District : Kanchipuram Location : Pillayarpalayam, Kanchipuram
Ashtabuja Perumal Temple is located at Pillayarpalayam near
Kanchipuram, 1.5 km west of the Varadaraja Perumal Temple. It is one of
the 108 holy places of Vaishnavites. The presiding deity is Adikesava
Perumal along with his consort Alamelumangai. The Perumal in this
sthalam is Aadhikesava Perumal and he is seen with 8 hands. He holds
Chakaram, Sword, a Flower and an Arrow on the 4 right hands and Sangu,
Bow, Kedayam (which is used to protect while fighting using a sword) and
Gadha (Which can be found along with Hanuman and Bhima).
The temple occupies an area of one acre with a three-tiered
Rajagopuram in the northern side. The temple tank is known as Gajendra
Pushkarani. The temple holds separate shrines for Bhuvaraahar, Aandaal,
Peyalwar and Hanuman. The deity in the shrine has got eight hands which
is something super natural. Lord Vishnu is portrayed in a standing
posture, facing the Western side. This is a very old temple and tourists
can find many stone carvings in this temple.
The sthalapuranam of this temple is also associated with that of
Saraswathi and Lord Brahman. After all the demons were killed by Sriman
Narayanan, who were sent by Saraswathi to destroy the yagam done by
Brahma devan, she finaly sent a ferocious Sarbham (snake). Sriman
Narayanan to kill the dangerous snake, took the form of Ashtabhuja
Perumal holding 8 different weapons to kill the snake. And using all
those 8 weapons, he killed the snake sent by Saraswathi. The snake is
found on the Vaayu end of the yaaga sala as “Sarabeswaran” in this
temple.
The main festivals celebrated are Bhramotsavam in the month of
Chittirai (April-May), and Gajendramoksham in Aadi (July-August). This
is a very old temple and tourists can find many stone carvings in this
temple.
