Sri Sonna Vannam Seidha Perumal Temple – Location
About a 2-hour drive due west and a little south of Chennai, it is located just off the Chennai–Bengaluru national highway. Rail and bus connectivity is plenty. The nearest airport is Chennai.
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Sri Sonna Vannam Seidha Perumal Temple – Sthalapuranam
When Goddess Saraswati took the form of a swift river (Vegavati) to flood Lord Brahma’s yajna-sala, Sri Vishnu laid down in Her path. On seeing Him, the river went underground to avoid coming into contact with him. Hence the Lord here is known as ‘Vegasetu’.
Originally the Lord is said to have been resting on His right hand like in other temples in the Kidantha Ihirukkolam. Much later when Thirumazhisai Alwar was living in Kanchipuram he had a sishya by name Kanikannan.
At one point the local king forced Kanikannan to write pasuram in praise of him. Kanikkannan refused. The angry king told the sishya to get out of town. Kanikannan went and told Alwar this. Alwar went to the temple and informed the lord that Kanikannan is leaving and so is he.
Consequently, Alwar said the Lord need not stay there any longer. The Lord left with the two and they left the town of Kanchipuram. The town went dark as the deity departed. The king panicked. He chased after them and fell at their feet and asked for forgiveness and requested their return. Alwar told the Lord that since they are returning so can He.
The Lord returned to the temple and this time, to witness the history of the event rested on his left hand instead of right. The Lord is known in Tamil as Sonna Vannam Seidha Perumal (The Lord who did as he was told to do).
Thiruvekka – Special Features
The Lord is Yathokthakari or Sonna Vanam Seidha Perumal. The Universal Mother is Komalavalli. The temple tank is Poigai Pushkarni. The vimana is Vedasaara Vimanam. This is the avataara sthalam of Poigai Alwar which has a separate shrine.
This is the only shrine wherein the Lord is in Kidantha Thirukkolam resting on His left hand.
Mangalasasanam
Poigai Alwar in his Mudhal Thiruvandhadhi (2158) says that if one just mentions Venkadam, Sri Vaikuntam, Thiruvekka, Thirukkovalur with its moats filled with flowers where the Lord stands, sits, is at rest, and walks, all that ails one will fall away.
In Moondram Thiruvandhadhi (2307), Pey Alwar sings about this Lord saying that He wears the cooling tulasi garland, He will never leave His devotees, and resides in Alwar’s heart along with resting on Anantha in places like Tirumala, Vekka and Velukkai. Alwar advises (2315) his heart to worship who stayed sitting in Velukkai, resting in Vekka after probably becoming tired by measuring the three worlds standing in one place and killing the miser Kamsa.
