Tirukalvanur & Tirupavalavannar – Location
These two shrines are located in and around the Kamakshi Amman Temple in Kanchipuram. In particular, the Divya Desam of Tirukalvanur is located very close to the main sanctum of the Kamakshi Amman Temple.
Tirukalvanur Sthalapuranam
The word Kalvanur originates from the Lord’s name of ‘Kalva’ which means a lovable thief. The Lord here is ‘Adhi Varaha Perumal’. The consort is ‘Anjilaivalli Natchiyar’. The Vimana is Vamana Vimanam. The Theertham is referred to as ‘Nitya Pushkarani’.
A legend says that once Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Parvati were conversing on the banks of the tank Lord Vishnu was eves-dropping on the conversation. Goddess Parvati realized and called out the Lord as ‘Kalva’.
DivyaDesam 54 Arulmigu Sri Kalvaperumal Temple, Kanchipuram – Click here for the Google Maps location
Tirukalvanur – Special features
The Divya Desam is located inside the precincts of the Kamakshi Amman temple in an alcove in the wall near Garbhagruham. Some believe that this is the original Adhi Varaha Perumal temple and that He has blessed Goddess Parvati as Kamakshi Devi here.
The Lord here is unusually small in stature. He is probably the smallest of the ‘archavatara’ idols in worship amongst the 108 Divya Desams. The priests of Kamakshi Amman temple conduct daily pujas.
Tirukalvanur – Mangalasasanam
Only Thirumangai Alwar has the affection to refer to the Lord of this shrine as “Kalva” just as Goddess Parvati is said to have done. He refers to many shrines in Kanchipuram in the eighth piece of Thirunedunthandagam (2059) and concludes by saying that they all have planted their divine feet and taken residence in his heart.
Tirupavalavannar Sthalapuranam
In Kanchipuram, there are two temples namely PachaiVannar temple and Pavala Vannar temple. They exist opposite to each other. In these two places, the Lord is mentioned by His colour. He is seen in Emerald green in the Pachai Vannar temple and in the Pavala Vannar temple, He is seen in Coral colour.
When Thirumangai Alwar came to Pavala Vannar shrine, the Lord is seen in the colour of a coral.
In Kali Yuga, the Lord is supposed to be in the complexion of dark clouds. The Alwar realized that after destroying the demons sent to disrupt Lord Brahma’s ‘yajna’, the Lord stood dripping with blood. Hence the Lord appeared in the colour of coral or Pavazham in Tamil.
Tirupavalavannar Special Features
These are two temples–Pavalavannar and Pachaivannar. There is no mangalasasanam for one of them but both are worshipped and honoured by the devotees together.
Tirupavalavannar – Mangalasasanam
In Thirunedunthandagam (2060) he refers to the Lord of the shrine as Pavalavannar. He wonders at this new colour which is a great mystery to him.
