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 by Padmani,

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Abodes of Vishnu

50. Arulmigu Amudavalli Thayar sameda Ulagalandha Perumal Temple,Thiruooragam

Mulavar   Ulagallandha Perumal, Trivikraman
Utsavar   Peragaththaan
Thayar   Amudhavalli Nachiyar
Kshethram    
Pose & Direction   Standing pose facing West
Theertham   Naga Pushkarni, Sesha Pushkarni
Vimanam   Saarasrigara Vimanam
Sthala Vruksham    
Paadiyavar   Thirumangaialwar,Thirumezhisai alwar
Travel Base   Kanchipuram
Nearest Railway Station   Kanchipuram

Location

Ulagalantha perumal temple is located in Kanchipuram. The temple is very close to Sri Kamatchiamman temple and very near to Kanchipuram bus stand. The temple is on the way to Sri Kamakshi Amman temple from Kancheepuram bus stand.

History

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. 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). 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. 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.

Architecture

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The temple has an area of about 60,000 square feet (5,600 m2) and has a three tiered Rajagopuram (main towers) with seven kalasas. The temple houses four Divya Desams on its own - they are Thirukkaarvaanam, Thirukkaarakam, Tiruooragam and Thiruneerakam. This is a unique feature which can’t be seen anywhere. It is a great benediction to Kanchi to have 4 “Divya Desams” in a single temple. It is believed that all the shrines were probably separate temples, but the circumstances which lead do these temples getting housed in the Ulagalantha Perumal temple is not known. Thirumangai Azhwar has sung praises of all the four temples in a single verse. The temple tank, Naga Tirtha, is located outside the main temple complex. The temple is revered by the verses of Tirumangai Alvar and Thirumazhisai Aazhwar. Thaayar of the temple is Amudhavalli (Amirthavalli) and the festival deity of the temple is Loganathan. The temple is located 6 feet lower than the ground level or you need step down 8 steps to reach the main temple. Moolavar is known as Thiruvikraman or Ulagalantha Perumal (one who measured the Earth) in a standing posture facing west. 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. The right leg is seen placed on the head of Mahabali with two fingers on his left hand stretched out referring to the two steps he took to measure the two worlds and the stretched finger on his right hand indicating the question the posted to Mahabali as to where he could place his third step. The roof of the sanctum, the vimana has an elevated roof to accommodate the huge image of the presiding deity. Here the vimanam (temple dome) is in the form of “Saara Srikara Vimanam”. The gigantic Ulagalantha Perumal is special to Kanchipuram and a Lord of this size, and in this form, cannot be seen in any other Divya Desam. The central shrine of temple is most commonly referred as Peragam, while the smaller shrine where the image of the snake god Adisesha is houses is called Tiruooragam. As per tradition, Mahabali at the foot of Vamana could not view the Viswaroopam and requested to have a smaller form. Vishnu obliged and appeared as a snake in a smaller shrine. The shrine is frequented by childless couple praying for offspring.

Timings: 7.00 am to 12.00 noon, 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm