Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Pon Vilaintha
Kalathur, Kanchipuram
Lakshmi
Narasimha Swamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Pon Vilaintha
Kalathur located at a distance of 10 km from Chengalpet in Kanchipuram District
of Tamilnadu. The Narasimha Utsavar Deity of Thiru Kadal Mallai Divya Desam was
installed here about 900years ago.
Story of
Lakshmi Narasimha temple in Pon Vilaintha Kalathur (PV Kalathur) has a close
connection with the Sthala Sayana Perumal Divya Desam at Thiru Kadal Mallai
(Mamallapuram). It is said that the village got its name as Gold was harvested
in fields in the ancient days. Presently, the name of the village is shortened
as PV Kalathur.
Great
poet Pugazhendi Pulavar, who wrote Nala Venba, was born here. One of the 63
Nayanmars called Sri Kootruva Nayanar is also said to have lived in this
village.
Legends
This Temple connection with Thiru Kadal Mallai:
Several
idols at Thiru Kadal Mallai Divya Desams (there was more than the one temple during
ancient times but only one remains now) were on the verge of being washed away
by the floods. Fearing the loss of the Narasimha idol, it is believed that Utsava
deity was taken away to a safer place from Thiru Kadal Mallai.
Garuda
was given the task of identifying the place where the Lakshmi Narasimha Utsava
deity was to be installed. It is said that almost 900 years ago; Garuda came
above this temple and circled the vimanam thrice.
Taking
this as the endorsement by Garuda as the right place to install, it is said
that the Lakshmi Narasimha Utsava deity was installed here at Pon Vilaintha
Kalathur (PV Kalathur) and the temple whose Moolavar deity is Vaikunta Vaasa
Perumal actually came to be called by the name of the Utsava deity itself.
While
this is not a Divya Desam, the fact that the Utsava deity relating to Thiru
Kadal Mallai Divya Desam was installed here makes this a significant and
historic temple.
Story behind the name Pon Vilaintha Kalathur:
Once,
Vedanta Desikar couldn’t get alms to feed Lord Hayagriva at night while staying
in this village. The next day morning the villagers complained to him that
a white horse had destroyed their paddy fields in the night. When Desikar went
there, the places through which the horse had run through had turned into gold.
Hence this village got the name Pon Vilaintha Kalathur wherein pon refers to
gold and Vilaintha means yield from cultivation in Tamil.
Parikara Sthalam:
This is
believed to be a Parikara sthalam for unmarried people and to cure health
related problems. There are Utsavams round the year for Lakshmi Narasimha at
this temple.
The
Temple
The Moolavar
of the temple is Vaikunta Vaasa Perumal while the Utsavar is Lakshmi
Narasimhar. The Utsavar idol is said to be brought from Tirukadal Mallai
divyadesam several hundred years back as it was feared that the idol would be
washed away in floods. The Thayar is known is Ahobila Valli Thayar. Both Narasimhar
temple and Kothanda Ramaswamy temple have beautiful gardens within the temple
premises.
Kodanda
Ramar temple, Dharba Sayana Ramar temple and Lakshmi Narasimhar temple are
close to each other. Chaturbhuja Ramar temple is at Pon Padhar kudam which is
about 4-5 kms from the rest of the temples.
Temple Opening
Time
Lakshmi
Narasimhar temple is open in the mornings from 8 am to 11 am and in the
evenings from 5 pm to 7.30 pm.
Festivals
·
Panguni
Brahmotsavam
·
Sudarshana
Homam on January 26 every year
·
Narasimha
Utsavam – 300 days a year
·
Davana
Utsavam 2nd Sunday of March every year
Contact
Lakshmi
Narasimha Swamy Temple,
P.V.
Kalathur – 603 405, Kancheepuram district
Phone: 044 27441142
Connectivity
Pon
Vilaintha Kalathur is located at a distance of 10 kms from Chengalpet. There
are local buses every half hour (during morning and evening) running between
Chengalpet and Pon Vilaintha Kalathur. Pon Vilaintha Kalathur is about 65
kms from Chennai.
From
Chengalpet, take the Old GST Road, turn left (1km before the Madras – Trichy
National Highway Bye Pass.) into the road leading to Thirukazhukundram via Pon
Vilaintha Kalathur (PV Kalathur). About 6kms into this road, one should
cross the Ottivakkam railway station gate to reach Pon Vilaintha
Kalathur.
Nearest
Railway Station is Ottivakkam Railway Station. One can take a passenger train
between Chennai Egmore/Tambaram and Villupuram and get down at Ottivakkam and
walk to this temple from the station. One can take an auto or taxi from
Chengalpet (10kms). Nearest Airport is Chennai Airport.
References
