Srinivasa Perumal Temple (Vedanta Desikar Temple),
Mylapore – The Temple
The
Temple is located right next to the Kesavaperumal temple and sharing a wall
with it. This is a fairly big and well-maintained temple with many shrines with
north facing Rajagopuram (tower). A small tank is located near the temple
entrance. The temple has bali Peetha, flag staff and Garuda similar to that of
any other South Indian temple. The temple is 300 years old. As seen it is a
Vadakalai temple initially. The Temple originally enshrines only Swami Desikan
and Lakshmi Hayagriva’s Archa Vigrahas. A Vigraha of Vedanta Desikar was moved
from the Kesavaperumal temple.
In 1924,
Sri Kasturi Srinivasan Iyengar built sannidhis for Sri Srinivasa Perumal and
Padmavathy Thayar. Lord Srinivasa Perumal and Thayar occupied the temple as per
their will. The sanctum enshrines the 8 feet gigantic idol of Srinivasa Perumal
in the standing posture with four arms. Next to his shrine, on the right side, there
is a separate shrine for the Goddess Alarmel Mangai. Both the main shrines face
the east direction. The Alarmelu Mangai Thayar Vigraha is huge and very
captivating.
Inscriptions
of some important renderings (slokas) by the great acharya are graved on the
temple walls. The shrine of the great teacher Vedanta Desika is the one that
faces north and it is the first shrine one sees in the temple. This shrine
houses the stone idol and the Utsava (bronze) idol of Vedanta Desikar are
found. The shrine also has the bronze idols of Lakshmi Hayagriva - the upasana
God of Vedanta Desikar. Lakshmi Hayagriva was modelled on the idol of the
Mysore Parakala mutt was later brought and installed. (The Parakala mutt is
also located in Mylapore (opposite road to Mylai railway station)).
There
are Shrines of Anjaneyar, Ramanuja, Garudan, Peyazhwar, Rama, Lakshmana, Sita,
Lakshmi Narasimha, Bhashayakarar, Sudarsana, Yoga Narasimhar behind Sudarsana, Andal,
Azhwars and Acharyas. Anjaneyar Sannidhi is located at the entrance of the
Temple. The Anjaneyar sannidhi has a Vimanam, with icons of Rama, Sita and
Lakshmana above the entrance, and of Anjaneya in the corners of the vimana. Lord
of medicines, Dhanavanthri is also present in the pillar of the front mandapam.
In the
sannidhi of Rama, Silver idols of Sri Rama (Pattabhisheka Thirukolam),
Lakshmana, Sita along with Bharatha and Shatrugna offer the devotees a vivid
darshan. Peyazhwar is considered to be born in a well at Mylapore near the
Madhava Perumal Temple. This temple has a normal shrine for him as well as a
small cave like shrine inside the temple well near the Dwajasthambam. It is
interesting to watch the Thirumanjanam being performed inside the well. The life
history of Vedanta Desikar with narration is painted beautifully on the walls
of Inner shrine. The Brindavan Mandapam of the temple on the South is
exquisitely beautiful. The temple has a Pasu Madam also.