Vaikuntavasa Perumal Temple, Dusi, Thiruvannamalai
Vaikuntavasa
Perumal Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu located at Dusi Village in
Thiruvannamalai District of Tamilnadu. The Temple is located on the southern
bank of River Palar. It is located at about 10 Kms from Kanchipuram. The
consecration (Samprokshanam) of the Vaikuntavasa Perumal temple was held on
March 24, 2011. This Village has one of the five biggest reservoirs (Dusi
Mamandur Lake) of Tamilnadu and it is 3 Kms away from Palar River. This
small village also has more links with the temple town Kanchipuram. To this
place, Lord Varadha (Varadharaja Perumal) will visit on every Chithirai
Pournami (around April 15) to every house in the village.
Legends
The
original name of this village was Satakopapuram as Sri Adi Van Satakopan, the
first preceptor of the Ahobila Math stayed here for a few years. Much later,
the name changed to Dusi as the armies of the British and French, which were
stationed in areas nearby, used to march (against the Nawab of Arcot) through
this place, raising a lot of dust (Dusi in
Tamil). It was once known as Chaturvedimangalam, place where scholars
well-versed in the Vedas and allied Sastras lived.
The
Temple
The Vaikuntavasa
Perumal temple in this village is believed to belong to the Pallava times just
like the Vaikunta Perumal temple in Kanchipuram which was constructed in the
reign of Nandivarman II Pallavamalla (731-798 A.D.). The main deity is a
majestic image, flanked by Sridevi and Bhudevi (Ubhaya Nachiyar). Goddess
Lakshmi is worshipped here as Santhanavalli Thayar in a separate shrine. There
are also images of the Vaishnava saints, Nammazhvar and Thirumangai Azhwar and
preceptors (Acharyas). Incidentally, Thoopul, a suburb of Kanchipuram which is
the birthplace of Vedanta Desika is not too far from Dusi.
The
Vaikuntavasa Perumal temple must have once been not only a hub of religious
activity but also a socio-economic and cultural center like many other temples
in this region. However, over the centuries it became dilapidated due to the
vagaries of nature and neglect. It is due to the healthy interest and untiring
efforts of the people in Dusi and members of families of this village now
living elsewhere that this ancient temple has sprung back to life. Renovation includes
a new shrine for Santhanavalli Thayar and kitchen (Madapalli).
Between
the villages of Dusi and Mamandur is one of the largest irrigation tanks in
Tamilnadu. Aptly called the Dusi-Mamandur tank, it has a water spread area of
13.5 sq.km and a capacity to store 180 million cubic feet of
water. This tank is believed to have been constructed in the seventh century
A.D. in the reign of the famous Mahendravarman I.
Festivals
One of
the most important festivals of this temple is celebrated on full-moon day
(Pournami) in the month of Chithirai (April-May) when the processional deity
(Utsava Moorthy) of Sri Varadharaja Perumal from the famous temple in
Kanchipuram visits Dusi and blesses every house in this place. This
well-attended celebration attracts a multitude of devotees from Kanchipuram and
surrounding villages. Among the visitors is the Jeeyar of Ahobila Math. Some of
the other festivals celebrated in this temple are Ekadasi, Navaratri and Sankaranti.
Connectivity
Dusi
Village is located at about 10 Kms from Kanchipuram. Nearest Railway
Station is located at Kanchipuram and Nearest Airport is located at Chennai.