Sri Kailash Vaikunta Mahakshetra Temple, Rajaji Nagar 5th Block, Bangalore

Photo Courtesy: Geetha Padmanabhan

Last month I was searching for a picture of Ananthasayana perumal (Moolavar in Karkala) in google and after 2 days I found the picture and posted it in my blog. The picture was small and resolution was less.

To my surprise I received a mail from Srinivassan Soundarrajan and he had beautiful pictures of  Ananthasayana perumal in his gallery. I thanked him and posted the pictures of Ananthasayana perumal

Few days later I was browsing through his gallery and found beautiful ranganathar and the description read Ranganathar, Rajaji nagar Bangalore. It was a weekend and I took an auto and ended up in West of Chord Road(Manjunath Nagar) Ranganathar temple. I entered the temple and surprised to see Ranganathar which was different from the photo. I did archana and returned home. The same night I messaged Srinivassan Soundarrajan and told him about the ranganathar temple in West of Chord Road.

He was not aware of the exact location and he promised me to get back with the proper address and location of temple. This was because he left Bangalore few years back.

Today I again did a search in google maps based on approximate location suggested by Srinivassan Soundarrajan. I boarded a bus and got down at Bashyam circle and walked towards the location suggested by my google maps based on GPS(mobile phone). After 10 mins of walk I saw a gopuram in the corner of road and found it was a Bala murugan temple. I turned back in confusion and the Sri Kailash Vaikunta Mahakshetra Temple,was on the opposite side with a park in front of the temple.

I rushed inside the temple and this time it was the same ranganathar I saw in the photo gallery of Srinivassan Soundarrajan. There were 2 devotees in the temple and I spent some time and had a nice dharsan. I thanks Srinivassan Soundarrajan for giving me the oppurtunity to visit 2 ranganathar temples located in less than 2kms radius.

 Sri Kailash Vaikunta Mahakshetra Temple is located in Rajaji Nagar 5th Block, which is less than 3kms Bangalore Railway station.

This temples has Panchamukha Anjaneyar, Ranganathar (More than 20 feet length), Srinivasa perumal, Shiva, Tirupurasundari, Navagraha, Ganesha and Subramanya. Lakshminarasimhar temple is right in front of temple. Also one can find 7 feet sani bhagwan temple and Balamurugan temple in the opposite side.

shared from Srinivassan Soundarrajan photo gallery

Click here to watch the moolavar video from Sankara tv

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The Ananthapadmanabha Swamy temple, Malayadipatti

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The neglected shrine of Anantha Padmanabhaswamy at Malayadipatti, one of the rock cut Perumal cave temples of Tamil Nadu, needs to be refurbished.

Located 45 km from Tiruchi in Malayadipatti, a remote village in the Kulattur Taluk of Pudukottai district is a rock cut cave temple (facing North) for Anantha Padmanabhaswamy. The temple dates back to around 1200 years to the late eighth century A.D./early ninth century A.D.

In the centuries gone by, Malayadipatti was also referred to as Thiru Valattur Malai and was known for two rock cut temples – one dedicated to Siva and the other to Vishnu- both hewn out of the same rock.

Elegant architecture

While the rock cut style is more reminiscent of the temple at Thirumaiyyam (also in Pudukottai district) and the stucco decorations there, the Perumal temple at Malayadipatti is more of the Mamalla style with elegant pillars. The pillared hall contains large panels cut in the side walls filled with scriptures including those of Narasimha and Varaha.

The 15ft Moolavar is a beautifully carved image of Lord Anantha Padmanabha in a sthala sayana posture lying on the serpent Adisesha and is similar to the one seen in Thiruvananthapuram divyadesam. While his right hand is hanging down in a posture of blessing the devotees, the Lord's feet rest on a lotus. Performing pujas with Lotus flowers is a speciality in this temple. One can find interesting paintings on the ceiling above the Anantha Padmanabhaswamy idol. 

Inside the sanctum are Pundareekaksha, in a standing posture, with the Gandharvas seen performing puja. Malola Narasimha in a sitting posture, Lord Vaikunta Natha with Sridevi and Bhoodevi and Chaturbhuja Hayagriva also in a sitting posture are found inside the sanctum. On the wall are two demons, Madhu and Kaitabha, who threatened to kill Brahma - but were slain in the process. The two Dwarapalakas, Jaya and Vijaya, at the entrance are not conventional sculptures and are more in the form of portrait sculptures.

Legend has it that Diwakara Rishi, who in a fit of rage tried to disrupt the yagna of King Indradyumna, was cursed to lose his powers. He is believed to have undertaken penance here invoking the blessings of Lord Vishnu, who, pleased with the rishi's sincerity, appeared as Anantha Padmanabhan in the sayana posture and blessed him to get back his lost yogic powers and knowledge. The temple is an abhimana sthalam.

Interesting insights

There are several inscriptions that provide interesting insights about the temple. An eighth Century A.D. inscription refers to Danti Varma Pallava and the Siva temple which is adjacent to the Perumal temple. The structure of the Malayadipatti cave temple and the Lord have similarities to the Sthala Sayana Perumal Divya Desam at Thiru Kadal Malai (Mahabalipuram).

Inscriptions also refer to the renovation undertaken in 960 A.D. by Raja Kesari Sundara Chozhan.

A 16th Century AD inscription relating to the period of Achuthappa Nayaka of Thanjavur refers to gifts of villages and other grants made to this temple describing the Lord as ‘Kan Niraintha Perumal' and to this place as Thiruvai Malai. Another inscription dating back to the same period refers to the Lord as Thiru Vaazha Vantha Perumal.

The temple appointed a full time Bhattar recently. But for a temple with such rich inscriptions and being part of the select rock cut Perumal temples of Tamil Nadu and given that this has been classified as a heritage monument, it would be good to give both the temple and the village a complete face lift. Accessibility to the temple must also be improved too.

Contact: Pudukottai HR & CE Board at 04322 221084

Festivals at the temple

Procession on the Full moon day during the Tamil month of Chithirai.

Theerthavari on Maasi Makham.

Temple time: 7a.m.-11 a.m. and 5 p.m.-6.30 p.m.

Quick Facts

Moolavar: Ananthapadmanabhan in Sthala Sayana Posture

Thayar: Kamalavalli Nachiyar.

The Lord: Referred to as ‘Kan Niraintha Perumal' and ‘Thiru Vaazha Vantha Perumal'

Features of the temple

Belongs to the eighth Century A.D. Rock Cut Cave temple.

Has the Mamalla style of architecture.

How to reach

One can reach Malayadipatti by taking the Tiruchi - Keeranur - Killukottai route (17 km from Keeranur) or Tiruchi-Thuvakudi–Poyyakudi-Asur-Sengalur route.

The temple is 33 km from Pudukottai.

Auto/Taxi fare from Tiruchi will be around Rs. 500.

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