Thiru Ashtabhuyakaram Divya Desam - Ashtabhuja Perumal Temple

• Meditation: I meditate on Sri Ashtabhuja (or Adikeshava or Gajendra Varada Perumal) and Sri Alarmelmangai (or Padmasini Thayar) in Thiru Ashtabhuyakaram Divya Desam.

• Greatness: Thiru Ashtabhuyakaram is a Divya Desam. It is the 44th Divya Desam and is located in Thondai Nadu. Ashta means Eight and Bhuja means Arms. The Lord here assumed a form with eight arms with weapons to vanquish a ferocious beast called Sarabha and protect the yagna of Lord Brahma. Hence he is known as Ashtabhuja Perumal. Gajendra is the elephant, Vara means boon and Da means giver. The Lord is the giver of boon (of protection) to Gajendra in this place. Hence he is known as Gajendra Varadar.
- Perumal is in Standing posture facing West.
- Pratyaksham: Gajendran
- Mangalasasanam: Peyalvar, Thirumangai Alvar (12 Pasurams)
- Vimanam: Gaganakruthi Vimanam (or Vyomakara Vimanam), Chakrakruthi Vimanam
- Pushkarini: Gajendra Pushkarini

• Puranic Events:

1. Lord Vishnu & Brahma: Lord Brahma performed yagna worshipping Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu protected his yagna.
- Events: Once there was a controversy between Lord Brahma and goddess Saraswati due to which the goddess started creating impediments when Lord Brahma started a yagna worshipping Lord Vishnu. Goddess Saraswati sent several demons, but Lord Vishnu protected the yagna by killing all the demons. Finally goddess Saraswati sent Sarabha, a ferocious beast to hinder the yagna. Lord Vishnu then assumed a form with eight arms holding various weapons. In this Ashtabhuja form, the Lord vanquished Sarabha and protected the yagna of Brahma.
- Note: The Moolavar Image of the Lord is in Standing Posture facing West. The Image has eight arms holding Sankha (Conch), Chakra (Discus), Gada (Mace), Padma (Lotus), Sword, Shield, Bow and Arrow.

2. Lord Vishnu & Gajendra: Elephant Gajendra worshipped the Lord with flowers in this place. The Lord protected him from the clutches of a crocodile.
- Events: The Gajendra Moksham event is believed to have taken place in this temple. Every day, the elephant Gajendra used to worship the Lord with Lotus flowers from the temple tank. One day a crocodile caught hold of his foot. Gajendra prayed to the Lord for help. The Lord appeared in this place and freed Gajendra.
- Note: The Pushkarini name is associated with this event. The Pushkarini is known as Gajendra Pushkarini.

• Deities:
- Ashtabhuja Perumal: The Image of Sri Ashtabhuja Perumal in Standing posture with eight hands and facing West. The eight hands are holding Sankha (Conch), Chakra (Discus), Gada (Mace), Padma (Lotus), Sword, Shield, Bow and Arrow.
- Alarmelmangai Thayar: The Image of Sri Alarmelmangai Thayar (or Padmasini Thayar).

• Sacred Geography:
- Gajendra Pushkarini: Pushkarini of the temple.

• Location: Thiru Ashtabhuyakaram is located in Kanchipuram in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu. This is in Thondai Nadu. The temple can be visited from Kanchipuram.

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