Vilakkoli Perumal – Deepa Prakasar
Amman / Thayar : Maragathavalli
Theertham : Saraswathi Theertham
Old year : 1000-2000 years old
Historical Name : Tiruthanka, Thooppul
City : Thooppul
District : Kanchipuram
State : Tamil Nadu
The Vimana above the Sanctum Sanctorum is called Srikara Vimana. There are shrines in the temple for Mother Sri Mahalakshmi, Sri Andal, Lord Hayagriva, Lord Deepa Prakasa, Azhwars, Garuda Bhagwan and Acharya Sri Vedanta Maha Desikaswami.
Greatness Of Vilakkoli Perumal:
Vilakkoli Perumal temple in Kancheepuram is one among the 108 Divya Desas of Lord Vishnu. Perumal granted darshan to Mother Saraswathi in this temple. The place is also known by the name Thoopul as it was dense with Dharba grass then. This is the birth place of noted Vaishnava Acharya Sri Vedanta Maha Desika, hence the Acharya is also praised as Thoopul Vedanta Desikan. Saint Tirumangai Azhwar had sung his Mangalasasanam on the temple.
Sri Maha Desikan is a gift to his mother who prayed to Lord seeking child boon. Responding to her prayer, Lord of Tirupati – Lord Venkatachalapathi asked the Bell in His hand to be born the son of the mother. Bell is not used during pujas in Tirupati temple after this event. Born in the year 1268, Sri Desika was centenarian plus till 1369. He was an outstanding scholar of highest degree in the scriptures. He rendered a large number of Sanskrit works in Tamil. He has also authored in Tamil the Adaikala Pathu (Asylum 10) on Lord Varadaraja Perumal.
Desika’s son Nayina Varadachari completed the construction of this temple, it is said. There is a separate shrine for Sri Desika in the temple. Lord Lakshmi Hayagriva idol worshipped by Sri Desika is still in the temple. His Avatar Utsav is celebrated in the temple on the Revathi star day in Chithirai month-April-May.
History of Vilakkoli Perumal Temple:
Lord Brahmma the Creator was sad that he had no temple in Earth and conducted a yajna dedicated to Lord Shiva. He failed to invite His own consort Mother Saraswathi. Angry Saraswathi cursed that there should be no light to conduct the yajna. Brahmma fell at the feet of Lord Vishnu for light. Perumal granted darshan to Brahmma in the form of jyoti-light and helped him. As Perumal gave light – Vilakku Oli in Tamil- He is called Vilakkoli Perumal and Deepa Prakasar in Sanskrit.
Perumal also helped a compromise and re-union between Brahmma and Saraswathi.
