennai International Airport, which is located about 68 km from Kanchipuram.

By Railway: The nearest railway station is the Kanchipuram Railway Station, which is about 3 km away from the temple.

By Roadways: The temple is located in the heart of the city, and there are several buses and taxis available to reach the temple.

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