Description
The Thiruvidandai Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple is situated in a tiny place called Thiruvidanthai in Kovalam, Tamil Nadu. One has to go about two and a half kilometers to the direction of Mahabalipuram from Kovalam to reach the temple. It is a highly regarded temple for the Vaishnavis and the Lord is unique here in the sense that he is in a standing postion and faces towards the East. His left leg is kept folded and he holds Lakshmi in his left lap.
History
Thiruvidandai Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple is a Divyadesam. Divyadesams located in India and Nepal are the sacred holy places among the Vaishnavis, dedicated to the worship of Lord Vishnu. This Hindu pilgrim spot is famously believed to provide good luck to new couples and do away with all evils and obstacles in the way of marriages. Pilgrims and especially to-be married couples visit the temple in order to seek the blessings of the presiding deity, Nithya Kalyana Perumal. Couples getting married offer two garlands to the lord. After the rituals are done, they are given back one of those garlands by the priest. Before the marriage the person getting married does a pradakshinam or circling of the temple wearing that garland.
Importance/Significance
However, the legendary story goes like this that a sage called Gavala Maharishi had as many as three hundred and sixty daughters. He wished to get them married off. He worshipped Lord Vishnu and prayed to him who in turn gave him word that he would marry one of his daughters each day. Thus he married three hundred and sixty daughters in 360 days. One the 360th day Vishnu appeared in the form of Lord Varaha Perumal and combined all the 360 wives of his into a single female entity who is Sri Lakshmi. He made the Goddess sit on his left lap and she is worshipped here as Komalavalli Thaayaar. This signifies that Lord Vishnu is the Supreme male form in the universe.
Facts/Mythology
In the Treta yuga a king called Bali was approached by three demons who asked him to support them in a battle against the gods. Bali refused to help them. The three demons defeated the gods and again requested Bali to be on their side. This time Bali relented and when the demons finally won, Bali got a curse because he went against the gods. He prayed to Lord Thiruvidhandhai who appeared to him in his Varaha avatar and listened to his prayers. This Varaha avatar is one of the ten incarnations or avatars of Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology. It is the third avatar.
Festivals/Events/Gatherings
The festivals that are celebrated in the temple are typically Tamil festivals. Brahmotsavam is observed during the Tamil month of Chittrai. During some of the other Tamil months like Masi, Thai, Aani and Aadi Garuda Seva are done by the devotees. This is very auspicious. Another popular festival celebrated here in the months of December or January is Vaikunda Ekadasi.
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