Renganathar Thiruparkadal

Renganathar, Thiruparkadal

Vaishnavite Temples - Vellore District

God

Ranganathar, facing east

Goddess

Renganayagi Thaayar, facing east

Other Deities

Aandal, Garuda, Anjaneya

Renganathar Thiruparkadal is a small temple which is believed to have been large once and the place used to be called Narayana Chaturvedimangalam. The temple had become dilapidated, lost its fame and was in a state of neglect for a very long time before devotees took up the cause. A three tier Rajagopuram is at the entrance and a large temple tank is in the north. The main deity measuring about 9 ft by 8 ft is carved out of the wood of Athi (Ficus racemosa) – the holy tree here and this aspect is considered similar to the original deity of Varadaraja Perumal temple at Kancheepuram. Out of the 108 Divya Desam temples only 106 are in this world. The remaining 2 are Thiruparkadal, the Ocean of Milk where the lord reclines on Aadisesha and Thiruparamapadam, the Lords Lotus Feet which are believed to be in the celestial world. Some devotees consider this as a representation of the 107th Divya Desam.

Holy water (Theertham) – Saraswathi Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Athimaram (Ficus racemosa). Vanni (Prosopis cineraria) and Punnai (Calophyllum inophyllum) are also mentioned as Sthala Vrikshams in the temple handbook.

Vimaana – Sapthaga Vimaanam

History

Renganathar Thiruparkadal is an ancient temple. Historical information is not available as on date.

Legend

Goddess Saraswathi got angered when Brahma proclaimed Goddess Lakshmi as the greatest and she walked away. Upon Brahma’s request Lord Vishnu tried to pacify Saraswathi who took the form of a river and sped away. He tried to stop her in three places and Pallikonda is the first where the river passes below his reclining feet. The second one is Renganathar Thiruparkadal where the river passes over his head and the third where he successfully stops and appeases her anger is Thiruvetka in Kanchipuram. This place is called Thiruparkadal because the lord is reclining on the multiheaded snake Adhisesha as he is seen in the mythical ocean of milk (paal kadal).

Chitragupta is said to have performed yaga here at Renganathar Thiruparkadal with the twigs of the Athi Tree to get relief from an ailment on the advise of Lord Brahma.

King Harischandra is believed to have taken the oath to speak only the truth here at Renganathar Thiruparkadal.

Lord Rama is believed to have learnt the truth of his birth from Sage Vasishta here at Renganathar Thiruparkadal.

Directions

Take a left at the Kaveripakkam junction (between Kancheepuram and Arcot) on the Chennai-Bangalore highway and follow the directions to reach Renganathar Thiruparkadal temple. There are about 3 other temples on this side and about 8 on the right side of the junction. A patient day spent here would be worth it!

Stay and Food

Kaveripakkam has some small snack shops in the junction. Murugan Idli Shop is a few kilometers away on the highway.

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