Sowmya Damodhara Perumal Temple, Villivakkam – The
Temple
The temple is a sprawling complex with four big and
four small Mada streets around it. The Temple is having three tiered
Rajagopuram. It has got a beautiful garden on the right and the holy tank, known
as Amirtha Pushkarani, on the left. The temple is a fine specimen of Pallava
Style of Architecture. The area the temple and the tank is around 1.35 acres. It
is in the four pillared Mahamandapam outside the temple where all festivals
begin.
Presiding Deity is called as Sowmya Damodhara Perumal
and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum gracing the devotees along with
his two consort’s Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi in the standing posture. Presiding
Deity and Procession Deity (Utsava Deity) has a scar in the stomach which is
due to the rope tied by Yasodha. Devotees see the Lord only as Child Kannan. The
Vimana (tower above the sanctum sanctorum) is Ananda Vimanam.
Garuda and Dwaja Sthambam are found opposite to the
main sanctum. The idols of Nammazhvar and Ramanujar are seen on either of the
sanctum sanctorum. Azhwars and Ganesha are found as niche images around
the sanctum. Mother is called as Amirthavalli. She is found in a separate
shrine to the right of the sanctum sanctorum in the corridor of the temple.
Having the attributes of Mother Mahalakshmi
appearing from the nectar ocean, she is reverently named Amirthavalli. Amirtham
means nectar. There are shrines for Rama and Krishna alongside the Mother
Shrine. There is a separate shrine for Andal on the south side of the
prakaram. The mandapams leading to the Thayar and Andal shrines have
beautifully carved images. Interestingly huge fishes are found engraved on the
ceilings.
There is a separate Anjaneya sannidhi near the main
gate itself. There is a Nandavanam next to this sannidhi and a pond
attached to the south side of the temple. The temple, having a big tank, Amirtha
Pushkarini is believed to be built around 600 years back. As in Tirupati, the
Amirtha Pushkarini sacred spring is in the north side known Kubera (Lord of
Wealth) direction.
