Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple,Tamil Nadu

Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple or “Thiruvidandai”, also known as Lord Varaha Temple, is one of the 108 Divya Desam temples of Vaishnavites. It is located near Chennai, about 19 Kilometers south of Thiruvanmiyur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is considered a Varaha Kshetram where Sri Vishnu assumed the face of a Varaha (boar). The temple is dedicated to Shri Vishnu as Nitya Kalyana Perumal and Divine Mother Shakti as Komalavalli Thayar. This temple is widely believed to bestow good luck to those wishing to get married, and help remove obstacles that prevent marriages.

Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple was built by Pallavas. It is near the seashore. A large temple tank is in front of the temple. This is known as the Kalyana Theertham. There is a separate shrine for Komalavalli Nachiyar. The Lord here stands on Adisesha and holds his consort on his left thigh. There is also separate shrine for Andal. The Temple follows Thenacharya Sampradayam.

Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple,Tamil Nadu

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Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple faces east direction towards Bay of Bengal. Temple is 118 meters (approx) in Length and 43 meters (approx) in Breadth.
The sacred shrine faces the sea on the East. Surrounding the sanctum sanctorum, there are small separate shrines for Komalavalli Thayar (the first daughter of sage Kalava), Sri Andal, Lord Ranganatha, Goddess Ranganayaki and others. The holy water-front are Kalyana Theertham and Varaha Theertham. Holy dips in these sacred tanks during the solar months of Aries (April-May) and Aquarius (February-March) respectively would ensure wish-fulfilment and salvation. There is also another sacred water-front called “Ranganathar Theertham”.

Sage Gavalaa Maharishi had 360 daughters. He was determined to get them married. He prayed to Lord Vishnu. The Lord who resides here promised the sage that he would marry one daughter a day and married all 360 in a year. So the Lord is called ‘Nithya Kalyana Perumal’ and the place came to be known as “Nithya Kalyana Puri”. The Lord then immediately converted all the daughters into one and kept on his left lap. Hence the name is called “Thiruvidandai”. In Thamizh ‘Thiru’ means Lakshmi, ‘Ida’ means left and ‘Endhai’ means ‘my father’ (God). Hence the place came to be known as Thiru Ida Endhai which later corrupted to become Thiruvidandhai.
During Thretha Yuga, there was an Asura King named Meganathan who had a son named Bali. He was once approached by three asuras for the help to fight against devas. Bali supported them and finally defeated all the devas. But he felt that he committed a sin by defeating the devas hence he came here to Thiruvidanthai and underwent a sincere penance. The ALMIGHTY was pleased with the deep devotion of Bali, emerged from the temple tank in the form of Varaham – a Boar. Hence he is being worshipped as Varaha Murthy and the temple tank as Varha Theertham. He gave moksha to Bali in the Tamil Month of Masi. Adhishesan is seen along with his Consort Vasuki here, Thiruvidanthai Divyadesam is being worshipped as Raghu and Kethu Dhosha Nivarthi Sthalam.
Epigraphical evidences found in the temple speak of Kings belonging to different dynasties like Chola, Udaiyar, Pandya, and others, patronizing the temple from the 10th to the 16th centuries A.D.

7:15 am to 8:15 am: Morning Pooja (Kaalai Santhi Pooja)
11:30 am to 12:00 pm: Day Pooja (Uchi Kaala Pooja)
5:30 pm to 6:00 pm: Evening Pooja (Saayarathchai Pooja)
7:30 pm to 8:00 pm: Night Pooja (Arthajaama Pooja)

The Annual Brahmotsavam is conducted during Chittirai. Garuda Seva is held during the months of Aani, Aadi, Masi and Thai. During the solar month of Pisces (March-April), a 9-day festival “Panguni Uththiram” is celebrated. The day of the star “Uttara Phalguni” assumes significance.
Also, large crowds throng the temple for worship on the days of Vaikunta Ekadasi. The annual festival, Thaipusam, is celebrated with much pomp and splendor on the day of star Pushya in the solar month of Capricorn (January-February). The deity is taken on a procession in a palanquin, exquisitely carved with ivory images, depicting the ten incarnations of Lord Maha Vishnu.

Puliyodharai (Tamarind Rice), Dhadhyonam(Curd Rice), Pongal, Chakkarai Pongal, Vada, Adhirasam, Murukku are offered to this Lord as Prasadam.
At the temple, special poojas are conducted for those aspiring marriage. The aspirant is to perform archana and offer two garlands to the Lord Adi Varaha and the Goddess. The aspirant is asked to wear a garland then and circumambulate the temple precincts nine times, devoutly praying to the Lord for happy, speedy wedlock. Garlands of the deities are then distributed to the aspirant, asking him / her to safeguard them in the pooja room, till the marriage materializes. After the marriage, dried garlands are to be returned to the temple by the happy newly-wed couple. There stands a huge tree as testimony, holding thousands of dried garlands, after fulfilling the wishes of speedy wedlock to many a devotee. For Rahu-Ketu afflictions in the horoscope, special worship is offered here to the many-hooded serpent Adi Sesh Nag, which holds the divine feet of the Lord of Thiruvidanthai.

By Road
Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple is around two and a half km from the Kovalam bus terminus towards Mahabalipuram.
By Air
Nearest Airport: Chennai.
By Rail
Nearest Railway Stations: Chennai Egmore and Central.