Set in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, Sri Yathothkari Perumal Temple is dedicated to Yathothkari Perumal (a reclining form of Vishnu, also referenced as Vegasetu), with consort Komalavalli Thayar (Lakshmi). It is also known as Thiruvekka Temple, Yatoktakari Perumal Temple, Vegavathi Temple.
This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the sacred Vishnu temples glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham composed by the Alvar poet saints. It holds particular importance as the birthplace of Poigai Alvar and is one of the three oldest Vaishnavite shrines in Kanchipuram. Considered one of the three oldest Vishnu temples in Kanchipuram, alongside Ulagalantha Perumal Temple and Pandava Thoothar Perumal Temple.
Tamil Nadu carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Land of towering gopurams and living Dravidian temple traditions, from the Chola masterpieces to the great Pancha Bhoota Sthalas.
Darshan hours and daily worship
Published sources do not give a single clean daily window for this temple; see the notes below for what is documented.
Reported timings differ across secondary sources, for example one aggregator lists roughly 7 AM to 12 PM and 4 PM to 8 PM, while another lists roughly 8 AM to 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM. No official temple or HR&CE timing notice could be found to confirm exact hours, so this field is left blank rather than presenting either figure as certain.
Poojas and daily rituals
Six daily rituals are traditionally performed, Ushathkalam (around 7 AM), Kalasanthi (around 8 AM), Uchikalam (around 12 PM), Sayarakshai (around 6 PM), Irandamkalam (around 7 PM) and Ardha Jamam (around 10 PM), each with alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (lamp waving)
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Panguni Brahmotsavam | Tamil month of Panguni (April to May) | The temple's primary annual festival |
| Poigai Alvar Jayanthi | Tamil month of Aipassi, Thiruvonam star | Birth celebration of Poigai Alvar, associated with this temple as his traditional birthplace |
| Thai Magam | Tamil month of Thai (January to February) | Festival commemorating a temple legend involving the devotee Kanikannan, marked with a ceremonial procession to Orikkai village |
History and architecture
Architecture
Dravidian style temple with two open courtyards and a five tiered rajagopuram (gateway tower) adorned with carvings, a granite walled enclosure, a west facing sanctum with a stucco image of Vishnu reclining on Adishesha, and a Vedasara Vimana roof topped with five kalasams
History
Considered one of the three oldest Vishnu temples in Kanchipuram, alongside Ulagalantha Perumal Temple and Pandava Thoothar Perumal Temple. It is the traditional birthplace of Poigai Alvar, one of the earliest of the Vaishnavite Alvar poet saints, said to have been found in the temple's lotus tank. Temple legend holds that the river Vegavathi (linked to the goddess Saraswati) was stopped from flowing south by Vishnu lying across it on his serpent Adishesha, giving rise to the name Vekka, from Vegavanai to Vekkanai to Vekka.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Located in Chinna Kanchipuram (eastern part of Kanchipuram), Ennaikaran, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631501, about 1 km from Varadaraja Perumal Temple and a short walk from Ashtabhuja Perumal Temple. The nearest railway station is Kanchipuram railway station (roughly 3 to 5 km away), and the nearest airport is Chennai International Airport (roughly 75 to 80 km away).
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. History, architecture, legends and Divya Desam significance are well corroborated on Wikipedia, but exact public darshan hours conflict between secondary sources and could not be confirmed against an official temple or HR&CE source, so timings, entry fee and dress code are left blank or flagged as unverified