01A colour for each yuga
The temple’s katha gives Bhagwan a colour for each age, matched to the nature of beings in it: white in Satya Yuga, coral red in Treta, green in Dvapara, dark blue in Kali. Pavalam is coral, and here he keeps the red of Treta. Another telling says he stood between Brahma’s yajna and the asuras sent against it, and came away stained red. The Ashvini twins are said to have had his darshan in this form.
02One verse, two precincts
Thirumangai Alvar named this shrine in a single pasuram, and that verse is enough to make it a Divya Desam. The standing image faces west under the Vedasara vimana. Two precincts open through a five-tiered gopuram whose stucco shows Narasimha among other forms. Pillars in the hall carry Nammalvar, Ramanuja and Manavala Mamunigal. The temple follows Tenkalai practice, and the Brahmotsavam comes in Vaikasi.
The life of this place
- Alvar periodThirumangai Alvar names Pavalavannam in one pasuram.
- Chola periodRecords of Rajadhiraja I and Kulottunga I are cut on the walls.
In Periya Kanchipuram; see Pachaivannar across the road on the same visit.
