About the Temple & Location:
Sthlapuranam :
This is one of the sthalam situated in Kanchipuram and is about 1 Km away from Sri Varadharajar temple.
When Thirumizhisai Alwar was living in Kanchipuram, a very old lady (Daasi) used to clean his house daily and did this as a small favour for him.
On becoming happy with the favour she is doing daily to him, Azhwar changed her from an old lady to a beautiful woman. After this, wondering at the beauty, the king married the woman and she became the queen of the place. On hearing the secret of an old lady becoming a beautiful woman, he was in an eager mood to meet Thirumizhisai Alwar.
Kani Kannan, who was a great follower of Thirumazhisai Alwar, helped and followed him and his teachings. The king called up Kani Kannan and asked that Thirumizhisai Alwar should come to his palace and should sing a poem praising him. On hearing this, Kani Kannan said that all the poems and songs that come from the mouth of Thirumizhisai Alwar belong to Srivaikundanathan and it is impossible for him to come to the palace and sing a poem on praising the king.
On hearing this, he showed lots of gold ornaments, silver items, Diamonds, etc., to Kani Kannan and since he was very close to Thirumizhisai Alwar, at least he could sing a poem on praising him. But, Kani Kannan refused to do so and said he will not sing any song praising the humans. The King got angry on hearing this and ordered him to get out from Kanchi at once.
Kani Kannan went to Thirumizhisai Alwar and explained all about what had happened in the palace and prepared to start getting out from Kanchipuram. On seeing this, Thirumizhisai Alwar also prepared to start from Kanchi leaving along with Kani Kannan. So, he too started along with him. While they were going, he sang a song on the Yadhothakari Perumal as Kani Kannan is leaving Kanchipuram, he is also going along with him and Alwar asks the Perumal to get up from his Aadhisheshan, which is the bed for him and roll it and wants him to quit from Kanchi.
The Perumal also got out from Kanchipuram following the Alwar and Kani Kannan. On hearing this, the king and all the people of Kanchi begged Kani Kannan to return back to Kanchipuram.
And after this, Kani Kannan along with Thirumizhisai Alwar came back to Kanchipuram. When returning, Alwar sang a song asking that Kani Kannan has returned back to Kanchi and he want the Perumal to go and sleep in his Aadhiseshan in the temple. On hearing this, Sriman Narayanan comes back to Thiruvekka temple and gives his sayana Kols seva. Since the Perumal obeyed the words of Thirumizhisai Alwar and did what he said, he is called “Sonna Vannam seitha Perumal“. Sonna vannam seitha means obeying and doing the same as what was told to him. This is one of the Purana stories said about this sthalam.
Once in Brahma logam, there was an argument that who is greater between Naa Magal (or) Saraswathi and Poo Magal (Sri Lakshmi). Brahma said that it is Poomagal – Lakshmi Thaayar who is found in the heart of Sri Vishnu is the greatest. Next, Saraswathi asked which river is the big river. But, unfortunately, Brahma answered that the greatest river is the River Ganga which is originating from the feet of Sri Vishnu is the greatest. On hearing this, Saraswathi got angry and quit from the disappeared and went along the banks of river Ganga and started doing Tapas.
Naan mughan, Brahma wanted to do the great Ashwametha Yagam in Kanchipuram and wanted Saraswathi to be along with him. So, he sent his son Vashistan to make Saraswathi come back to him. But, Saraswathi refused to come along with him. After this, Brahma devan started the Yagam keeping Savithri and all of his wives with him.
On seeing this, the Asuras (the Demon) wanted to destroy the Yagam and went to Saraswathi and made her angry by telling her what is happening. She got angry with Brahma devan and started as the “Vegavathi” river along the south direction and flow across the place of the Yagam to destroy it. But, Sriman Narayanan wanted to stop the Vegavadhi river and protect the Yagam from her. So, he stopped the river by lying across the river on Aadhiseshan. Because of this, this Perumal is also named “Vaga Sethu”.
This Vega Sethu then became Vegavanai and then finally named as “Vekkanai” and finally became “Vekka”.
In this sthalam only, Manavala Maamunigal explained his “Sri Bashyam” to the world.
History:
The temple is considered one of the three oldest Vishnu temples in Kanchipuram, the other two being Ulagalantha Perumal Temple and Pandava Thoothar Perumal Temple. The temple has 12 inscriptions from the Chola and Vijayanagar period. The temple is originally believed to be built during the period of Pallavas. The temple has a set of inscriptions associated with Cholas. A record of the Chola king, Parantaka I (907–950 CE) indicating the gift of 367 kalanju of gold to the temple by an individual. The south wall of the central shrine of the temple has inscriptions from the period Rajendra Chola I (1012–1044) indicating gifts of land measuring one tuni of land and 127 kalanju of gold to the temple. The inscriptions on the base of the eastern wall of the central shrine from the period of Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120 CE) indicate a gift for lighting lamps of the temple. The southern side inscriptions of the temple from the period of Kulothunga Chola III (1178–1218 CE) indicate a gift of the village to feed 32 Brahmins. The inscriptions also detail the float festival and the summer festival celebrated in the temple. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Architecture
The temple in Chinna Kanchipuram, a locality on the Eastern side of Kanchipuram, is a South Indian town in the state of Tamil Nadu. The central shrine of the temple has the image of the presiding deity, "Sonnavannam Seitha Perumal" sported in Bhuganja Sayanam'ss posture. The West facing sanctum is approached through the flagstaff, pillared halls, namely Mahamandapam and the Ardhamandapam. The stuccoed image of the presiding deity is a rare one of Ranganatha recumbent on his left hand, unlike other temples where he is recumbent on his right. It is believed that Perumal was lying left to right as in other temples, but on hearing Thirumalisai Azhwar sing, he turned his lying posture from right to left. As per historian Nagaswamy, the image made of stucco is one of the rarest representations of the deity. The image of Saraswathi praying at his feet is also present in the sanctum. The roof of the sanctum is called Vedasara Vimana and it has five kalasams and stucco images of various legends. The temple has separate shrines for Poigai Azhwar located to the North of the flagstaff. There are other shrines of Rama along with Seetha Hanuman and Garuda. The vimana of the central shrine is called Vedasara Vimana. The shrine of Komavalli, the consort of Yathothkari, is located facing the central shrine on the Eastern side of the temple. The temple lotus tank where Poigai Azhwar was born is located outside the main entrance, parallel to the shrine. The Mahamandapa has ornamental sculpted pillars built during the Vijayanagara period of 15-16th centuries. The temple has two precincts with the second precinct enclosed by granite walls pierced by a five-tiered raja gopuram (gateway tower).
Festivals and religious practices
The temple follows the traditions of the Thenkalai sect of Vaishnavite tradition and follows vaikanasa agama. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Ushathkalam at 7 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering), and Deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Yathothkari Perumal and Komalavalli. During the last step of worship, nadaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. Aipassi Thiruvonam, the birth star of Poigai Azhwar, is celebrated every year. Brahmotsavam celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (April - May) is the major festival of the temple. To indicate the legend of Kanikannan, the festive image of Yathothkari, Tirumalisai Azhwar, and Kanikkannan are taken in procession to Orikkai village to have a short stay during the Thai Magam festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Thai (January - February). Azhwar Utsavam is a festival celebrated annually during the birth date of the Poigai Azhwar based on the Tamil calendar in the temple.
Specials:
In the Pushkarani of this temple only, Poigai Alwar was born.
Moolavar and Thaayar:
The Moolavar of this sthalam is Sri Yathothakaari. Other names are Sonnavannam seitha Perumal and Vegasethu. Moolavar is Kidantha Kolam (Bhujanga Sayanam), facing in West direction.
Prathyaksham for Brahma Devan, Poigai, Bootham Alwar, Kanikannan.
This Perumal is found in the Sleeping posture from right side to left. This is also one of the specialities of this Shetram.
Utsavar
Made with the combination of precious metal in which gold has a major part.
Sannadhis:
Pilla Yogacharya.
Mangalasasanam:
Thirumazhisai Alwar – 3 Pasuram
Thirumangai Alwar – 6 Pasuram
Poigai Alwar – 4 Pasuram
Nammalwar – 1 Pasuram
Total – 14
Vimanam: Vedasara Vimana
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