Thiruvidanthai Divya Desam - Lakshmi Varaha Perumal Temple

• Meditation: I meditate on Sri Lakshmi Varaha Perumal with Sri Akhilavalli Nachiyar Thayar on his lap, and Sri Kamalavalli Nachiyar Thayar in a separate shrine in Thiruvidanthai Divya Desam.

• Greatness: Thiruvidanthai is a Divya Desam. It is the 62nd Divya Desam and is located in Thondai Nadu. This kshetra is also known as Varahapuri since the Lord manifested here in the form of Lord Varaha. This kshetra is also known as Nitya Kalyanapuri since the Lord married the 360 daughters of sage Kalva almost daily for one year; Nitya means Daily and Kalyana means Marriage. This kshetra is also known as Sripuri since the Divine Mother incarnated in the form of 360 daughters of sage Kalva. Since the Lord held his consort (Akhilavalli Thayar) on his left side, the place came to be known as Thiru (Divine) + Ida Yenthai (Left side), which later became known as Thiruvidanthai. In Mahabalipuram the Lord is known as Thiru (Divine) + Valaventhai (Right side), since the Lord holds his divine consort on his right lap. Since the Lord married almost everyday in the year (360 daughters of sage Kalva in one year), he is called Nitya Kalyana Perumal (Nitya means Daily and Kalyana means Marriage). Since the Lord gave Gnana Upadesam in the form of Varaha, he is also known as Gnanapiran. Since the goddess manifested in many forms (as 360 daughters of sage Kalva), she is known as Akhilavalli Thayar (Akhila means many).
- Perumal is in Standing posture facing East.
- Pratyaksham: Markandeyar
- Mangalasasanam: Thirumangai Alvar (13 Pasurams)
- Vimanam: Kalyana Vimanam
- Pushkarini: Kalyana Teertham, Varaha Teertham
- Sthala Vriksha: Punnai

• Puranic Events:

1. Lord Varaha & king Bali: King Bali performed penance here and got the darshan of Lord Varaha.
- Events: King Bali was the son of king Meganatha and ruled his kingdom abiding in the path of dharma. However, once to assist three asuras (Mali, Maliavan and Sumali) he had to fight against the devas. To atone this sinful act he performed severe penance at Thiruvidanthai near the Varaha Teertham. Finally, the Lord emerged out of the Varaha Teertham and gave darshan to the king in the form of the Varaha avatar. The Lord gave moksha to Bali and said that whoever takes bath in the Varaha Teertham in the Tamil month of Masi will attain Moksha.

2. Devi Lakshmi & sage Kalva: Devi Lakshmi incarnated as the 360 daughters of sage Kalva.
- Events: On the bank of river Saraswati there lived a sage named Kuni. A celestial damsel attended to his needs. When Kuni attained salvation, the damsel decided to perform penance to attain heaven. Sage Narada told her that without marriage she cannot enter the heaven. The damsel went to the various sages living in that place requesting them to marry here. Finally, only sage Kalva consented for the marriage. After marriage, by the blessings of the Divine Mother, the damsel gave birth to 360 girl children in one year (who were parts of the Divine Mother). Then the damsel left for heaven.

3. Lord Varaha & sage Kalva: Sage Kalva worshipped Lord Varaha. Lord Varaha appeared as a brahmachari to marry his daughters.
- Events: Sage Kalva found it difficult to raise the 360 children and asked the brahmins for their suggestion. They told him to go to Thiruvidanthai and live there. When sage Kalva entered that Kshetram, his mind was filled with peace seeing the natural beauty of the place with groves and freely roaming animals. He lived there with the girl children and worshipped Lord Varaha daily. In the mean time, the children grew up and attained the age of marriage. Kalva rishi started looking for suitable bridegrooms. One day the Lord came in the form of a brahmachari pilgrim saying that he was visiting all the Divya Desams and was of Kashyapa gotra. He consented to marry all the daughters of sage Kalva.

4. Lord Varaha & Devi Lakshmi: Lord Varaha married the 360 daughters of sage Kalva and merged them as Akhilavalli Thayar.
- Note: The marriage took place in a single year almost every day of the year. Hence the Lord is known as Nitya Kalyana Perumal (Nitya meaning daily and Kalyana meaning Marriage). The place is thus also known as Nitya Kalyanapuri. After marriage the Lord merged all the daughters (who were parts of the Divine Mother) in the single form of the Divine Mother. Hence the place is also known as Sripuri, since all the 360 daughters (who were parts of the Divine Mother) grew up in that place. After the Lord merged all the daughters in the form of the Divine Mother, he took the form of Lord Varaha and appeared with his consort on the left lap. Since the Lord appeared in the form of Lord Varaha, this place is also known as Varahapuri. The Lord gave Gnana Upadesam in that form, so he is also known as Gnanapiran. The first of the 360 daughters is known as Komalavalli who is the Thayar of this temple. Since the 360 daughters merged into one form, the Divine Mother here is also known as Akhilavalli Thayar (Akhila meaning many). The Moolavar Image of Sri Lakshmi Varaha Perumal has Akhilavalli Thayar seated on the lap of the left leg. The Utasavar Image of Sri Nitya Kalyana Perumal is dressed as bridegroom.

• Deities:
- Lakshmi Varaha Perumal: The Image of Sri Lakshmi Varaha Perumal in Standing posture facing East. The right leg of the Lord is placed on the ground while his left leg is raised and resting on the head of Adisesha. On the lap of the left leg is seated Akhilavalli Thayar, the consort of the Lord.
- Nitya Kalyana Perumal (Utsavar Image): The Utsavar Image of Sri Nitya Kalyana Perumal in the form of a bridegroom with a dot on his left cheek (sign of a bridegroom).
- Akhilavalli Thayar: The Image of Sri Akhilavalli Thayar sitting on the left thigh of the Lord.
- Kamalavalli Thayar: The Image of Sri Kamalavalli Thayar in a separate shrine.

• Sacred Geography:
- Thiruvidanthai was a place of great natural beauty with groves and freely roaming animals.
- Varaha Teertham or Kalyana Teertham: Pushkarini of the temple.
- Punnai Tree: Sthala Vriksha of the temple.

• Location: Thiruvidanthai is located in the outskirts of Chennai in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu. This is in Thondai Nadu. The temple can be visited from Chennai. It is around 25 km from Thiruvanmiyur on the East Coast Road.

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