Adikesava Perumal Temple

Overview

Adi Kesava Temple (also called Ramanujar Temple) is dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu located in Sriperumbudur, Kanchipuram district, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This is the birth place of Saint Ramanuja, great Philosopher of Vaishnavism.

About The Temple

The temple is built in Dravidian architecture occupies around 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) and has two precincts. It is located in Sriperumbudur, a suburb in Chennai, the capital of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The temple has a rectangular plan surrounded by 10 ft (3.0 m) high walls, pierced by a seven-tier gopuram, the gateway tower. The presiding deity is housed in the sanctum and is an image made of granite seen in standing posture. The shrine of Garuda facing Adi Kesava, thevahana of Vishnu, is located axial to the central shrine. The central shrine is approached through a worship hall and a narrow Ardha mandapam. The flagpost is located behind the shrine of Garuda, axial to the central shrine and the gateway tower. There are images of Azhwars in the worship hall on both sides and the shrine of Yathirajavalli is located on in the second precinct. The gold plated hall in front of the shrine of Ramanuja was endowed by the Maharaja of Mysore. There are no separate Sorgavasal, the sacred entrance way opened during the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival. There is a Bhoodakal hall where the festive images of the presiding deity and is consort are housed during the festival.

About the Deity

Lord Vishnu in the standing posture here is known as Sri Adhikesava Perumal with his consorts Shreedevi and Bhoodevi bestows his abundant grace on his devotees. The divine mother [Thayar] is known as “Sri Yatirajanathavalli Thayar” meaning she is the consort of the master to Yathiraja i.e. Ramanuja. This is the only temple where Goddess Lakshmi has a name attributed to a devotee of the Lord. She is a varaprasadi who grants all wishes.

Legend and stories

The Boodha Ganas – an army-like division of Lord Shiva’s empire – approached Lord Vishnu for relief from a curse spelt on them by Lord Shiva. Lord Vishnu created a spring here through his divine serpent Ananha (Anantha Saras Theertham), gave darshan to the Bhoodas from its bank and relieved them of the curse. As a token of their gratitude, the Bhoodha Ganas erected this temple for Lord Vishnu. Hence, the place is called Bhoodhapuri. The Lord is named Adikesava Perumal. According to another legend, Haritha Maharaja , he was the grandson of King Ambareesha was on a hunting expedition, when he spotted a tiger attacking a cow. In order to save the cow, he killed the tiger, but the cow also died in the process. He was grief-stricken and then a heavenly voice, asked him to go to Sriperumbudur, bathe in ‘Anantha Saras’ and then pray to Lord Narayana who would forgive his sins. The King dutifully obeyed the instructions. Then Lord appeared before him and told all these years you were Kshtriya and due to my blessings now you will become Brahmin and henceforth your descendants also will become Brahmin (even today his decedents are from his Gothra and they are known as Haritha Gothra). Then Haritha Maharaja rebuilds the Adhi Kesava temple and does concretion of the temple on a auspicious day, then he hears the Divine voice ( asareeri) that in near future great Soul will be born in your Vamsa ( Descendant) who will lead the world to greater height of Gyana and Bhakti , and that Great Soul is none other than our Beloved Udayavar.

Swami Ramanujar Avathara Sthalam

Then in year CE 1017 On a Thursday, in the Tamil Month of Chitrai, Sukla Paksha panchami, in the constellation of Aridra (Thiruvadurai) Asuri Keshavachar and Kandhimathi were blessed with the Child and was named as Ramanuja. He was later given the title of Bhashyakar , Emperumanar , Elayai Alwan, Yathirajar, Udayavar etc.

There is a mandap in front of the temple where Sri Ramanuja was born. During the 10 day Chithirai festival during April-May, Acharya graces from this mandap. On His birth star day, he is placed in a cradle as a child and fed with milk in a conch. During this festival, the Parivattam turban linen – is brought from 36 Vaishnava shrines-Divya Desas – as a courtesy to the Acharya.

He toured the length and breadth of Bhartha Desha to preach the Vishistadwaita. Then Just few days before leaving the mortal coil and going to Vaikunta, His Disciple Mudhaliandan’s Son Kanthadai Annan got a Archa Vigraham of Ramanuja and presented before him, then Swami hugged the Moorthy and transferred all his power to it, then Udayavar instructed to the Prathistai of this Vigraham on Tamil Month Thai on Constellation of Pushya Star at Sriperumpudur, This Vigraham is what we see in Sriperumpudur and it is known as Than Uganda Thirumeni. Ramanujar’s Vigraha, Divine archa-vigraha made of 5 metals including gold, silver, bronze, copper and iron.

The Specialty of this Temple and Vigraham is Eravadai Theertham. Here they do Thirumanjanam to Lord Ramanuja daily then after the Thirumanjanam the cloth which Lord is wearing is squeezed and and collected in Vatil and given as Prasadam to Bhakathas, it it said it capable of curing Skin diseases, Beget progeny for Issueless couples , and also cures many other ailments like cancer etc. If you take bath in Ananthah Sarasu you will get rid of Rahu Kethu Dosham , Also you can light Ghee lamp. Every Thiruvadurai Star people come in large number and witness the Milk Thirumanjanam get the blessings of Udayavar. The temple doesn’t have a swarga vasal since it is believed that praying to Swami Ramanuja is the way to vaikuntam.

Festivals

Masi Pooram in February-March and Panguni Uthiram in March April are the important festivals of the temple. On the last Friday of Panguni (March-April) or on the last Friday of Chithirai, Tirumanjanam is simultaneously performed for Lord Adikesava Perumal, Mother Yathiraja Valli, Sri Andal and Acharya Sri Ramanuja.

Tamil Month	Name of Usthavam
Chitrai ( April-May)	Bhashyakar Avathara Usthavam for – 10 days
Chitrai ( April-May)	Adhi Keshava Perumal’s Usthavam for 10 days
Vaikasi ( May – June)	Adhi Keshava Perumal’s Vasantha Usthavam
Aani ( June – July )	JeshtAbhishekam
Aadi July – August)	Andal Usthavam
Avani ( August – September)	Perumal’s Pavithra Usthavam) Navarathri Usthavam
Aipasi	Manavala Mamunigal – 10 days Usthavam
Dhannur	Dhannur Masa Usthavam
Thai	Koorath Alwar Usthavam
Masi	Masi Pooram
Panguni	Rama Navami

Pooja Timings

Every day three times pooja is conducted. Every Saturday the moolavar is docorated with flower in different "avatharams".

Pooja Name	Timings
Viswaroopa	06. 30 AM
Kaala Shanthi Pooja	07.00 AM
Uchchi Kaala Pooja	09.00 AM
Sayaratchi Pooja	05.30 PM
Raakkaala Pooja	07.00 PM
Aravanai Pooja	08.30 PM

Thanks Giving

Devotees perform abishek to Sri Ramanuja with milk as a prayer commitment.

Significance

Those facing adverse aspects of Rahu and Ketu planets and those facing delays in marriage due to Kalasarpa dosha in whose horoscopes the snake planets are at both ends covering the other planets in between them, pray here for relief.

Nearby Places to Visit

1. Kamakshi Amman Temple
2. Aatcheeswarar Temple
3. Kachi Anekadhangavadeswarar Temple
4. Deivanayaka Easwarar Temple
5. Satyanathaswami Temple
6. Kalva Perumal Temple

Accessibility

The nearest airport is at Chennai. Sriperumbudur is not connected by trains. The nearest railway station is the Thiruvallur Railway station which is about 17km away from Sriperumbudur. However, the major railway head is in Chennai. Taxis and buses are easily available from Chennai. Sriperumpudur it is 40 kms from Chennai and 35 Kms from Kanchipuram, Easily reachable by road from Chennai.

Temple Address

Sri Adikesava Perumal Temple,
Sriperumbudur-602 105, Kancheepuram district, Tamilnadu.