Nagalapuram, approximately eighty km from Chennai, houses the Vedanarayana Svami temple, a unique shrine for God Vishnu’s first incarnation as a fish (Matsya Avatara).. According to the traditional lore (Sthala-purana) of this temple, a demon (asura) called Somakudu took the Vedas from Lord Brahma and hid them in the ocean. God Vishnu, in the form of Matsya killed this asura and retrieved the Vedas. Inscriptions record that the Vijayanagar Emperor Krishnadeva Raya (1509-1529 AD), enroute to Kumbakonam for the Mahamagam festival, travelled through this place which is called Nagalapuram, after the name of this monarch’s mother Nagaladevi.
The main image of God Vishnu is Matsya avatara with four arms, the upper two holding the conch and discus. The lower right hand is in abhaya hasta (offering protection) and the lower left hand is in uruhasta (resting on the thigh). The unique feature is that Vishnu is seen with the lower part of the body in the form of a fish. This image, enshrined under the Padmakara Vimana, and flanked by Sridevi and Bhudevi, is believed to be svaymbhu (self-manifest).
The temple has three prakaras (circumambulatory passages) and many gopuras. Surya Puja, a unique festival, is celebrated on three days of the year — on the 12th, 13th and 14th of the Tamil month of Panguni, when the rays of the setting sun fall directly on the feet, body and face respectively of the main deity. This is believed to indicate the worship of Mahavishnu by the Sun God (Surya Bhagavan).
Many Vijayanagar era inscriptions, especially of Krishnadeva Raya’s reign, etched on the walls register gifts to this temple. An inscription of Krishnadeva Raya mentions that lands were donated for the recitation of the Vedas and also the Dravida Veda (Divya Prabandham) and for the exposition of Vedanta.
Main deity
The deity here is Vishnu as Matsya Avatara
Name of Goddess
Lakshmi is worshipped as Vedavalli Thayar
Another name
Nagalapuram was also called Arigandapuram
Annual festival
Brahmotsavam is celebrated for ten days
Chithra Madhavan
cityexpresschn@gmail.com
The writer is a historian who focuses on temple architecture