Srivaikuntham
Historical background
Renowned for its superb architecture and outstanding carvings, the Kallapiran temple at Srivaikuntam (Toothukudi dst., Tamil Nadu) is one of the Nava Tirupati – a group of nine sacred Vaishnava shrines on the banks of the Tamraparni River.
Although the core of the temple probably dates from the Pandya period (6th– 9th centuries), it was redeveloped and greatly expanded in the 16th and 17th centuries by a local Nayaka. It survived the ravages of the war between Virapandya Katta Bomman and the British at the close of the 18th century. The latter used the temple as a fortress and signs of the battle are still seen on the doors of the temple.
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The presiding deity is popularly known as Lord Vaikuntanatha. He is also known as Kallapiran, Lord of Robbers, which refers to the following story. Once upon a time a band of robbers lived in the forest near Srivaikuntam. Their head, Kaladutaka, was known for his piety and devotion to Vishnu. He robbed only the affluent, he used to worship to Vaikuntanatha before setting of on a plundering expedition, and always offered half of his booty to the god.
Once, while his gang was looting the palace, they were caught, Kaladutaka, however, escaped. He meditated on Vishnu and the deity, in the form of an old Brahmin, promised to help him. Vishnu then assumed the form of the robber and went toward the palace. The soldiers, who were looking for him, caught him and took him before the king. Kaladutaka told the king that stealing was his livelihood, at which the king asked him if this was not sinful. Eventually, after a philosophical debate on the nature of wealth, the king realised that the person before him could not be a thief. Vishnu then revealed himself to the king. The king mended his ways and became a benevolent ruler. Hence the deity is called Kallapiran because of his assistance to the robber Kaladutaka.
Inside the innermost corridor skirting the main sanctuary are traces of Nayaka paintings. On the ceiling there were probably scenes drawn from the Bhagavata Purana. Laid out on two rows the 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams adorn its walls. All the divyadeshams are identified by captions in Tamil and Telugu. Both these sets of paintings, which judging from the surviving fragments must have been exquisite, are now in parlous conditions. This part of the temple is now generally locked to the public.
Date: 17th century
Description: A ruler and his retinue paying homage to Vishnu.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south east wall
Date: 17th century
Description: A ruler and his retinue paying homage to Vishnu.
(Alternative lighting)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south east wall
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Sri Ranganatha of Srirangam and the processional images of Alagiyamanavala and consorts in the foreground. 2) Srinivasan of Tirumala (?).
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Sri Ranganatha of Srirangam and the processional images of Alagiyamanavala and consorts in the foreground. 2) Srinivasan of Tirumala (?).
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;KallapiranTemple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left, top row: 1) Sri Ranganatha of Srirangam; 2) Srinivasan of Tirumala and 3) Yoga Narasimha. Bottom row: 1) Krishna quelling the snake Kaliya, 2) Krishna in Dwarka with his eight wives (?), and 3) Krishna stealing the clothes of the gopis.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams; From left: 1) Krishna quelling the snake Kaliya; 2) Krishna in Dwarka surrounded by his eight wives (?).
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, bottom row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1)Srinivasan of Tirumala; 2) Yoga Narasimha.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. Rama’s consecration (?).
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, bottom row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Vishnu reclining on Shesha with two devotees offering flowers in the foreground; 2) Vishnu reclining on Shesha.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams; From left: 1) Vishnu
reclining on Shesha and Brahma seated on the lotus sprouting from the deity’s navel; 2) Vishnu seated on the serpent Shesha.
Location: Tamil NaduTemple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, bottom row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Standing form of Vishnu flanked by consorts; 2) Vishnu reclining on the serpent Shesha and two devotees seated in the foreground.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Vishnu seated on Shesha, flanked by his consorts; 2) The Puri triad, of which Jagannatha is barely visible; 3) Seated Vishnu flanked by his consorts.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall , bottom row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. Left, centre, right: Vishnu reclining on the serpent Shesha and two devotees seated in the foreground.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1)Seated (?) Vishnu; 2) not identifiable; 3) Standing Vishnu.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, bottom row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Vishnu reclining on the serpent Shesha and two devotees seated in the foreground; 2) Krishna Venugopala.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1)Narasimha emerging from the pillar flanked by Prahlada on the left and Hiranyakashipu on the right; 2) Seated Vishnu (?); 3) Unidentified.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, bottom row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Vishnu reclining on the serpent Shesha and two devotees seated in the foreground. 2) Standing Vishnu flanked by consorts.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Rama , Lakshmana and Sita (?); 2) Rajagopalaswamy of Mannargudi (?); 3) Unidentified figure.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, bottom row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman. 2) Sarangapani of Tirukkodandai (Kumbakonam) reclining on the serpent Shesha in his chariot-shaped shrine drawn by a horse. From the navel of Sarangapani issues a lotus on which is seated Brahma. On the bottom left, the temple tank.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Unidentified figure. 2): ‘Tiruvengalanatha … ‘ flanked by Narada and Tumburu on the right, and two noblemen on the left. 3) Rama flanked by Lakshmana, Hanuman and Sita. The inscription reads: ‘Tiruvallikkeni … ‘ This may hint at the Rama temple inside the Parthasarathi Temple in Chennai.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, bottom row
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