Ashtabhuyakaram

One of the 108 Temples & Celestial Abodes of Vishnu revered by the Tamil hymns of the Alwars of the 1st millennium CE

Location: Kanchipuram (Tondai Naadu)
Vishnu: Adikesava Perumal (Ashtabhuja Perumaal)
Taayaar: Alarmelmangai (Padmasini)
Theertham:Gajendra Pushkarini
Paasuram :Tirumangaialwar, Peyalwar
Vimaanam:Gaganakriti, Chakrakriti
Travel Base:Chennai, Kanchipuram
Description: This Divyadesam is located in the temple town of Kanchipuram, 1.5 km west of the Varadaraja Perumal temple.

The Divya Desams revered by the Alwars in Vishnu Kanchi are Attigiri (the vast Varadaraja Perumal temple), Ashtabuyakaram, Tiruttankaa, Tiruvelukkai and Tiruvegkaa, while those in Shiva  Kanchi are Tiru Oorakam (Ulagalanda Perumaal Koyil) , Tiru Neeragam, Tiruppaatakam, Nilaattingal Tundam, Tirukkaaragam, Tirukkaarvaanam, Tirukkalvanur, Tiruppavalavannam and Parameswara Vinnagaram. The vast Ekambreswarar temple(Prithvi Stalam)  revered by the Tevaram hymns, is located in Periya (Shiva) Kanchi, as are the Kamakshiamman and the Kumara Kottam temples.

Deities: The Moolavar here is Adikesava Perumal also known as Gajendravaradan or Chakradharar, in a standing posture facing west. Taayaar here is Alarmelmangai or Padmasini. The image of Adikesava Perumal has 8 arms, with 8 weapons (the discus, sword, a flower, an arrow, the conch, a bow, a shield and a mace). The Utsavar has 4 arms bearing a mace and a spear.

The temple: This temple with a single prakaram covering an area of about an acre has a 3 tiered rajagopuram in its northern entrance and the temple tank Gajendra Pushkarini across from it. There are shrines to Bhuvaraahar, Aandaal, Peyalwar and Hanuman.

Legends: This temple is associated with the legend of Gajendra Moksham (as in the Varadaraja Perumaal Koyil and Kapistalam), where it is believed that a devout elephant Gajendran, who was in the habit of making an offering of lotus flowers from the Ashtabhuja temple tank, to Vishnu was caught by the grip of a crocodile. The pleas of the elephant were answered by Vishnu who vanquished the elephant with his disc. Legend has it that Peyalwar was blessed with a vision of Gajendramoksham at this shrine.

Legend also has it that a vast army of titans sought to upset a ritual being conducted by Bhrahma and upon his request, Vishnu armed with eight different weapons warded off the intruders. Ashtabhuja Perumaal is Vishnu conceived and worshipped thus.

Festivals: Bhramotsavam is celebrated in the month of Chittirai, and Gajendramoksham in Aadi.

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