About the Temple & Location:
Sthlapuranam :
This Divyadesam is said to be one of the famous Divyadesam next to Sri Varadharajar Temple. This Divyadesam is found in Big Kanchipuram and is closely situated near Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple.
Mahabali Chakravarthy, the grandson of Prahaladhan, did a very big yagam (or) homam to get the Devendra logam, which is referred to as “Swargham”. But, the logam belongs to Indiran, who is the King of that logam. Being a great devotee of Sriman Narayanan, he was capitulated by temptation and decided to acquire the Devendra Lokam. To make him understand and punish him, Sriman Narayanan took the Vaamana avatar (dwarf) and asked for 3 feet of his land. On hearing this, Mahabali said that he can take 3 feet of his land. But as a surprise to Mahabali, Sriman Narayanan who came there as Vamana (dwarf) grew up in height, and his head touched the sky. Using the first step, he measured the sky and earth and with the second feet or step, he covered the heaven and more that it. Finally, he asked for the third foot of land. For this, Mahabali surrenders his own head as the third foot and was finally blessed by Sriman Narayanan.
When his head was stamped by Emperumaan’s feet, he could not get the darshan of Thirivikraman. So, he prayed for his great Ulagalandha darshan. Since he could not be given the Thirivikraman darshan, the Perumal gave his Seva as Aadhiseshan (Ooragathaan) which can be seen next to Ulagalandha Perumal.
The moral that is explained by the Perumal is that all the things that are in existence in this world belong to Emperumaan, Sriman Narayanan and this is clearly explained throughout the Ulagalandhan (Thirivikrama) Perumal.
All the living things (Jeeva raasis) and its Aathmaas belong to the Emperumaan’s feet and it is explained through “Thiru Ooragathaan”.
Mahabali Chakravarthy comes along the family of Bhakta Prahaladhan, a great devotee of Sri Vishnu. In spite of coming through that kind of family, he wanted to rule the Deva logam, which belongs to Indiran. And at the same time, Devendran – Indiran wanted to rule all over the world. So to teach both of them a lesson, he took the Thirivikrama kolam, thereby reducing the leadership and overhead of Mahabali and on the other hand, by raising his feet and measuring over the sky, he states to Devendran that Deva Lokam also belongs to him.
In this Sthalam, Ulagalandha Perumal, Thirivikraman gave his Prathyaksham for Ooragam, who is the Aadhiseshan. Both Aadiseshan and Thirivikraman are the other ways the Emperumaan gives Seva in this sthalam.
Legend
Bhagavata Purana describes that Vishnu descended as the Vamana avatar to restore the authority of Indra over the heavens, as it had been taken by Mahabali, a benevolent Asura King. Bali was the grandson of Prahlada. King Mahabali was generous, engaged in severe austerities and penance, and won the praise of the world. With the praise from his courtiers and others, he regarded himself as the all-powerful in the world. Vamana, in the guise of a short Brahmin carrying a wooden umbrella, went to the king to request three paces of land. Mahabali consented, against the warning of his guru, Sukracharya. Vamana then revealed his identity and enlarged to gigantic proportions to stride over the three worlds. He stepped from heaven to earth with the first step, from earth to the netherworld with the second. King Mahabali, unable to fulfill his promise, offered his head for the third. Vamana then placed his foot and gave the king immortality for his humility. In worshiping Mahabali and his ancestor Prahláda, he conceded sovereignty of Pátála, the netherworld. Some texts also report that Vamana did not step into the netherworld, and instead gave its rule to Bali. In giant form, Vamana is known as Trivikrama. The legend is associated with the Thrikkakara Temple in Kerala and also with this temple and Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Tirukoyilur.
History and inscriptions
According to the historian Nagaswamy, based on the inscriptions and the location of the temple, it is the oldest temple in Kanchipuram. There is another account that the temple is developed by Rajendra Chola I (1012–1044 CE). The temple has 15 inscriptions from various dynasties like Pallavas, Chola and Sambuvarayars. The earliest inscription is from 846 CE during the regime of Nandivarman III (846–869 CE). There is a Chola inscription dated 1110 CE during the reign of Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120 CE) indicating his visit to the temple and his gift of land to the temple whose income was to be used for the maintenance of the temple. Another similar inscription indicates the donation of a village by the king at the behest of his queen Kampamadeviyar. There are inscriptions from later Chola kings like Rajadhiraja Chola II (1166–1178 CE) and Rajaraja Chola III (1216-1256 CE) indicating various records of gifts to the temple. There are also inscriptions from minor chieftains like Vijaya Gandagopala indicating gifts to the temple. The inscriptions refer to the main deity by various names like Thiru Uragathu Ninru-arulina Paramaswamin, Thiru Uragathazhwar, and Tiru uragathu Emberuman. The Sambuvarayar rule of the 16th century records the gift of a pond and a grove in Sevvanmedu village. The temple still continues to possess this grove. The inscriptions in the temple also indicate increased trade and commerce during the Pallava period, with licenses provided to shops like oil, ghee, areca nut, vegetables, flowers, coconut, sugar, cloth, and sandal. The temple has not received a single donation from the ruling Vijayanagar Empire, though the nearby temples received generous donations, indicating that the temple had sources of income. From those days Pancharatra Agama was followed in the temple, though all the surrounding people followed Vaikhanasa and Pancharatra Agama.
Parimelalhagar, the 13th-century Tirukkural commentator, belonged to the lineage of priests of the Ulagalantha Perumal temple.
Architecture
The temple is located in central Kanchipuram, a locality on the Central side of Kanchipuram, a South Indian town in the state of Tamil Nadu. The temple has an area of about 60,000 square feet (5,600 m2) and has a three-tiered raja gopuram (main towers) with seven kalasas. The temple houses four divya desams on its own – they are Thirukkarvaanam, Thirukaaragam, Thiruooragam and Thiruneeragam. It is believed that all the shrines were probably separate temples, but the circumstances which lead to these temples getting housed in the Ulagalantha Perumal temple are not known. Thirumangai Azhwar has sung praises of all the four temples in a single verse. The temple tank, Naga Tirtha, is located outside the main temple complex.
The temple is revered by the verses of Tirumangai Alvar and Thirumazhisai Aazhwar. Thayar of the temple is Amudhavalli (Amirthavalli) and the festival deity of the temple is Loganathan. The image of Ulagalantha Perumal is over 35 ft (11 m) in height depicted with his left leg at a right angle to the body and parallel to the ground. The right leg is seen placed on the head of Mahabali with two fingers on his left hand stretched out referring to the two steps he took to measure the two worlds and the stretched finger on his right hand indicating the question the posted to Mahabali as to where he could place his third step. The roof of the sanctum, the vimana has an elevated roof to accommodate the huge image of the presiding deity.
Tiruooragam
The central shrine of the temple is most commonly referred to as Peragam, while the smaller shrine where the image of the snake god Adisesha's houses is called Tiruoorgam. As per tradition, Mahabali at the foot of Vamana could not view the Viswaroopam and requested to have a smaller form. Vishnu obliged and appeared as a snake in a smaller shrine. The shrine is frequented by childless couples praying for offspring.
Specials:
Inside this Sthalam, other 3 divyadesams namely, Neeragam, Karagam, and Kaaravannam are found. The Vimanam and Pushkarani are found to be so damaged.
In Thai month (mid of January month to mid of February month) a very big utsavam is done.
Garuda seva is the special Vaaganam of this temple.
Doing Thirumanjanam (divine bath to Perumal) for Ooragathaan is said to cure all sorts of problems.
The Moolavar of this sthalam is Thiruvikraman. Other names are Sri Ulagalantha Perumal. Prathyaksham for Aadisheshan.
Moolavar in Ulagai (World) alantha kolam
Thaayar : Amudhavalli (Amirthavalli).
Utsavaar : Sri Loganathan.
Mangalasasanam:
Thirumazhisai Alwar – 2 Paasurams.
Thirumangai Alwar – 4 Paasurams.
Total – 6 Paasurams.
Pushkarani:
Naaga Theertham.
Sesha Theertham.
Naaga Theertham.
Sesha Theertham.
Vimanam: Saara SriKara Vimanam.
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