Vilakkoli Perumal Temple (Tiruththanka or Thoopul), Kanchipuram – Greatness of Temple

Vilakkoli Perumal Temple (Tiruththanka or Thoopul), Kanchipuram – Greatness of Temple

Vilakkoli Perumal temple in Kancheepuram is one among the 108 Divya Desas of Lord Vishnu. Perumal granted darshan to Mother Saraswathi in this temple. The place is also known by the name Thoopul as it was dense with Dharba grass then. This is the birth place of noted Vaishnava Acharya Sri Vedanta Maha Desika; hence the Acharya is also praised as Thoopul Vedanta Desikan. Saint Tirumangai Azhwar had sung his Mangalasasanam on the temple.

Sri Maha Desikan is a gift to his mother who prayed to Lord seeking child boon. Responding to her prayer, Lord of Tirupati – Lord Venkatachalapathi asked the Bell in his hand to be born the son of the mother. Bell is not used during pujas in Tirupati temple after this event. Born in the year 1268, Sri Desika was centenarian plus till 1369. He was an outstanding scholar of highest degree in the scriptures. He rendered a large number of Sanskrit works in Tamil. He has also authored in Tamil the Adaikala Pathu (Asylum 10) on Lord Varadaraja Perumal.

Desika’s son Nayina Varadachari completed the construction of this temple, it is said. There is a separate shrine for Sri Desika in the temple. Lord Lakshmi Hayagriva idol worshipped by Sri Desika is still in the temple. His Avatar Utsavam is celebrated in the temple on the Revathy star day in Chithirai month-April-May.