Thiru Parameswara Vinnagaram,
Kanchipuram – Legends
Parameswara
Pallava:
As per legend, Once, Mothers Parvathi, Mahalakshmi and
Saraswathi came down to earth to perform penance here. Sages Atri, Bhrigu,
Kashyapa, Kaundilya, Triorisheya, Bharadhwaja and others helped them in their
penance. After a while, Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva came there to take the
mothers back. The power of the penance of the sages was such that the Lords
could not go near their consorts. They sent a beautiful celestial nymph near
the sages.
Sage Bharadhwaja fell in love with her and had a son. Sage
Bharadhwaja prayed to Lord Brahma regarding the upbringing of the child. Lord Vishnu
and Lord Brahma came to his rescue and promised to take care of the child. Lord
Vishnu took the form of a hunter and brought up the boy and named him
Parameswara Varman. During the same period, a Pallava king, who was childless,
was undertaking penance. They presented this child to the Pallava King and
named him Parameswaran.
He was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu since his
infancy. Lord Vishnu taught him all the arts. By the time, he was completing
the courses, his life was coming to end. In order to extend his life to a long
span, Lord Vishnu reclined with his head on the northern side. Generally, it is
believed that this would affect longevity of the person. When Yama the God of
Death came to take the boy, he was shocked to see the Lord Vishnu with his head
towards north and understood that something bad or strange would happen.
Lord Vishnu simply told Yama that he would move only if
he ensures long life to his devotee. Yama had no choice. He simply obeyed and
turned away assuring long life to the boy (Parameswara Varman). It is said that
the extension of longevity to Parameswara Varman was granted on a Vaikunda
Ekadasi day, also a Wednesday. Worshipping Lord on this day will increase the
longevity of the devotee, it is believed. It is also believed that this
Vishnu temple is the first of the Divya
Desams in this region.
Boy Parameswaran asked the hunter (father) who he was.
Lord Vishnu granted him his darshan. Lord Vishnu is said to have appeared
before the devoted Parameswara Varman in his three postures. Lord Vishnu is
believed to have stood up and taught Parameswara 18 different arts of life. In
his grand sitting posture, he is said to have passed on advice to Parameswara,
as an acharya would to his disciple. And then he believed to have got into a
sleeping posture so as to be served by Parameswara.
To mark these events, Parameswara Pallava is said to
have built this 3 tier structure. The 2nd tier is open only on
Ekadasi days. The steps to the 3rd tier was said to have been
damaged during Pallava period itself due to heavy rains and hence cannot be
visited anymore. The Pallava King was so attached to this
temple, that he used to invoke the blessings of this Lord before he
embarked on any battle, especially before he went to face their arch rivals,
the Pandyas.
Vaikunda
Natha:
As per legend, Kanchipuram was once known as Vidarbha
Desa ruled by King Virocha. Due to a curse incurred in his past birth, he had
no issues. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Hence, he prayed to Lord
Shiva in Kanchipuram
Kailasanathar Temple. Lord Shiva gave a boon to him stating that
Dwarapalakas (Gatekeepers) of Vaikunda would be born as sons to him. Dwarapalakas
of Vaikunta were reborn as Pallava and Villava to King Virocha as sons. The
princes were devoted to Lord Vishnu from their childhood. They conducted
Aswamedha Yagna for the welfare of the people of their kingdom. Lord Vishnu
was pleased with the worship and appeared as Vaikunda Natha to the princes.
Secret
Underground Tunnel:
Legend has it that there was a secret underground tunnel
laid out from this temple all the way to Mahabalipuram, on the eastern sea
shore, as well as to Parameswara Pallava’s court. When the britishers came to
know about the presence of the tunnel, they came here to trace the tunnel. The
devotees of this
temple said to have built out steps across the tunnel to the
temple, thus turning away the Britishers.
Ramanuja
and Manavala Mamuni visit to this temple:
It is believed that Ramanuja and Manavala Mamuni were
said to have visited this
shrine.