Samprokshanam at Kanchi
Sri Pushpavalli samedha Ashtabuja Swami temple ... geared up for the great event.
THE MAHA Samprokshanam of the famous Sri Pushpavalli samedha Ashtabhuja Swami temple in Kanchipuram, one of the important 108 holy places (divya desams) of Vaishnavites , will be performed between 7.30 a.m. and 9 a.m. on November 28. The temple has been renovated at a total cost of about Rs. 5 lakhs with donor contributions.
The yagasala and other pujas begin at 6 a.m., on November 26.
The Lord here is also known as Adikesava Perumal, Ashtabhujakaran, Ashtabhujanga Swami, Chakradharar and Ganedra Varadan and His Consort is known as Alamelumangai, Pushpavalli Thayar and Padmasini. The temple tank, the holy water source, is Gajendra Pushkarani.
Apart from Thirumangai Azhwar, Manavala Mamunigal, Vedanta Desikar and Pillaiperumal Iyengar have sung in praise of the Lord here.
The Moolavar image of the Lord has eight arms (Ashtabhujakaram) with weapons such as the bow, arrow, sword, shield and gathai, and a lotus, conch, and chakram.
The image of Goddess Mahalakshmi is on His right chest and He is seen wearing the huge saligramam garland round his neck.
Among the 14 Vaishnavite Divyadesams in Kanchipuram, Ashtabhuja Perumal temple is an important one for devotees.
At least four of the 14 Vaishnavite holy places in Kanchipuram town are linked to the story of Brahma performing the yagna to have a darshan of Lord Narayana. They are Yadoktakari, Thoopul Deepaprakasar, Ashtabhujakaram and Varadaraja or Devarajaperumal temples.
The last temple appeared in the yaga kundam as the Punyakodi Vimanam with the image of Sri Varadaraja, when the ritual was completed.
According to legend the first in the order is the Yadoktakari temple where the Lord appeared as Vega Sethu and stalled the attempt made by Saraswati, Brahma's Consort, who appeared as a river to disrupt the yagna.
Adikesava Perumal with Consort ... the Lord who answered the prayer of Brahma. — Pics. by A. Muralitharan
The Lord checked the flow of the river by lying across its course.
Saraswathi, who got furious at the turn of events, created Kali and asked her and other demons to go and disrupt Brahma's yagna at Sathyavratha Kshetram, referred to by the sages as Kanchi.
When Kali and the demons appeared, Brahma prayed to the Lord to stay there and bless the devotees.
The Lord was enshrined there as Adikesava Perumal even before Brahma appealed to Him and appeared as Ashtabhujakaran later. This is one of the few holy places linked to the story of Brahma performing the yagna to have a darshan of Lord Narayana. Peyazhwar and Thirumangai Azhwar have performed Mangalasasanam at the holy place.
The Lord faces west and the temple has a three-tier beautiful rajagopuram with a single prakaram. There are separate shrines for Lord Andal, Anjaneya, Bhuvarahan and Peyazhwar besides a large number of panchaloka idols including the beautiful `utsava' vigrahas of the Lord and His Consort, Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya.
K. SUBRAMANIAM
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