Ashtabujakaram

Coordinates: 12°49′21″N 79°42′39″E / 12.82250°N 79.71083°E / 12.82250; 79.71083
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Ashtabujakaram
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictKanchipuram
DeityAdi Kesava Perumal
(Vishnu) Alamelu Mangai
(Lakshmi)
Location
LocationKanchipuram
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Ashtabujakaram is located in Tamil Nadu
Ashtabujakaram
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates12°49′21″N 79°42′39″E / 12.82250°N 79.71083°E / 12.82250; 79.71083
Architecture
TypeDravidian architecture

The Ashtabujakaram or Ashtabuja Perumal Temple located in

Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Ashta Bhuja Perumal and his consort Lakshmi
as Alamelumangai.

The temple is believed to have been renovated by the

Rajendra Chola (1018-54 CE). A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all the shrines and two bodies of water. There is a four-tiered rajagopuram
, the temple's gateway tower, in the temple.

Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Legend

Painting of the Gajendra Moksha legend

According to the temple's

Saraswati, the consort of Brahma, and Lakshmi on their superiority. They went to Indra, the king of the devas. Indra judged Lakshmi to be superior. Not satisfied with his choice, Saraswati went to her husband, Brahma. He also judged Lakshmi to be the superior one.Saraswati was unhappy with the decision and decided to stay away from Brahma. Brahma performed a severe penance praying to Vishnu and also performed an ashvamedha yajna. Saraswati was still angry that the yajna, which was usually done along with consorts, was done alone by Brahma. She tried to disrupt the penance in various ways, including as the river Vegavati/Vega, but Vishnu interfered in all her attempts. After all the malevolent entities who were sent by Saraswati to destroy the penance of Brahma were killed by Vishnu, she finally sent a ferocious sarpam (snake). Vishnu took the form of Ashtabhuja Perumal, holding eight different weapons to kill the snake. The snake is represented as Sharbha in the mandapam of this temple.[1][2][3]

Another legend associates this temple to Gajendra moksham given by Vishnu to the elephant king, Gajendra. As per the legend, the elephant Gajendra, the rebirth of Indradyumna, used to worship Vishnu with the lotus fetched from the temple tank every day. Once, while picking up lotus, a crocodile caught the leg of Gajendra, who started calling the name of Vishnu for help. Vishnu sent his discus to punish the crocodile and relieve the elephant.[1] The presiding deity is addressed by various names like Adikesava Perumal, Gajendra Varadhan, and Chakradhar.[4]

History

The temple is originally believed to have been built during the rule of

Kulothunga Chola I (1070 - 1120) indicating gifts of land to the temple. There are contributions mentioned in the same inscription indicating contributions from the local people for perpetual lighting of the temple. There are inscriptions in the Southern walls of the temple from Kulothunga I indicating sale of lands by Rajasundari Chaturvedimangalam to meet the kitchen expenses of the temple. Another inscription from the same period on the same walls indicates gift of tax free land in Chola Chaturvethimangalam to the temple for two years and levying tax of not more than 2 paise per veli subsequently. There are lot of gifts endowed to the temple during the Pallavan kings.[1]

Architecture

Shrines of the temple

Ashtabhujakaram temple is located in Vishnu Kanchi or Chinna Kanchipuram in Reddypet, located 2 km (1.2 mi) away from

Sharabha. The temple tank, Gajendra Pushkarani, is located outside the entrance tower.[6]

Religious importance

The temple is revered in

Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. The temple is one of the 14 Divya Desams in Kanchipuram.[7] The temple is believed to be the place where Brahma performed penance seeking the wishes of Vishnu and one of the few places where Brahma worshiped Vishnu.[6][8] The temple is counted one among the four temples in Kanchipuram that include Yathothkari Perumal Temple, Deepaprakasa Perumal temple and Varadaraja Perumal Temple where the legend of Brahma performing penance is associated.[6] The temple is also revered in the verses of Manavala Maamunigal, Vedanata Desikar and Pillai Perumal Iyengar.[6]

Festivals and religious practices

Stucco image of the deity sported with eight hands

The temple priests perform the

Navarathri are other prominent festivals celebrated in the temple.[7] Gajendra Moksha festival is celebrated during the Tamil month of Aadi (July - August) in the star of Hastham.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c MS 1993, pp. 73-8
  2. ^ R. 2001, p. 430
  3. ^ a b c d T.V.R, Chari (1982). The Glorious temples of Kanchi. Big Kancheepuram: Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Ambal Devasthanam and Sarada Navaratri Kalai Nigazhchi Trust. pp. 24–25.
  4. ISBN 978-93-83440-34-4
    .
  5. ISBN 978-81-87952-12-1
    .
  6. ^ a b c d K., Subramaniam (21 November 2003). "Samprokshanam at Kanchi". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 November 2004. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Sri Ashtabhuja Perumal temple". Dinamalar. 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  8. ^ C., Chandramouli (2003). Temples of Tamil Nadu Kancheepuram District. Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu.

Sources

External links

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