Kamal Guha at 01:15, 16 November 2023

2023-11-16T01:15:30Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Ashtabujakaram
| image = Ashtabhujakaram (8).jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|12|49|21|N|79|42|39|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Kanchipuram]]
| location = [[Kanchipuram]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Adi Kesava Perumal<br>([[Vishnu]])
Alamelu Mangai<br>([[Lakshmi]])

| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Ashtabujakaram''' or '''Ashtabuja Perumal Temple''' located in [[Kanchipuram]] in the [[South Indian]] state of [[Tamil Nadu]], is dedicated to the [[Hindu god]] [[Vishnu]]. Constructed in the [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian style of architecture]], the temple is glorified in the ''[[Divya Prabandha]]'', the early medieval [[Tamil literature|Tamil]] canon of the [[Alvars|Azhwar]] saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 ''[[Divyadesam]]'' dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Ashta Bhuja Perumal and his consort [[Lakshmi]] as Alamelumangai.

The temple is believed to have been renovated by the [[Pallavas]] of the late 8th century AD, with later contributions from [[Medieval Cholas]] and [[Vijayanagar Empire|Vijayanagar kings]]. The temple has three inscriptions on its walls, two dating from the period of [[Kulothunga Chola I]] (1070–1120 CE) and one to that of [[Rajendra Chola]] (1018-54 CE). A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all the shrines and two bodies of water. There is a four-tiered ''[[gopuram|rajagopuram]]'', the temple's gateway tower, in the temple.

Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
[[File:Gajendra Moksha print.jpg|250x250px|left|thumb|[[Gajendra Moksha]]]]
As per Hindu legend, once there was an argument between [[Saraswathi]], the consort of [[Brahma]] and [[Lakshmi]] on superiority. They went to [[Indra]], the king of celestial deities. Indra judged Lakshmi as superior and not satisfied with his argument, Saraswathi went to her husband, Brahma. He also chose Lakshmi to be the superior one. Saraswathi was unhappy with the decision and decided to stay away from Brahma. Brahma did a severe penance praying to Vishnu and did an ''Aswametha Yagna''. Saraswathi was still angry that the ''yagna'', which usually is done along with consorts was done alone by Brahma. She tried to disrupt the penance in various ways, including as the river [[Nagavali River#Tributaries|Vegavathi/Vega]], but Vishnu interfered in all her attempts. After all the demons were killed by [[Vishnu]], who were sent by [[Saraswati]] to destroy the ''yagna''(penance) done by [[Brahma]], she finally sent a ferocious ''Sarpam''(snake). Lord [[Vishnu]] took the form of Ashtabhuja Perumal holding eight different weapons to kill the snake. The snake is found on the Vaayu end of the ''yaaga sala'' as "Sarabeswaran" in this temple.<ref name=MS>[[#MS|MS 1993]], pp. 73-8</ref><ref name="R1">[[#R.|R. 2001]], p. 430</ref><ref name=Chari>{{cite book|title=The Glorious temples of Kanchi|last=T.V.R|first=Chari|year=1982|publisher=Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Ambal Devasthanam and Sarada Navaratri Kalai Nigazhchi Trust|location=Big Kancheepuram|pages=24–25}}</ref>

Another legend associates this temple to ''Gajendra moksham'' given by Vishnu to the elephant king [[Gajendra Moksha|Gajendra]]. As per the legend, the elephant Gajendra, used to worship Vishnu with the lotus fetched from the temple tank everyday. Once while picking up lotus, a crocodile caught the leg of Gajendra, who started calling the name of Vishnu for help. Vishnu sent his discus to punish the crocodile and relieve the elephant.<ref name=MS/> The presiding deity is addressed by various names like Adikesava Perumal, Gajendra Varadhan and Chakradhar.<ref name=Diwakar>{{cite book|title=Temples of South India|first=Macherla|last=Diwakar|location=Chennai|year=2011|edition=1st|page=145|isbn=978-93-83440-34-4|publisher=Techno Book House}}</ref>

==History==
The temple is originally believed to have been built during the rule of [[Pallavas]].<ref name=Chari/> The temple has inscriptions from the period of [[Kulothunga Chola I]] (1070 - 1120) indicating gifts of land to the temple. There are contributions mentioned in the same inscription indicating contributions from the local people for perpetual lighting of the temple. There are inscriptions in the Southern walls of the temple from Kulothunga I indicating sale of lands by Rajasundari Chaturvedimangalam to meet the kitchen expenses of the temple. Another inscription from the same period on the same walls indicates gift of tax free land in Chola Chaturvethimangalam to the temple for two years and levying tax of not more than 2 paise per ''veli'' subsequently. There are lot of gifts endowed to the temple during the Pallavan kings.<ref name=MS/>

==Architecture==
{{Multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
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| width1 = 3264| height1 = 2448
| width2 = 3264| height2 = 2448
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|image1=Ashtabhujakaram (1).jpg
|image2=Ashtabhujakaram (2).jpg
|footer= Shrines of the temple
| footer_align = center
}}
Ashtabhujakaram temple is located in Vishnu Kanchi or Chinna Kanchipuram in Hodgosonpet, located {{convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from [[Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram|Varadaraja Perumal Temple]]. The temple is a small one with a tank in front and has a three-tiered ''[[gopuram]]'' (gateway tower) that pierces the concentric rectangular walls. The presiding deity of the temple is Astabhuja Perumal facing West, whose image in the central shrine is sported with eight hands. The eight hands are sported to have a sword, shield, mace, bow, arrow, lotus, conch and chakra. He is seen having Mahalakshmi in his chest and sported with a garland made of [[Saligrama]]. There is a separate shrine for Pushpakavalli Thayar, the consort of Perumal. There is a four pillared hall named Friday Mandapam in front of the shrine. It is customary to worship Thayar before proceeding to the worship of Perumal. There is a shrine for [[Varaha]] Perumal in the complex, who is sported in seated posture under the hoods of two serpents.<ref name=Chari/> The temple also has [[shrine]]s dedicated to [[Hanuman]], [[Alwars]], [[Andal]], [[Chakra]] and [[Sarabeswara]]. The temple tank, Gajendra Pushkarani, is located outside the entrance tower.<ref name="hindu"/>

==Religious importance==
The temple is revered in ''[[Nalayira Divya Prabandham]]'', the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by [[Pey Azhwar]] and [[Thirumangai Alvar|Thirumangai Azhwar]] in one hymn. The temple is classified as a ''[[Divyadesam]]'', one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. The temple is one of the 14 Divyadesams in Kanchipuram.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Ashtabhuja Perumal temple|url=http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=500|publisher=Dinamalar|year=2011|access-date=27 August 2016}}</ref> The temple is believed to be the place where [[Brahma]] performed penance seeking the wishes of Vishnu and one of the few places where Brahma worshiped Vishnu.<ref name="hindu"/><ref name=census>{{cite book|title=Temples of Tamil Nadu Kancheepuram District|publisher= Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu|year=2003|last=C.|first=Chandramouli}}</ref> The temple is counted one among the four temples in Kanchipuram that include [[Yathothkari Perumal Temple]], [[Tiruththanka|Deepaprakasa Perumal temple]] and [[Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram|Varadaraja Perumal Temple]] where the legend of Brahma performing penance is associated.<ref name="hindu">{{cite news|title=Samprokshanam at Kanchi|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/11/21/stories/2003112101380600.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041120084751/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/11/21/stories/2003112101380600.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 November 2004|date=21 November 2003|access-date=28 August 2016|last=K.|work=[[The Hindu]]|first=Subramaniam}}</ref> The temple is also revered in the verses of Manavala Maamunigal, Vedanata Desikar and Pillai Perumal Iyengar.<ref name="hindu"/>

==Festivals and religious practices==
[[File:Ashtabhujakaram (4).jpg|250px|thumb|Stucco image of the deity sported with eight hands]]
The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Vaishnavite]] community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: ''Ushathkalam'' at 7 a.m., ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 12:00 p.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m., ''Irandamkalam'' at 7:00 p.m. and ''Ardha Jamam'' at 10:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Govindarajan and Pundarikavalli. During the last step of worship, ''[[nagaswaram]]'' (pipe instrument) and ''[[tavil]]'' (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the ''[[Vedas]]'' (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshipers prostrate themselves in front of the [[Iconography of Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu#Dvajasthamba and Pali Peedam|temple mast]]. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. The 10-day [[Vaikunta Ekadasi]] festival celebrated during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Margazhi'' (December - January) is the most prominent festival celebrated in the temple. Rama Navami and [[Navarathri]] are other prominent festivals celebrated in the temple.<ref name="dinamalar"/> Gajendra Moksha festival is celebrated during the Tamil month of ''Aadi'' (July - August) in the star of ''Hastham''.<ref name=Chari/>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin|2}}
* {{cite book|title=108 Vaishnavite Divya Desam Volume 1|publisher=Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams |location=Tirupati|year=1993|last=M.S.|first=Ramesh|ref=MS}}
* {{cite book|title=Vishnu Temples of South India Volume 1 (Tamil Nadu)|first=Chithra|publisher=Chithra Madhavan|last=Madhavan|isbn=978-81-908445-0-5|year=2007}}
* {{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|ref=R.}}
{{refend}}

{{Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu}}
{{Vishnu temples}}

[[Category:Divya Desams]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Kanchipuram]]

Ashtabujakaram - Revision history

Kamal Guha at 01:15, 16 November 2023