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Friday, December 28, 2018

Sowmya Damodhara Perumal Temple, Villivakkam – The Temple

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.