Sri Pavala Vannam Perumal temple or Sri Pavalavannar temple or Pavalavanam temple is dedicated to Sri Vishnu and is located in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu. The temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. Lord Vishnu is worshipped as Pavalavannar Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Pavazhavalli.
It is believed that the temple was built during the time of the medieval Cholas. The temple has three inscriptions on its walls, from the Kulothunga Chola I period (1070-1120 CE), Rajadhiraja Chola (1018-54 CE) and the Vijayanagar period (15th-16th centuries). At present, the temple is maintained and administered by hereditary administrators and the Hindu Religious and Endowment Council of the government of Tamil Nadu.
Sri Pavala Vanna Perumal Temple Timings:
Morning: 7.30 AM to 11.30 AM
Evening: 5.00 PM to 8.00 PM
Sri Pavala Vanna Perumal Temple Timings:
The temple rituals are performed six times a day:
Ushathkalam at 7:00 AM
Kalasanthi at 8:00 AM
Uchikalam at 12:00 Noon
Sayarakshai at 6:00 PM
Irandamkalam at 7:00 PM
Ardha Jamam at 10:00 PM
Each ritual has three steps: Alangaram (decoration), Neivethanam (food offering) and Deepa Aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Pavalavannar Perumal and Pavazhavalli.
Kanchipuram Sri Pavalavannam Temple History:
Marichi Maharshi was a staunch devotee of Sri Vishnu. He had a question. Why should Sri Vishnu, although he is the highest of all, take an avatar as a human Ramavatar? Yet, why and how did he allow Ravana to kidnap Mother Sita? He wanted the answer directly from the Lord himself. The Lord granted darshan to the Rishi. The Rishi asked his questions. He asked, “Are you the one who embodied yourself as Rama?” How could you have allowed Ravana to kidnap Mother Sita? Could this happen without your knowledge? Did you need to travel a long time to Lanka to save Sita Mata with the help of Sri Anjaneya? Can’t you do it yourself individually? ”
Lord explained. “It was an avatar to please all who loved me. Lord Shiva loves me very much, whom I embodied as Sri Anjaneya. Many joined me in my mission. I enjoyed the company of all who loved me. ”In addition, the Lord explained the family dharma that children are to respect and obey father and mother. Brothers are to live in unity and how they are to respect their sisters-in-law. How the characters of men and women should be in order. This avatar was to establish the rules of an ideal family. “The Lord gave the sage Marichi darshan the name of Pachai Vanna Perumal. Thus the sage has cleared his doubts.
Kanchi Pavalavannam Temple Greatness:
Lord Vishnu appears green like emerald, therefore praised as Pachai Vanna Perumal – Pachai means green Vannam means emerald. As He only granted darshan to sage Marichi, the Mothers are not with him in the sanctum sanctorum. He bestowed darshan as Rama to the Rishi, hence worshiped as Lord Rama and Mother as Sita.
The color of the planet Mercury-Budha is also green. As Lord of the planet, the devotees worship him in green cloths and Tulsi leaves archanas to alleviate all the negative aspects of this planet.
Directly opposite is the Pavala Vanna Nathar temple, (red like a coral) one of the 108 Divya Desams. Worshiping Peruvians – Pachai Vanna Nathar and Pavala Vanna Nathar is a rare occasion of darshan for devotees.
Mother Mahalakshmi blesses the devotees at a separate shrine. Usually, Sri Chakra is installed in temples in front of or near the shrine of the Mother. Here Sri Chakra is installed in the shrine itself. Mother blesses Her devotees in three ways, Sri Chakra Rupini, Mahalakshmi and Sita.
The divine serpent Adisesha, serving the Lord as his bed in the ocean of milk, was born as Lakshmana in Ramavatara, accompanying the Lord in his great mission to establish Dharma. Therefore, the Lord honored Adisesha in his Ramavatara as his brother. When he bestowed darshan on Marichi, he couldn’t become Adisesha here. He begged the Lord to give him the chance of bearing him. Obeying him, the Lord appeared above his head in the form of Jyoti. Therefore, Nagadeepam (lamp in the Naga serpent) is kept in the shrine of the Mother.
This Jyoti story has another backing too. Lord Brahmma conducted a yajna without inviting His consort Saraswati. Angry Saraswathi caused hindrance to the Yajna in the form of a jyoti. Lord Vishnu came there in the same Jyoti form and helped Brahamma to complete the rituals. Hence, Nagadeepam is considered the very form Sri Vishnu in the temple.
How to Reach Pavalavannam Temple:
By Air:
The nearest airport is Chennai International airport at a distance of 75 KM. Hire a taxi to reach the temple.
By Rail:
The temple is close to Kanchipuram railway station which is connected with Chennai and other cities in South India.
By Bus:
Bus services are available from Chennai, Pondicherry, Tiruati, Kalahasti, Nagaercoil, Madurai and Bangalore to Kanchipuram town. The temple is only 1 km from the Kanchipuram bus stand.
Kanchipuram Sri Pavalavannam Temple Address:
15J/9-2,
Damalwar Street,
Melkathirpur,
Periya,
Kanchipuram,
Tamil Nadu – 631502
