Deepaprakasa Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
The Deepaprakasa Perumal Temple, also called Tiruththanka or Tooppul, is a Vishnu temple in Kanchipuram and one of the 108 Divya Desams. Vishnu is worshipped as Deepaprakasar, with his consort Lakshmi as Maragathavalli. The temple is also known as the Desikar Avatara Sthalam, because it is linked to the birth of the great teacher Vedanta Desika. It is the third largest temple in southern Kanchipuram.
What to see and do
- Have darshan of Deepaprakasar and Maragathavalli
- See the Dravidian-style gopuram and the halls
- Learn about its link with Vedanta Desika from the priests
- Walk the quiet, old courtyards
Ideal for
- Devotees of Vishnu and the Sri Vaishnava tradition
- Pilgrims following the 108 Divya Desams
- Visitors interested in Vedanta Desika
Good to know
- Timings are given differently by different sources, and temples in Kanchipuram usually close in the middle of the day, so check locally
- Dress modestly, remove footwear at the entrance, and expect a quiet, traditional atmosphere
- Mobile phone and camera rules vary inside the sanctum, so ask at the gate
- Go in the morning or evening, when the temple is open and the light is soft
Spiritual significance
Tiruththanka is a Divya Desam praised by the Alvars, and the place that Sri Vaishnava devotees honour as the birthplace of Vedanta Desika.
Why it matters
- A Divya Desam: one of the 108 Vishnu temples praised by the Alvars
- The Desikar Avatara Sthalam: linked to the great teacher Vedanta Desika
- A large old temple: the third largest in southern Kanchipuram