Vaikuntha Perumal Temple -Tourism
surrounded by a cloister mandapa, externally walled by the prakara and internally colonnaded.
The narrow path between it and the temple is served as an
open circumambulatory path around the temple. The structure is built entirely of sandstone,
the floor below the adhisthana and the pattika on its top above
being of granite slabs. The three tiers below are functional,providing cells for three forms of Vishnu (sitting, standing and reclining) the top tier merely symbolic, without any opening, is
a solid cube and provably added to beautify the temple in proportion to its base.
All the three tiers have ambulatory passage, achieved by the system of three concentric walls successively increasing its height one behind the other, Up to the third tala, it has harmamala consisting of Karnatakutas, bhadrasalas and panjaras, whereas the fourth tier is devoid of the hara. It had formerly four lions at the corners, now replaced by four seated Garuda figures, both the Lion and Garuda being appropriate
cognizances of Vishnu. The cloister wall which is of lesser height than the first tier has haramala consisting of kutas and salas. The interior of this wall has depictions of the historical events which led to Nandivarma - II coming to the throne. It intercity by echoes the various procedures followed during the
coronation of the king and also the contemporary social activities.
The depiction of it historical event in the temple through initiated by Rajasimha in the Shore temple at Mamallapuram, takes its perfection here. The figures found on the vimana, ardhamandapa, walls and other places makes the temple a museum for studying conscious of beauty and with exquisite and seductive charm of the sculptures makes the art become sensuous and sophisticated, receives the admiration of every visitor.
devotees with the sacred name ‘SriVaikuntavalli’. There are three tiers in this temple. In the lower, middle and upper tier,the Lord is seen in sitting, reposing and standing postures respectively. While circumambulating the main sannidhi, we
come across treasure house of artistic sculptures. The life history of many Pallava Kings is portrayed here.
If we reach the middle tier climbing up the steps, we see the Lord reposing on Adishesha, facing west with his Lotus feet, pointing towards the South. Inscriptions here reveal the
Pallava King Nandivarman constructed this temple and also catalogue the names of other Pallava Kings who undertook constructive works in this temple.
The second historic Pallava temple in Kanchipuram is the Vaikuntha perumal considered as the “body of God” was built
in 770 A.D. by Nandivarman - II Pallavamalla (731 – 796). As Nandivarman given the title of Paramesvara at the time of his coronation, the temple is also known as “Paramesvara Vinnagaram” (the abode of Vishnu) as sung by Tirumangai Alwar, the celebrated Vaishnava saint. The architecture of the temple is unique with three sanctums on the three floors one over the other and a concealed staircase leading to the upper floors. The three sanctums enshrine Vishnu in three postures seated, reclining and standing. The walls are adorned with fifty Sculptures, besides the panels depicting the history of the Pallavas, leading to the coronation of Nandivarman.
correlation here with the mandala scheme enunciated in the Bhagavata, explaining the doctrine of chaturvyauha (four formations), he identifies the central in die sanctum of the ground floor as Vasudeva facing west, i.e., the Earth,sankarsna facing north, the realm of human life, Pradyumna
facing east towards heaven and Aniruddha facing south the realm of ancestors. The sculptural scheme matches the pancharatra concept, representing the six glorious excellences and the 12 murthis (dwadasa – namas)
buildings. The cellar, which house a statue of Vishnu, is preceded by a mandapa with two bays of four columns. The building as a whole is surrounded by a gallery, whose columns rise from the heads of rearing lions, this colonnade leaves too narrow a space for the spectator to be able to stand back from the building and look at the tower. It was intended to guide the processions of the faithful in their circumambulation. The walls of the gallery are covered in relief that illustrate the legendary battles between the Pallavas and their neighbours, the Chalukyas.
It is on the walls of this platform the unique historical sculptures have been carved. Beneath thirteen of them, all on the south wall, there are explanatory labels in Tamil and eighth
century inscription of Pallavas. These panels depict the story of Pallavamalla’s accession to the throne after a disturbed interregnum, which has different interpretations.
and Chalukyas are depicted in bas relief around the main prakaram. The cloisters inside the outer wall consist of lion pillars and are representative of the first phase in the architectural evolution of the grand thousand pillar halls of later temples.
The Brahmotsavam of this temple is celebrated in the asterism Punarvasu in the month of Chitrai. Vaikunta Ekadasi Festival and Kaisika Dwadasi Festival are celebrated in this temple popularly.
Pilgrims who visit this temple worship the Lord for cherishing the desires and carry with them the satisfaction of having seen treasure of sculptural beauty and the memory of the devotion of the mighty Pallava Kings to Lord Sri Vaikuntanadha.
This temple stands as a monumental testimony to the splendid architectural skills of those times. Those architects executed a complicated plan with perfection in tune with the then prevailing norms. It is maintained by HR & CE Dept. and taken over by the Archaeological Dept. of Indian Government
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