- Overview
- Legend
- What the official listings say
- Vedanta Desika
- Architecture
- Festivals
- Festivals
- Photos
- Timings
- Questions
- Sources
Overview
The Deepaprakasa Perumal Temple, also called Tiruththanka, Desikar Avatara Sthalam and Tooppul, is a Dravidian-style Vishnu temple in Kanchipuram. It is mentioned in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham and is one of the 14 Divya Desams in Kanchipuram. Vishnu is worshipped as Deepaprakasar, with Lakshmi as Maragathavalli.[2]
Legend
The legend repeats the story of Saraswati's anger with Brahma over the ashvamedha yagna he performed with Savitri. She tried to disrupt the penance by sending darkness, and Vishnu interfered "like a light from the lamp", hence the name Vilakoli Perumal. In another version she sent rakshasas, and the stream of light from Vishnu spoiled the attempt; Vishnu appeared as light to overcome the darkness, so he is called Deepaprakasa Perumal.[2]
Wikipedia counts this temple among four in Kanchipuram where Brahma is said to have performed penance: this one, the Yathothkari, Ashtabhujakaram and Varadaraja Perumal temples.[2]
What the official listings say
The HR&CE page lists the temple as the Vilakkoli Perumal Temple and Thoopul Vedantha Desikan Temple, one of the 108 Divya Desams. It says Perumal gave darshan to Saraswati here, that the place is called Thoopul because it was once dense with darbha grass, and that Thirumangai Alvar sang his Mangalasasanam on the temple.[1]
It says the temple is the birthplace of the Vaishnava acharya Vedanta Desika, born in 1268 and living, in the page's words, beyond a hundred years until 1369. The page tells the story that Venkatachalapathi of Tirupati asked the bell in his hand to be born as the son of a mother who prayed for a child, which is why the bell is not used in pujas at Tirupati.[1]
Vedanta Desika
Vedanta Desika (1268-1369 CE) was an ardent devotee here, and the temple is regarded as his birthplace. His devotion is recorded in the Saranagathi Deepika, in 59 verses. A shrine to Vedanta Desika, facing south, stands in the temple, and his image is believed to have been installed by his son Nayinar Varadhachariar, showing the abhaya mudra. A separate shrine holds Hayagriva with Vedanta Desika.[2]
Architecture
The temple lies in Vishnu Kanchi, among most of the city's Vishnu temples. The plan is rectangular, with two precincts inside brick walls and a three-tiered rajagopuram. The lead describes a two-tiered rajagopuram and a granite wall, so the tiers and wall material are being verified. Inscriptions date from the time of Rajaraja Chola III (1223 CE), and the temple is believed to have been expanded under the medieval Cholas and Vijayanagara kings.being verified[2]
The central shrine has Deepaprakasa Perumal seated. There are shrines for Lakshmi, Hayagriva, Andal, Vedanta Desika and the Alvars.[2]
Festivals
The Brahmotsavam in Purattasi (September-October) is the major festival of the Vedanta Desika shrine; during it, the festival image of Desikar is taken to the Varadaraja Perumal temple. During the Brahmotsavam at the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Vaikasi (May-June), Varadaraja's festival image is brought to this shrine on three days.[2]
Festivals
Photos
Timings
- Morning 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon and evening 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM in the text lines; the page's timing table instead shows 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and an evening slot labelled 5:30 AM to 7:30 AM, so the evening hours are inconsistent on the page (official HR&CE listing) — HR&CE, Government of Tamil Nadu [1]
Frequently asked questions
Why is the deity called Deepaprakasar?
Because Vishnu appeared as light to overcome the darkness sent by Saraswati while Brahma was in penance.[2]
Who was born here?
Vedanta Desika, the Sri Vaishnava teacher (1268-1369 CE), is regarded as born at this site.[2]
Is it a Divya Desam?
Yes. Thirumangai Alvar sang one hymn on it, and it is one of the 14 Divya Desams in Kanchipuram.[2]
What is the temple tank called?
Saraswati Tirtham, outside the premises.[2]
What are the Deepaprakasa Perumal Temple timings?
The HR&CE listing gives morning darshan from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon and evening from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM, but its own timing table is inconsistent, so please confirm locally.[1]
Sources
- Arulmigu Vilakoliperumal Temple and Thoopul Vedantha Desikan Temple, Kancheepuram [TM001827] — HR&CE, Government of Tamil NaduOfficial (HR&CE) · accessed 2026-11-01
- Tiruththanka — WikipediaEncyclopedia (secondary) · accessed 2026-11-01
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