108 Divya Desams
55
Tondai Nadu
← 54. Thirukkalvanur (Adi Varaha)56. Thiru Parameswara Vinnagaram →
Pavalavanna-perumal
KanchipuramTamil Nadu
7th–9th c. CE
earth
A Temple Record

Pavalavanna-perumal

Pavalavanna — coral-coloured Vishnu of Kanchi

HinduVaishnavaSri Vaishnava
Enter the Record
↓
I.Overview

A Sacred Site

In Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, there stands Pavalavanna-perumal — pavalavanna-perumal — one of the 108 Divya Desams sung by the 12 Alvars. Goddess: Pavala-valli. Vimana: Pavalavanna-vimana. Sung by Tirumangai-alvar — 11 pasurams.

मन्त्रOm Namo Narayanaya / Om Namo Bhagavate VasudevayaSacred Mantra
§Sacred Mantra
·

Om Namo Narayanaya / Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

··
Pavalavanna — coral-coloured Vishnu of Kanchi · The Sacred Syllable

Recite softly. Let the syllables settle. The mantra is the shortest path between the devotee and the divine.

II.Architecture

The Built Form

Dravidian (Chola-Pallava)

1
Gopurams
12m
Height
0
2
Hectares

Vimana / Gopuram

Dravidian vimana over the sanctum — single or double prakara with modest vimana

Sanctum Sanctorum

Garbhagriha — Single or double prakara with modest vimana

Construction Material

granite with brick gopurams

Pavalavanna-perumal — one of the 108 Divya Desams sung by the 12 Alvars

§Plan View

An architectural reading of Pavalavanna-perumal — a top-down plan derived from the temple's recorded data.

SanctumVimana 12mEast GopuramN
Legend
Gopurams (1)
Vimana & Sanctum
IV.Elements

Sacred Elements

The colours, creatures, and offerings that mark this site.

Sacred Colours

saffron
yellow
green (tulasi)

Sacred Flowers

tulasilotuschampaka

Sacred Offerings

tulasi garlandpuliyodaracurd riceakkaravadisal
VI.Texts

Sacred Texts

  1. Nalayira Divya Prabandham

    Type: Tamil hymns

IX.Rituals

Worship & Rituals

Daily Rites

  1. vishvarupa

  2. kala-santi

  3. ucchikala

  4. sayaraksha

  5. ardha-jama

Offering Sequence

  1. 01

    tulasi

  2. 02

    milk abhisheka

  3. 03

    puliyodara

  4. 04

    deepa-arati

  5. 05

    tirtha + shathari

X.Sacred Story

A Temple Record

An editorial reading of the site, woven from its architectural, historical, and scriptural data.

In Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, Pavalavanna-perumal — a 7th–9th c. ce site — pavalavanna-perumal — one of the 108 Divya Desams sung by the 12 Alvars. Goddess: Pavala-valli. Vimana: Pavalavanna-vimana. Sung by Tirumangai-alvar — 11 pasurams.

§Reading the Built Form

Built in the Built in the Dravidian (Chola-Pallava) tradition, the temple's 1 gopurams rise 12 metres into the sky the garbhagriha holds garbhagriha — single or double prakara with modest vimana . Pavalavanna-perumal — one of the 108 Divya Desams sung by the 12 Alvars

The temple is principally referenced in Nalayira Divya Prabandham (tamil hymns).

Om Namo Narayanaya / Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
§A Visitor's Approach

01Walk the pradakshina path. Let the silence settle.

02Look up. The vimana above the sanctum is the temple's vertical sermon — each tier a step toward the divine.

03Chant the mantra softly: Om Namo Narayanaya / Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.

04The tradition here is hindu. Sit. Listen. The darshan is its own teaching.

§Practical Notes
When to Visit
Open year-round. Visit at dawn for the deepest quiet.
Tradition
Hindu · Vaishnava · Sri Vaishnava · Tamil

End of record · Pavalavanna-perumal

§Sacred Connections

Other sites derived from shared frontmatter data — tradition, era, region, or built form.

Of the Same Tradition

6

Tirupparaittathurai Padmanābha

Hindu

Ādi-Shakti form at Kollur Mookambika

Hindu

Ādi Śaṅkara at Kaladi

Hindu

Agni

Agni

Hindu

Ahobilam Narasiṁha — 9 forms

Hindu

Aiyanar of Pudukottai

Hindu

Of the Same Era

5

Soundararajan

7th–9th c. CE

Akilandeshwari of Thiruvanaikka — the goddess-consort

7th–9th c. CE

Akilandeshwari of Thiruvanaikka — the goddess-consort Temple

7th–9th c. CE

Pavalavanna-perumal Temple

7th–9th c. CE

Soundararajan Temple

7th–9th c. CE

In the Same Region

6

Tirupparaittathurai Padmanābha

Thirupparaitthurai, Trichy, Tamil Nadu

Aiyanar of Pudukottai

Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu

Aiyyanār of Puliyangudi

Puliyangudi, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu

Alangudi Guru

Alangudi, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

Alwarthirunagari

Alwarthirunagari, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu

Āṇḍāḷ (Godādevi)

Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu

Of the Same Architectural Style

6

Nilathingal Thundam (Chandrasooda)

Dravidian (Chola-Pallava)

Adikesava-perumal (Ashtabujagaram)

Adikesava-perumal (Ashtabujagaram)

Dravidian (Chola-Pallava)

Varadaraja-perumal

Varadaraja-perumal

Dravidian (Chola-Pallava)

Thirukkalvanur (Adi Varaha)

Dravidian (Chola-Pallava)

Thiruneeragam (Jagadeesha)

Dravidian (Chola-Pallava)

Thiruooragam (Trivikrama

Dravidian (Chola-Pallava)

trade_routes:

  • "Kanchipuram temple pilgrimage corridor" connected_events:
    • event: "Alvar hymns and Divya Prabandham composition" significance: "One of the 108 Divya Desams hymned by the 12 Alvars (6th–9th c. CE)" vahana: "Garuda (eagle mount)" connected_events:
    • event: "Temple founding and consecration" significance: "Original temple construction and prana-pratishtha ceremony" associated_kings:
  • "Local ruling dynasty" sacred_trees:
  • peepal
  • bilva (bael)
  • tulasi sacred_animals:
  • Nandi (sacred bull)
  • peacock
  • elephant vahana: "Garuda (eagle mount)" festival_dates:
  • "Maha Shivaratri (Feb–Mar)"
  • "Diwali (Oct–Nov)"

Pavalavanna-perumal

One of the 108 Divya Desams

The 108 Divya Desams are the sacred abodes of Vishnu sung by the 12 Alvar saint-poets. Compiled as the Nalayira Divya Prabandham by Nathamuni (9th c. CE), this corpus of 4,000 pasurams defines the sacred geography of Tamil Vaishnavism and the Sri Vaishnava sampradaya.

This Temple

  • Location: Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram (12.8414°N, 79.705°E) Tamil Nadu
  • Presiding deity: Pavalavanna-perumal (Vishnu coral-red, unique among 108 forms)
  • Thayar (Goddess): Pavala-valli
  • Tirtham: Chakra-tirtham
  • Vimana: Pavalavanna-vimana
  • Mangalashasanam: Sung by Tirumangai-alvar — 11 pasurams
  • Built: 7th–9th c. CE

Sthala-Puranam

Unique coral-red painted deity (contrasting with the usual dark-blue Vishnu). Linked by tradition to Saraswati who returned the 4 Vedas here after Brahma's anger.

Worship & Festival

Daily 5-fold puja; Vaikuntha Ekadashi (Margazhi full moon) is the holiest day — the Paramapada-vasal gate is opened; passing through is said to grant moksha. Annual Brahmotsavam (10 days) features Vishnu on all his vahanas (Garuda, Hanumanta, Shesha, Hamsa, Simha, Ratha).

The Alvar Tradition

Each Divya Desam's sanctity rests on how many Alvars sang of it and how many pasurams — this is the mangalashasanam. Tamil Vaishnavism treats the 4,000 pasurams as Dravida Veda — equivalent to the Sanskrit Vedas.

Sthalapurana (Temple Legend)

The sacred history of this shrine is recounted in local Sthalapurana texts and the Divya Prabandham hymns.

❀

✦Wisdom Graph: Divine Associations✦

MantraOm Namo Narayanaya / Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Sacred flowers
tulasilotuschampaka
Offerings
tulasi garlandpuliyodaracurd riceakkaravadisal
Sacred colours
saffronyellowgreen (tulasi)

📖 Stories

  • Sthala-puranam of Pavalavanna-perumal
    Unique coral-red painted deity (contrasting with the usual dark-blue Vishnu). Linked by tradition to Saraswati who returned the 4 Vedas here after Brahma's anger.
    — Alvar pasurams + sthala-puranam

🪔 Worship Procedures

Daily rites
• vishvarupa
• kala-santi
• ucchikala
• sayaraksha
• ardha-jama
Puja sequence
  1. tulasi
  2. milk abhisheka
  3. puliyodara
  4. deepa-arati
  5. tirtha + shathari

🛕 Principal Temples

  • Pavalavanna-perumal Temple7th–9th c. CE
    📍 Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India
    12.8414°, 79.7050° — view on map
    Festivals: Vaikuntha Ekadashi (Dec–Jan) · Brahmotsavam (annual 10 days)
    Goddess: Pavala-valli. Tirtham: Chakra-tirtham. Vimana: Pavalavanna-vimana. Sung by Tirumangai-alvar — 11 pasurams

🎊 Festivals

  • Vaikuntha Ekadashi
    Margazhi (Dec–Jan) · 1 day
  • Brahmotsavam
    Annual · 10 days

📜 Primary Scriptural Sources

  • Nalayira Divya PrabandhamTamil hymns7th–9th c. CE