| Temples & Legends Of
Tamilnadu |
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| Temples & Legends Of
India |
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TIRUVADANTAI |
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| The presiding
deity, Adi Varaha Perumal, is holding a conch in his upraised right hand and the disc in
his left. The name of the Goddess is Akhilavalli Ammal. The Goddess is seated over the
left thigh of Lord Vishnu in his Varaha aspect, His left hand encircling Her waist, while
Her feet are held in His lower right hand palm. Only the right leg of Varahaswami is
touching the floor. There are four Utsavamurthis (processional deities), namely, Nitya -
kalyanaswami, Kottukar, Palpo Perumal and Spathanaperam. On festive occasions the processional deities are taken around the temple.
The deity is decorated with a garland formed of 108 saligrams around the neck. The legend
goes that one Hariseka Maharaj, the ruling Chief of Mahabalipuram, possessed this garland
originally. He was a great devotee of Adi Varahaswami and it was his daily routine to
visit the temple and pay homage. When he became old and was physically unable to move, he
presented the garland to the presiding deity. |
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