Vaikunda Perumal Temple, Uthiramerur, Kanchipuram
The Vaikunta
Perumal Temple in Uthiramerur, a village in the South Indian state of Tamilnadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. The temple is constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture. Vishnu is worshipped as Vaikunta Perumal and his
consort Lakshmi as Anandavalli. The temple was originally built
by Pallavas, with later additions from the Cholas. The temple is known for the inscriptions indicating
the democratic practises of electing representatives for the village bodies
during the regime of Parantaka
Chola (907-55 CE).
The
building is declared as a heritage monument and administered by the Archeological Survey of India. Rajiv
Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India was inspired by the system after paying a visit to
the temple and insisted on improving Panchayat
Raj, India's system of local bodies in villages.
History
Uthiramerur
was ruled by the Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas, Sambuvaraya, Vijayanagara Rayas and Nayaks. As per the inscriptions
in the temple, the Pallava king Nandivarman
II (Pallavamalla) 730–795 CE established the village
around 750 A.D. It is believed that he donated the village to Vedic
Brahmins from Srivaishanva community. The Cholas captured the region and it came under their
dominion during the latter part of 9th century.
There
are inscriptions from the period of Parantaka
Chola I (907–950), Rajaraja
Chola I (985–1014), Rajendra
Chola I (1012–1044)
and Kulothunga Chola I(1070–1120) indicating various gifts to the temples. The
process of democratically electing the local representatives through a system
called Kudavolai during the Chola regime is documented in the
inscriptions. The temple is known for the inscriptions indicating the
democratic practises of electing representatives for the village bodies during
the regime of Parantaka Chola.
The
region and the village went under the sway of Pandyas during the 13th century and subsequently to the
Telugu Chola ruler Vijaya Gandagopala. During the later period, the village
switched hands to Pallava chieftains, Telugu Cholas, Samburavarayars & Kumara
Kampana. The Vijayanagara
emperor Krishnadevaraya (1502–29) made contributions to the Vaikunta
temple, Subramanya temple and Kailasanatha temple in the village. The temple is
declared as a heritage monument and administered by the Archeological Survey of India.
Architecture
Vaikunta
Perumal temple covers an area of about 0.5 acres (0.20 hectares). The sanctum
houses the image of Vaikuntanatha in seated posture with Sridevi and Bhudevi on
his either sides. There is an assembly hall 2,500 sq. ft.
(230 m2). The roof of the temple rests on the walls and there are no
pillars. The inscriptions from the Chola period are made on the walls of the
assembly hall.
Kulothunga
Chola is believed to have built the roof of the assembly hall that made it an
assembly hall along with the temple. As per another view, the entire structure
was originally an assembly hall and it collapsed during the regime of
Kulothunga Chola. He rebuilt the assembly hall along with the temple housing
the image of Vaikunta Perumal in it.
Some of
the inscriptions also read that the village was planned as per agamic texts
with the assembly hall in the centre of the village and the temples of the
village built around it. This temple is now under ASI maintenance as a heritage
monument. It is adjacent to the town bus stand. It stands as silent witness to
past and present amidst very busy road and a bus stand.
Inscriptions
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Connectivity
Uthiramerur
is well connected by bus from Tambaram. Tambaram to Uthiramerur is about one
and half hours journey. Plenty of buses are there – roughly every half an hour.
After Mamandur on the GST, the bus takes a right turn. Once we leave the GST,
it is pristine country side with occasional granite factories.
The town
is very busy and has very good bus facilities to Kanchipuram and Chengalpet. The
temple can be reached through Kancheepuram – Uthiramerur buses running via
Magaral. The temple is 22 km far from Kancheepuram.
Uthiramerur
can be reached either from Chengalpet side from the NH 45. It is about 18 kms
from Bukathurai. Take the right on the highway after Andal Azhagar engineering
college. The road ends at Uthiramerur in front of the Sundara Varada Perumal
temple and this temple is walkable from this place.
References