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Mythologically, the third incarnation of Vishnu was in the
form of Varaha, the Boar. There are a number of temples dedicated to Lord
Vishnu in the aspect of this incarnation. One of such famous temples is at
Tiruvadantai, 27 miles from
Chennai towards
south on the way to Mahabalipuram.
The Deities
The main deity is 3m (9 ft) tall and is called "Sri Lakshmi Adi
Varaha". He is also known as "Sri Nritya Kalyana Perumal'. The
Lord holds 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.
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 gre at 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.
There are four Utsavamurtis (processional deities), namely, Nitya -
kalyanaswami, Kottukar, Palpo Perumal and Spathanaperam. On festive
occasions the processional deities are taken around the temple.
Legend Connected With The Temple
Once upon a time there lived a sage named Kalava at Tiruvadantai. He had
360 daughters. Tiruvadantai was a great city in those days and had 360
Agraharam (streets where Brahmins lived). As the sage was greatly honoured
and respected, one daughter was taken up by each of the 360 streets to be
respectfully maintained and looked after. Time rolled on. In due course,
when the girls came of age it became a great anxiety for the sage how to
get them married suitably. Praying fervently, the sage resigned himself to
God.
Lord Vishnu elected to take the form of a 'Brahmachari' (bachelor) and
appeared in the first Agraharam and broached the subject of marriage with
the first daughter and then married her. It is customary with newly
married Hindu couples to visit the village temple and pay their homage to
the presiding deity and receive blessings for their future life. When the
Brahmachari visited the local Varahaswami temple with his newly - wedded
wife, he and his wife both mysteriously vanished in the sanctum sanctorum.
On the second day, Vishnu again took the form of another Brahmachari and
proposed marriage with the second daughter in the second Agraharam and
married her too. After marriage when the couple visited the local temple
they too disappeared. Likewisely, mysteriously, a new Brahmachari used to
be performed with one of Kalava Maehashi's 360 daughters. And when the
newly married couples visited the Varahaswami temple, they just vanished.
When all the 360 girls vanished in this manner, the episode reached
Maharshi Kalava. He was bewildered and agitated and wanted to know from
God Himself the whereabouts of his daughters and sons-in-law.
When the Sage entered the, sanctum sanctorum of the temple with the
object of knowing from the Lord's mouth the where abouts of his daughters,
Lord Vishnu appeared before him as Varaha, the Boar, holding all the 360
daughters on lap. Lord Varahaswami embraced all the 360 daughters of
Maharshi with his left hand and pressed all the 360 souls into single soul
of Lakshmi, His consort, making her sit on his raised thigh. The merging
of the souls of his daughters with that of Goddess Lakshmi enlightened the
Sage.
The sage was greatly elated that Goddess Lakshmi considered him fit
enough to be her father. As the marriage episode continued day after day
for the 360 days of the year, the presiding deity was fondly named "Nityakalyanaswami"
(Nitya means daily, Kalyana means marriage). Gradually the place gained in
importance.
Festival Celebrated
The annual festival of repute and interest is performed in 'Tai' (January
- February), when the presiding deity is taken to Kulattur near
Puduppakkam hill in a palanquin with exquisitely carved ivory images
depicting the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
Air: The nearest airport is at
Chennai, which has
both National and International terminals.
Rail:The nearest convenient railway station is also at
chennai, which is
well connected with the important cities and towns within and beyond the
state.
Road: There are regular buses from
Chennai,
Mahabalipuram and the
neighbouring towns to Tiruvadantai.
Being the capital city of the state, Chennai is well equipped with various kinds of accommodation options, varying from economic class to luxurious ones.