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: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. Inner prakara, south west corner, general view.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, west corner
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams: ‘Aran Sapa Vimochana Perumal ‘ (Harasapavimochana Perumal) of Tirukandiyur flanked by Shiva on the left and Kamalavalli Nacchiyar on the right.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. Standing Vishnu flanked by consorts. On the extreme left: Kamalavalli Nacchiyar.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. Standing Vishnu flanked by consorts.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, west corner, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Yoga Narasimha; 2) Sthalashayana Perumal of Mamallapuram (?) Vishnu reclining on Shesha, a lotus sprouts from the deity’s navel. Two devotees in the foreground. 3) Lakshmi Adi Varaha Perumal (Nitya Kalyana Perumal) of Tiruvidavendadai (Tiruvandadai).
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, bottom row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Nitya Kalyana Perumal of Tiruvandadai; 2) Ranganatha of Tirunirmalai (Malai Mel Koyil) enshrined on the top of the hill. The standing and seated Vishnu images, shown above the main tableau, may refer to the shrines at the foot and in the middle of the hill. 3) Vishnu seated with his consort resting on his left thigh.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall, bottom row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. Inner prakara, west wall, south corner, general view.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;KallapiranTemple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, west wall, south corner, general view
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Eight-armed (?) Vishnu on Garuda; on the right, a devotee. 2) Standing Vishnu flanked by consorts.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, west wall, south corner, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1)Standing Vishnu. 2) Eight-armed Vishnu. 3) Vishnu, reclining on the serpent Shesha and two devotees in the foreground.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, west wall, south corner, bottom row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) and 2) Vishnu standing flanked by consorts. 3) Seated Vishnu flanked by consorts.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, west wall, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) 2) 3): Vishnu standing flanked by his consorts.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;KallapiranTemple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, west wall, bottom row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Seated Vishnu flanked by consorts; 2) Vishnu reclining on the serpent Shesha; 3) Govindaraja of Tiruchitrakutam (Chidambaram) reclining on the serpent Shesha. One consort is shown near his head and the other near his feet. A lotus on which Brahma is seated sprouts from Govindaraja’s navel. In the foreground, two devotees.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, west wall, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Vishnu standing flanked by consorts. 2) Vishnu seated holding his consort on his left thigh; 3) Vishnu reclining on the serpent Shesha, with his consort seated at his feet. Two devotees sit in the foreground.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, west wall, bottom row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: Govindaraja of Tiruchitrakutam (Chidambaram) reclining on the serpent Shesha. A lotus ,on which Brahma is seated, emerges from Govindaraja’s navel. One of his consorts sits near his head, the other at his feet. In the foreground: Two devotees. 2) Adi Varaha Perumal of Srimushnam striding. 3)Trivikrama of Sirkali. In the top left corner, Brahma accompanied by the dikpalas lustrates the raised foot of Trivikrama. In the top right corner celestials shower flowers on the god. On a cloud, on the left are Narada, Tumburu and other celestials singing Trivikrama’s praise. In the bottom left corner, King Bali grants Vamana the three steps of land to build his hut.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, west wall, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Disappeared; 2) Alagiyasinghar (Yoga Narasimha) of Tiruvelukkai (Kanchipuram) flanked by his consorts.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, west wall, bottom row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1)Trivikrama of Sirkali. In the top left corner, Brahma accompanied by Brahma and the dikpalas lustrates the raised foot of Trivikrama. In the top right corner celestials shower flowers on the god. On a cloud, on the left are Narada, Tumburu and other celestials singing Trivikrama’s praise. In the bottom left corner, King Bali grants Vamana the three steps of land to build his hut. 2) Tirunarayana of Melukote with Bibi Nacchiyar seated between his feet. 3) Standing Vishnu.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, west wall, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Alagiyasinghar (Yoga Narasimha) of Tiruvelukkai (Kanchipuram); 2) Tirunirasattar (?) standing flanked by consorts; 3) Varadaraja (?) flanked by consorts.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, west wall, bottom row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Standing Vishnu. 2) Standing Vishnu. 3) Standing Vishnu flanked by consorts.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, west wall, top row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1) Standing Vishnu flanked by consorts. 2) Dipaprakasha of Tiruttanaka (Kanchipuram) wearing clogs and a turban-like headgear. On the left, a diminutive couple. 3) Pandava Dhudhan of Padakam (Kanchipuram) seated flanked by his consorts. 4) Paramesvara Vinnagam Emperumal of Kanchipuram seated, flanked by consorts.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara, west wall, bottom row
Date: 17th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. From left: 1)Niragatan of Tiruniragam (Kanchipuram) standing flanked by consorts. 2) Standing Vishnu flanked by consorts. 3) Dipaprakasha of Tiruttanaka (Kanchipuram) wearing clogs and a turban-like headgear.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallapiran Temple;Srivaikuntham
Positioning: Inner prakara west wall, bottom row
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