Thirupadagam

108 Divya Desam Temples

God

Pandavadhootha Perumal, facing east

Goddess

Rukmani Devi Thaayar, facing east

Other Deities

Arulalaperumal, Emperumanaar, Chakrathalwar, Narasimhar, Azhwars, Acharyas

Thirupadagam, better known as Pandavadhoota Perumal temple locally, is an east facing temple with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. The temple tank is in the north east corner of the outer Prakaram. The lord is seated on a huge 28 ft tall seat. He is seen in Ardha Padamasana Posture with two hands. Unlike the huge stone idols in many other temples the idol here is made of Lime mixture. Some experts feel that this idol along with a few others of important temples in Kancheepuram could have been created before the Pallavas in the Sangam Period itself.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Mathsya Theertham

Vimaanam – Bhadhra Vimanam, Vedakodi Vimaanam

History

Mangalasasanam, at Thirupadagam, has been done by Thirumangai Azhwar, Thirumazhisai Azhwar, Boodhathazhwar and Paei Azhwar (5th to 10th Century CE). Manavala Mamunigal (15th Century CE) has visited Thirupadagam. Thirupadagam temple was originally constructed with bricks and later turned into stone structure during the Chola era (11-12th Century CE). The Mahamantapam was also supposedly built during the Chola era as suggested by experts from the architecture style.

In the northern wall is an inscription belonging to Kulothunga Chola I (1071 – 1122 CE). This mentions the contribution of a land to create the Nandavanam (Flower Garden) for the temple and donation of a piece of land from a village called Orikkai to support the gardener and his family by a merchant named Arulalathevan.

Another inscription (1109 CE) on the southern wall mentions the gesture of two priests (Doothakari Thiruvaranga Manibattar and Nindra Narayana Battar) who contributed their earnings to perform an ablution to the huge idol of the lord with Curd. Also mentioned in this is a large donation of wealth including 2 pots of gold by a trader.

On the western wall of the sanctum an inscription belonging to the period of Rajathi Raja Chola (1163 – 1179 CE) mentions the donation, by a devotee called Nirainindraan, of 32 cows to provide for the continuous burning of the lamp here at Thirupadagam.

Legend

King Duryodhana of the Kauravas invited Lord Krishna (an ally of the Pandavas) with an intention of killing him by seating him on top of a concealed room wherein he would fall down. The Lord did fall but took his Vishwaroopam form to slay all the soldiers stationed below to kill him. The legend goes on that King Jename Jayan performed an Ashwamedha Yaga inviting Lord Krishna and requested him to show the same Vishwaroopa to him and other devotees here at Thirupadagam. The Lord obliged.

Directions

Thirupadagam is near and southwest of the Ekambaranadar temple inside Kancheepuram Town.

Stay and Food

Kancheepuram town has innumerable temples which could be combined as preferred. Refer our map to plan your day. Good hotels and restaurants are available.

108 Divya Desam Temples

Kancheepuram Temples

Tamilnadu Temples