Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple Location & Introduction:
Tiruvidanthai / Thiruvidanthai is a small village on the outskirts of Chennai on the shores of the Bay of Bengal about forty km due south of Chennai. The temple was built by the Pallavas with the latest additions by Cholas.
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Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple Sthalapuranam
According to legend, when Hiranya stole Mother Earth and hid Her, Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar with tusks. He fought and killed the ‘asura’ and carried Her from below to restore Her position. Along the way, He gave a long discourse on various subjects including how every activity that He has created can reach him with ‘bhakti.’ He married Komalavalli here in this Desam.
Another legend is that the sage Kalava had three daughters who all wished to be married to Lord Sri Narayana. The sage came to this Desam and prayed to the Lord who agreed to marry them all one day at a time. The first daughter was Komalavalli an incarnation of Goddess Mahalakshmi. Because of this, the Lord has come to be known as ‘Nithya Kalyana Perumal’.
Special features
This Desam is known by many names such as Varaha Kshetram, Nithya Kalyana Kshetram, Asura Kaala Nalloor etc. The Lord is known as ‘Sri Lakshmi Varahan and Nithyakalyana Perumal’. The Universal Mother is ‘Komalavalli Natchiyar’.
The theertham is ‘Varaha theertham’ and ‘Kalyana theertham’. The vimana is Kalyana Vimana.
Those who wish to get married should visit this shrine.
Charama Slokam
In this ‘avatar’ the Lord speaks to Bhu Devi of ways for His creations to reach Him. The ‘charama sloka’ of Sri Varaha ‘avatar’ is considered the very first instruction by the Lord on this subject. An approximate translation of the sloka is given here. It is in the first person as spoken by the Lord.
“If anyone thinks of Me, when the mind is sound (sthite manasi),with the body in good health (suswasthe shareere), and with mental and physical faculties working intact (dhaatu saamye sthite) – realizes that I am indeed the very cause of this universe (vishwaroopam), that I am without birth (ajam) – then I assure (You, Bhumi Devi) that I will remember this devotee of Mine when they are on their deathbed, lying (helplessly) like a stone or a log of wood, and personally lead them to the Supreme Abode.”
Mangalasasanam
In his Peria Thirumozhi (1108-1117), Thirumangai Alwar plays the role of the mother of the girl who is in love with the Lord and who wants his ‘Thiru-adi sambandham.’ He says my chief who resides in Tiruvidanthai.
He asks what your disposition is towards my daughter who wants to know that the ever-beautiful Mahalakshmi born of the ocean resides in your heart. For ten pasurams he describes the thoughts of the daughter (as her mother) and asks the Lord what his plans are regarding the daughter’s future.