Lakshmi Narasimha Pon Vilaintha Kalathur

The Narasimha Utsavar Deity of Thiru Kadal Mallai Divya Desam was installed here about 900years ago
Following Vedantha Desigar’s stay here, the entire paddy field had turned into gold



Located 15kms South of Chengalpet is the Lakshmi Narasimha temple in Pon Vilaintha Kalathur(PV Kalathur) whose story has a close connection with the Sthala Sayana Perumal Divya Desam at Thiru Kadal Mallai (Mamallapuram).

http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2008/03/thiru-kadan-mallai-sthala-sayana.html

An interesting story
Several idols at Thiru Kadal Mallai Divya Desams (there was more than the one temple that we are seeing today) were on the verge of being washed away by the floods. Fearing the loss of the Narasimha idol, it is believed that utsava deity was taken away to a safer place from Thiru Kadal Mallai.

Garuda was given the task of identifying the place where the Lakshmi Narasimha Utsava deity was to be installed. It is said that almost 900 years ago, Garuda came above this temple and circled the vimanam thrice.

Taking this as the endorsement by Garuda as the right place to install, it is said that the Lakshmi Narasimha utsava deity was installed here at Pon Vilaintha Kalathur (PV Kalathur) and the temple whose moolavar deity is Vaikunta Vaasa Perumal actually came to be called by the name of the Utsava deity itself.

While this is not a Divya Desam, the fact that the Utsava deity relating to Thiru Kadal Mallai Divya Desam was installed here makes this a significant and historic temple.

Vedantha Desigar Visits Kalathur

Vedantha Desigar is said to have stayed here for a day on his way from Kanchipuram to Thiru Vahindrapuram. On the evening of his stay, Desigar wanted to feed his favourite Lord, Hayagriva of Thiru Vahindrapuram and went around the village seeking alms. However, with the night having set in and the lights having been lit, the people in the village refused to pass on the food.

Given this scenario, Vedantha Desigar performed the evening pooja with the sacred water (Theertham) and put his favourite Lord to sleep (Sayanam).

It is believed that that night a white horse went around destroying the fields much to the anger of the villagers, who brought this to the notice of Desigar the next morning.

Hearing this, Desigar came out onto the field to witness what had happened. To the surprise of everyone, they found that the field where the horse had placed its feet had turned into gold. Desigar knew it was the work of his favourity deity Hayagriva (who the villagers had allowed to sleep in hunger the previous night!!!)

Hence this place came to be called Pon Vilaintha Kalathur.

Parikara Sthalam


This is believed to be a parikara sthalam for unmarried people and to cure health related problems. There are utsavams round the year for Lakshmi Narasimha at this temple.

Festivals

Panguni Brahmotsavam
Sudarshana Homam on January 26 every year
Narasimha Utsavam -300 days a year
Davana Utsavam 2nd Sunday of March every year



Quick Facts

Moolavar : Vaikunta Vaasa Perumal
Goddess : Ahobila Valli Thaayar
Utsavar : Lakshmi Narasimha
Temple Time : 8am-11am and 5pm-730pm
Priest : Babu Bhattar @ 044 27441142

How to reach

From Chengalpet, take the Old GST Road, turn left (1km before the Madras- Trichy National Highway Bye Pass.) into the road leading to Thirukazhakunram via Pon Vilaintha Kalathur (PV Kalathur).

About 6kms into this road, one should cross the Ottivakkam railway station gate to reach Pon Vilaintha Kalathur.

There are local buses every half hour (during morning and evening) running between Chengalpet and Pon Vilaintha Kalathur.

One can take a passenger train between Chennai Egmore/Tambaram and Villupuram and get down at Ottivakkam. From Ottivakkam, one can walk to the Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Pon Vilaintha Kalathur (PV Kalathur).

Auto or a Taxi from Chengalpet is another option.