Sri Deepaprakasa Perumal Temple – Kanchipuram

 

Sri Deepaprakasa Perumal Temple is located in Kanchipuram of Tamilnadu.

It is also referred to as Tiruththanka

It is one of 108 divyadesam of Lord Vishnu.

The temple is one of four in Kanchipuram, including Yathothkari Perumal Temple, Ashtabhujagara Perumal Temple, and Varadaraja Perumal Temple, with which the legend of Brahma performing penance is associated.

Lord Vishnu is worshipped as Deepaprakasar and his consort Lakshmi as Maragathavalli.

The central shrine of the temple has the image of the presiding deity, Deepaprakasa Perumal in sitting posture.

There are shrines for Lakshmi, Hayagriva, Andal, Vedanta Desika, and Alvars. It is the birthplace of Vedanta Desika.

There is a separate shrine for Hayagreeva along with Vedanta Desika.

The temple tank, Saraswati Tirtham, is located outside the premises.

A shrine dedicated to Vedanta Desika facing the south is seen in the temple. The icon of Desika is believed to have been installed by his son, Nayinar Varadhachariar.

This temple was built in Dravidian style of architecture

This temple has a three-tier Rajagopuram

According to Hindu legend, once there was an argument between Saraswati, the consort of Brahma, and Lakshmi on their superiority. They went to Indra, the king of the Devas. Indra judged Lakshmi as superior, and not satisfied with his argument, Saraswati went to her husband, Brahma. He also chose Lakshmi to be the superior one. Saraswati was unhappy with the decision and decided to stay away from Brahma. Brahma did a severe penance praying to Vishnu and did an Ashvamedha Yagna. Saraswati was still angry that the yagna, which usually is done along with consorts, was done without her by Brahma with Savitri. She tried to disrupt the penance by sending darkness, but Vishnu interfered "like a light from the lamp", hence he is also called Vilakoli Perumal. Another version of the legend states that Saraswati sent rakshakas to spoil the penance, which was spoiled by the stream of light from Vishnu. Since Vishnu appeared as light to overcome the darkness of the situation, he is termed Deepaprakasa Perumal.

The temple is located in Vishnu Kanchi along with most other Vishnu temples in Kanchipuram.

Brahmotsavam is celebrated during the Tamil month of Puratassi (Sep-Oct)

Timings

7.30 am to 10.00 am

5.00 pm to 7.00 pm