Temple History

Sthalapuranam

Respected devotees of Lord Sri Krishna,my humble salutations to you. I stand before you as a humble messanger of Lord Sri Krishna to speak about the holy history behind the origin of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal Temple, Oothukkadu. For the past thousand years Oothukkadu has been blessed by the heavenly presence of Lord Sri Krishna, as it is here that the Lord has chosen as His heavenly abode. With His everlasting presence, the Lord, after enacting His drama with His devotees, continues to bless His devotees by not only fulfilling their prayers, but also redeem them of their woes and sorrows and finally grants them moksha by merging their athma with Him. Unfortunately, none of the famed twelve Alwars, have mentioned about Lord Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal and about Oothukkadu in any of their verses. It is to pacify this that single person, due to his selfless and pure devotion to the Lord, has composed and sung about the plays enacted by the Lord at Oothukkadu. It is no wonder, even after so many years, whoever listens to these songs, in a trance, find their self to bequeath the Lord. As mentioned in these songs, Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal, even now, continues to bless Oothukkadu by imprinting His Lotus feet all over the place and enacting His plays. The sound of paadaswara, eminating from His Lotus feet is the sole proof of His heavenly presence at Oothukkadu. I consider it as a previlage to unfold before you the true history underlying the origin of Oothukkadu Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal temple and about His Holiness Sri Venkata Kavi, that is unknown to all of you.

It is my sole responsibility to disclose to you the true facts behind the origin of Oothukkadu Temple. It is the practice of my father, who is the cheif priest of Oothukkadu temple to close the shrine after performing the afternoon prayers. One fine day, as he was about to close the shrine, he heard a soft rumbling voice. On turning back my father my father saw an old man, aged about 90 years who had come from Brindavan, to offer his prayers to Lord. On heeding to his humble request, my father without any hesitation performed the arathi and told the story about the origin of the temple that he had learned from hearsay. After offering the old man the holy water, he once again started to close the shrine. At that moment, the old man requested my father to explain in detail regarding the history of the temple. To his humble request my father disclosed that he has only hearsay knowledge regarding the same and that he has been praying to the Lord to know about the true facts. To this, the old man told in a majestic manner that the main purpose of his visit was mainly to tell my father regarding the true history behind the origin of Oothukkadu Temple. My father, realizing that his sincere prayer to the Lord, is going to be fulfilled, with sincere devotion, implored the old man to narrate the same. It is based on this testimony that I am going to narrate the true history underlying the origin of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal Koil. 

The story is as follows. About 100 decades back two calves of the divine cow Kamadhenu named, Nandhini and Patti came from their heavenly abode to dwell in earth as a result of the curse inflicted upon them by the Lord Brahma, the preserver. The two divine calves started observing sincere devotion towards Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. As the testimony to their staunch devotion to Lord Shiva of Patteeswaram Temple, situated near Oothukkadu, the two divine calves were engrossed in their daily routine of collecting flowers for the Lord. The flowers that they offered to the Lord were brought by them from Oothukkadu. During that period, Oothukkadu was populated by around 200 brahmins and was centered around Lord Veda Narayana Perumal Temple which had only small premises then. As part of their daily routine work, the two calves used to visit Oothukkadu daily to take rest during afternoon. It was a common practice during that period to spent the afternoon session fruitfully by listening to various religious discourses from pandits who were especially enlightened. The two divine calves had the fortune of listening to these spiritual discourses from a learned person well versed in the same. As the time passed by, during one particular day the two calves were not able to locate that learned person. In their futile attempt in search of the learned person, the two calves became dejected. The divine Sage Naradha, who was silent spectator to these events approached the two divine calves in disguise as a Brahmin at the behest of the divine cow, Kamadhenu. On enquiring about the reason behind their dejection the two calves replied that they were not able to locate that learned person who used to enlighten them daily through his divine lectures. Sage Naradha, disguised as the brahmin rejunuvated the two calves by becoming their guru. The two calves as dutibound disciples became immersed in the divine nectar of the bliss that engulfed them from their Guru. Sage Naradha in his discourse on divine Bagavatham, started telling about Dasamaskandam that dwells on the birth and the childhood days of Lord Sri Krishna. The two calves surrendered the soul under the Lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna on hearing the divine miracles enacted by Lord Sri Krishna during his childhood days. 

At their behest, when sage Naradha started narrating about divine Kalinga Narthana enacted by Lord Shri Krishna, when he was a five year old boy, the two calves plunged into deep sorrow on hearing about the hardship experienced by the divine child during the ferocious battle with deadly poisonous serpent, Kaliya. Sage Naradha tried in vain to pacify the two calves. Even after disclosing their birth secret and even after disclosing his true identity as sage Naradha from his disguise, the two calves found it difficult to get redressed of their deep sorrow. Then sage Naradha implored with the two calves, they vehemently told him that until Lord Shri Krishna once again enacts as Kalinga Narthana Perumal they will not be redressed from the deep sorrow that engulfed them. They further told sage Naradha that they wanted to know from Lord Shri Krishna himself regarding the hardship faced by him during the same. To their query sage Naradha replied that this is a task which cannot be accomplished by him and asked the two calves to call their divine mother, Kamadhenu to intervene with the same. Eventhough Kamadhenu tried to pacify the two calves, the divine cow failed in her attempt. On seeing that both sage Naradha and Kamadhenu were not able to redeem the two calves from their deep sorrow, both of them went to Vaikunta and implored Lord Mahavishnu to pacify the two calves. On heeding to this humble prayer, Lord Mahavishnu, on calling Kaliya and after creating a small pond near the Veda Narayana Perumal Temple at Oothukkadu, once again enacted the divine play of Kaliya Narthanam in front of the two calves. Thus Lord Mahavishnu blessed the two calves and redeemed them from their deep sorrow. This divine play once again enacted by the Lord was not only witnessed by sage Naradha, Kamadhenu and the two calves but also by the entire clan of the celestial Devas, who had thronged at that place. The entire clan of celestial Devas praised the Lord in one voice for having enacted the divine play once more for the sake of the two calves and worshipped the Lord by showering flowers. The two calves, bearing witness to the divine play implored to the Lord to bless Oothukkadu by his everlasting presence. The Devas also did the same. At their behest the Lord Mahavishnu, who is the omnipotent and the selfless form of the entire cosmos transformed himself into the Panchaloha idol of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal. Sage Naradha himself installed the divine Panchaloha idol of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal at the Veda Narayana Perumal Temple at Oothukkadu with great pomp. As a result of this divine intervention of the Lord, the two calves got redeemed from the curse of Brahma and attained salvation. Even after the Devas returned to their heavenly abode Sage Naradha, who became very much attracted by the divine presence of Lord Mahavishnu as Lord Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal, beseeched with the Lord Mahavishnu to worship the divine idol in mortal form at least once. On hearing this humble submission of Sage Naradha, Lord Mahavishnu asked Sage Naradha why he wanted to go to Oothukkadu when he had the previlage of worshipping the selfless form of the Lord at Vaikunta. To this, with deep devotion, Sage Naradha implored the Lord by pointing out that once again Lord Sri Vishnu had doned the divine Avtar of Lord Sri Krishna at the humble request of his devotee. On heeding to the humble request of Sage Naradha who wanted to worship Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal in mortal form, Lord Mahavishnu granted him the boon that he had craved for. Lord Mahavishnu blessed Sage Naradha that once he would be reborn as divine Venkata Kavi, who would garland Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal with his famous songs in praise of the Lord. 

After some years had passed, Sage Naradha incarnated at Oothukkadu as the divine Venkata Kavi, a sixteen year old Brahmin boy, during one midnight in the month of Aavani. As foretold by Lord Mahavishnu, Sage Naradha incarnated as Venkata Kavi , sung numerous songs portraying the divine avtar of Lord Sri Krishna. Captivated by his songs the Brahmins who were residing at Oothukkadu enquired about him, to which the sixteen year old Brahmin boy replied that he is nomad. Venkata Kavi further expressed his desire of composing numerous songs praising Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal. “Aadathu Asangathu Vaa……” is the first song composed and sung by Sri Venkata Kavi, who composed numerous songs that captivates one’s mind towards the divine form of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal even now.

During that period one of my forefathers was the chief priest of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal and who bore witness to the divine life span of Sri Venkata Kavi at Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal Temple. It was the practice of Sri Venkata Kavi to compose his songs after offering pradakshina to the Kalinga Narthana Perumal. Venkata Kavi very much craved in his mind to witness the divine bliss of selfless form of Lord Sri Krishna in person. Lord Sri Krishna has this uncanny virtue of not appearing before His devotee as craved by the devotee, there by testing the ultimate faith of him and in the end bless His devotee with His divine presence at the proper moment. 

Bearing witness to this, in spite of the staunch faith of Sri Venkata Kavi, Lord Sri Krishna did not bless Sri Venkata Kavi with His divine presence. Unflinched by this, Venkata Kavi reached the pinnacle of his staunch faith of the Lord by secluding himself from the rest of the world forsaking all the worldly desires including food. Due to his prolonged starving over many months, Venkata Kavi was reduced to skelton like form and there by found very difficult to perform his daily chore of pradakshina even a weebit. Slowly he began to loose his eye sight. Even when his life was ebbing out of him, unflinched by this and remaining deep routed in his staunch faith to the Lord, he decided to compose for the last time in praise of the Lord. The famous “Alaipayuthe …Kanna……” song is his last composure in mortal form.[It is my humble pleading to you to remember about his last breath when you listen to “Alaipayuthe..” song]. Even when his last composure of “Alaipayuthe..” neared its end Lord Sri Krishna did not appear before Venkata Kavi. Even when confronted by the ultimate truth of death, Venkata Kavi, undetered from his staunch faith in the Lord won over the fear of death and continued his singing in praise of Lord Sri Krishna. 

Lo and behold, the entire place was filled with the sweet aroma of the divine scent of Jawadh and Nagalinga flowers. The divine breeze that spread all over the place immersed Sri Venkata Kavi in divine bliss. At that moment he completely lost his eye sight and was not even able to utter a sound in praise of Lord. At this penultimate hour of his life, Sri Venkata Kavi felt the presence of a small child lying in his lap. Even after his repeated request he did not receive any reply from the child. In this penultimate hour, irritated by the non response of the child, Sri Venkata Kavi pushed the child from his lap. Immediately Venkata Kavi heard a sweet voice that proclaimed that the owner of that voice was the divine hero upon whom he has composed and sung all the songs in his life time. The divine voice wanted Venkata Kavi to see and recognize the owner of the voice as Lord Sri Krishna. To this, Venkata Kavi implored to the Lord by expressing his grief that when he was hale and healthy, Sri Krishna did not appear before him, but appeared before him when he was not even able to prostrate at the Lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna. During this time, the life was slowly ebbing out of Venkata Kavi. As a result of his undeterred and staunch faith towards Lord Sri Krishna, Sri Venkata Kavi was blessed by the glory of merging his soul with the Lord. Thus Lord Sri Krishna took the divine soul of Venkata Kavi along with Him to His divine abode Vaikunta, where He in turn started worshipping the divine soul of Venkata Kavi with utmost devotion and thus granted the divine soul of Venkata Kavi, a place not even achieved by Kuchela, another stauch devotee of Lord Sri Krishna. Thus the invincible Lord Sri Krishna surrendered Himself to the divine soul of Sri Venkata Kavi and went on addressing the Venkata kavi as one of the foremost among His devotees. On seeing the enthusiasm with which Lord Sri Krishna worshipping His devotee, Rukmani and Sathyabhama, the two consorts of Lord Sri Krishna became astonished. At Vaikunta, when Lord Sri Krishna blessed Sri Venkata Kavi with any boon that he desires, Sri Venkata Kavi expressed his desire to go to Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal Kovil once again and wanted Sri Krishna to dance to the tunes of his songs. Thus Lord Sri Krishna and Venkata Kavi once again came to the Kalinga Narthana Perumal Temple, Oothukkadu. There, Lord Sri Krishna challenged Sri Venkata Kavi such that if Sri Venkata Kavi was not able to compose and sing to the various dancing postures of Lord Sri Krishna, he would turn into an idol. Thus at the behest of Sri Venkata Kavi, Lord Sri Krishna once again enacted the divine play of Kaliya Narthana. To the various dancing postures of Lord Sri Krishna, Sri Venkata Kavi started to sing his composure “Tham Theem Thanana Tham…….”. At one stage, Venkata Kavi was not able to compose to the dancing posture of Lord Sri Krishna. As per the challenge, Lord Sri Krishna turned into an idol in the dancing posture of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal. Sri Venkata Kavi, after accepting his defeat, worshipped the Lord to which Sri Krishna revealed to Sri Venkatasubba Iyer that he is none other than Sage Naradha and that he may go back to Vaikunta. Hearing this, Sri Venkatasubba Iyer wanted to know what Sri Krishna would be doing next. The Lord replied that throughout Kaliyuga Sri Krishna would be blessing His devotees who come to Oothukkadu as Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal, thereby making Oothukkadu as Bhooloka Vaikunta. With folded hands, Sri Venkatasu bba Iyer implored to the Lord that instead of going back to Vaikunta, he would also like to make Oothukkadu temple as his abode. He further expressed his desire to continue singing in praise of the Lord, to which Sri Krishna granted him the boon. Every night to this day, Lord Sri Krishna as Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal danced to the emelodies tones of Sri Venkatasubba Iyer, accompanied by His gopikas. Many people residing near the temple have heard the melodious sound of the padaswara eminating from the Lotus feet of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal at night. This is a testimony that Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal along with Sri Venkatasubba Iyer, with His physical presence, has made Oothukkadu as Bhooloka Vaikunta. The entire clan of celestial devas also reside near the sanctrum sanctorum of the temple. As a result of the boon that Sri Venkatasubba Iyer obtained from Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal, Sri Venkatasubba Iyer still continues to be the mediator between Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal and His staunch devotees. Lord Sri Krishna continues to bless His devotees in that same dancing posture of Kalinga Narthana Perumal at Oothukkadu. There are several factors that throw light upon the fact that the Panchloha idol of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal is not made by a sculptor. In the dancing posture of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal idol, the feet of the Lord do not touch the head of the serpent. There is a small gap between the sepent’s head and the left foot of the idol. The right leg of the idol is in mid air. The left hand of the idol does not fully hold the serpent’s tail for support. The entire weight of the idol is supported upon a slight contact between the left thumb of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal idol and the serpent’s tail. The remaining four fingers are not touching the serpent’s tail. On a closer look, one can also find scars on the right leg of Lord Krishna, below the knee, formed due to the voilent beating of the Kaliya, the serpent with its tail. This is an extraordinary form of sculpture that is not possible with the skill of any sculptor.

As Lord Sri Krishna in the avatar of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal has made Oothukkadu as his ‘Booloka Vaikundam’, the Gopika’s who always flock around Lord Sri Krishna, continue to visit Him every night at Oothukkadu temple. The sound eminating from the ‘padaswara’ of Lord Sri Krishna during every night holds testimony to this. The old man thus completed the true history about the origin of Oothukkadu temple, with laughter as he mentioned about the visit of Gopikas to Oothukkadu temple during every night. The old man after completing the history of Oothukkadu foretold my father that very soon Sri kalinga Narthana Peruma lwould put to test the staunch devotion of my father just as He did for Venkata Kavi. At that moment, the old man advised my father to tell the true history of Oothukkadu temple to me and baptize me with the name of “Krishna Dasan”. The old man further foretold that soon after that incident my father would only remember that he heard the true story from the old man and that he would completely forget what the old man had conveyed. After conveying this the old man took leave. After that incident the old man was not found any where in spite of our several attempts to trace him. Just as the old man has predicted long back, one fine day my father had gone to Chennai to collect money for performing the Krishna Jayanthi festival that we used to conduct at Oothukkadu temple every year with great pomp. At about noon, while my father was walking along with a friend of his, completely lost his eye sight. Not knowing what to do, my father disclosed this matter to his friend. His friend admitted him to a famous eye hospital at Chennai. The eye speacilists of that hospital were not able to diagnose why my father had lost his eye sight in this manner. My father then recollected what the old man had conveyed to him at Oothukkadu temple long back. Immediately, my father called me to his place and conveyed to me the true history of Oothukkadu temple that he had heard from the oldman. After narrating the story my father became unconscious. When he regained consciousness after some time he was able to see with some difficulty. That problem continues till now. My father very much wanted to know the true reason behind his eye sight ailment. As an answer to his prayers, during one Rohini nakshatra pooja at Oothukkadu temple, an eye speacilist named Mr.Krishna Moorthy visited Oothukkadu temple. When my father confided to Mr.Krishna Moorthy about his ailment, Mr.Krishna Moorthy asked for the medical case sheet. After conducting some premilinary test Mr. Krishna Moorthy diagonized that the reason for the diminished eye sight for my father is due to a small block in the very delicate nerve that connects the eyes and the brain. He further added that there is no medical remedy for this type of ailment. As the old man had predicted, my father even now has only a vague remembrance regarding the true history of Oothukkadu temple.

Kalinganarthana Perumal Idol is found from this pond (Kalinga Madu)
Kalinga Madu (without water)	Kalinga Madu (with water)

With this I complete the first task of sharing the true history behind the origin of Oothukkadu temple with all of you. The second task given to me by Lord Kalinga Narthana Perumal is to share with you few miracles that happened to some of the staunch devotees of the Lord. Prominent among them is the miracle experienced by Dr. Krishnan of France. Even after eleven years of marriage, his elder daughter did not come to the family way. Even after consulting many doctors and offering prayers to many temples, proved futile. On one occasion, when Dr.Krishnan came to Oothukkadu temple and confided to my father regarding the same, my father, after getting permission from Lord Sri Krishna during the pooja , told him that he would pray to Lord Sri Krishna during each Rohini pooja and send the prasadams to which Dr.Krishnan agreed. By the grace of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal, his daughter came to the family way just after three Rohini poojas. Finally, his daughter was blessed with a child born at the midnight in Rohini nakshatram and Ashtami thithi, which is a testimony to the blessing of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal. The same incident happened in the case of his son also. Similiarly, his daughter-in-law gave birth to a child at the midnight in the Rohini nakshatra and Ashtami thithi, after nine years of marriage. Thus Dr.R.Krishnan continues to be a staunch devotee of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal.

In a similar way, Mr.Sivarama Krishnan hailing from Singapore, was also blessed with a child at midnight in the Rohini nakshatram and Ashtami thithi after fourteen years of marriage. From these three incidents it is clear that those who sincerely pray to Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal regarding Puthra dosha will be blessed with a child by the grace of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal. Thus, Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal is the presiding diety for redeeming one from puthra dosham and his sole blessing alone has the power to change one’s destiny, whatever may be the dosha in one’s horoscope. 

I take the pride in narrating how Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal cured ailments through His blessings. The betterhalf of Mr.K.K.Mohandas, residing at Kongalampatti of Salem district was suffering from spinal cord ailment, which was giving her immense pain. Even after consulting with many speacilists she was not cured from the same. Completely dejected by this, she finally took refuge at Oothukkadu temple seeking the blessing of Sri kalinga Narthana Perumal. Seeing her sad plight, when we enquired about her problem, she confided to us about the same and told that she no longer can control the pain and hence wanted to end her life. We pacified her saying that all her worries and ailments would be cured if she part take in the ensuing Krishna Jayanthi festival within two days. Rejunuvated by this, she part took in the Krishna Jayanthi festival with great zeal and devotion to Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal. On her return trip to her house, she came across a temparory tent where one local physician was selling herbal medicine. Seeing this she felt an inner urge to consult that physician. By considering this as a cue from Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal, she confided to that physician about her ailment. After giving her four dosage of medicinal herb, he asked her to take one dosage every day. He further told her that by the end of the fourth day she will not find any solace to her ailment, she could contact him at the afore mentioned address. Within two days of taking the medicine she found great relief from her ailment and by the end of four months she became completely cured. In order to express her gratitude to that physician she decided to meet him at the address given by him. Only then she came to know that the name of the physician was Mr.Muthu Krishnan. Then she recollected what we had told her. She realized this to be a miracle of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal and thus became one of the staunch devotee since then. I would like to bring to your kind notice of how Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal extended the life span of one of His devotees. One fine afternoon we received a phone call from Chennai from a devotee’s wife saying that her husband who was seriously ill was admitted in a hospital. The doctors had no hope of saving his life and hence she was very much distressed. She wanted us to perform an archana in the name of her husband and sent her the prasadam. As she had desired we performed the archana and sent her the prasadam. After two to three days time, we received another phone call from her saying that she had received our prasadam and that her husband is recovering from his ailment. As a result of her staunch devotion to the Lord, her husband lived for another five years after which he died. Nobody has the power and the right to surpass the ultimate truth which is death. It is against dharma even for God to win over death. At the same time God has to heed sincere devotion of his devotees. As a testimony to this, Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal answered the prayer of His devotee by extending the life span of her husband by five years and finally merged her hunband’s soul with His. 

I would like to share with you an incident that occurred at Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal temple itself. One fine day, a devotee who was doctor, came to the temple to us that he was not able to get a suitable alliance for his marriage. While in pooja, we got assurance from Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal not to worry about this. No sooner had we conveyed this to him, than there came two elderly couple that they were not able to find a suitable alliance for their daughter. We understood this as the divine intervention of the Lord. Due to the blessing of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal, the alliance between the doctor and the daughter of the elderly couple was fixed then and there and later the marriage between them also took place. This is the testimony that who so ever has difficulty in finding their alliance partner, if they pray sincerely to Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal, there marriage will surely take place by the blessing of Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal. Like this, we have been witness to thousands of miracles performed by Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal. I consider it as my bounded duty to share each of these miracles with you. I have dedicated my entire life as Krishnadasan to narrate the miracles performed by Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal to you.

With regards,
Krishna Dasan alias
J.Sundarrama Battachar