Pandava Dhootha Perumal temple

Pandava Dhootha Perumal temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, holy abodes of Lord Vishnu. Inside the Sanctum Sanctorum, Sri Krishna Idol is of 25 feet tall and appears in a sitting posture.

Pandava Dhootha Perumal Temple Legends

Legends date back to Mahabharatha period when Sri Krishna as an ambassador visited Kaurava Court to establish peace between Kauravas and Pandavas. Sri Krishna displayed His Viswaroopam (the magnificent form) when Kauravas tried to humiliate and kill Him. Even the blind King Dhrutharastra was able to see the divine form.

After hearing this story from the Sage Vaisampayana, King Janamejaya (the great-grandson of Arjuna) did penance here for Sri Krishna. The Lord appeared in his divine form (Viswaroopam) and blessed Janamejaya at this temple. Sri Krishna is at this temple called Padagam.

Rohini Devi worshipped Lord Sri Krishna here and married Chandra (Moon God) here. It is also said that Rohini Devi is still worshipping Sri Krishna with no form here.

Another interesting story associated with this temple priests. A learned scholar, Acharya  Arulala Perumal Emperumanar (also called Yanjamurthy) from Vinjamur in Nellore district came to Kanchi and engaged in a debate with Sri Ramanuja charya for 17 days and became his disciple after losing the debate. The disciple and his family started serving Pandava Dhootha here in this temple.

It is believed that those born as Rohini will be relieved of their troubles if they worship Lord Sri Krishna here.

Pandava Dhootha Perumal Temple History

The inscriptions on the temple walls reveal that Chola King Kulottunga Chola I carried a significant amount of work in rebuilding the temple during the 11th and 12th centuries C.E.

The northern and southern sides of the temple are home to several inscriptions. Kulottunga Chola undertook several construction projects for this temple.

A merchant donated a flower garden to the temple and bought land from the village of Oriravirukkai for the benefit of the gardeners and their families during the fifth year of the reign of the Chola king, Korajakesarivarman alias Kulottunga-Choladeva-I, according to a record found on the northern wall of the Pandava Perumal Temple.
A record of the Chola King Ko-Rajakesarivarman, alias Kulottunga-Choladeva-1’s reception of a gift of two Kalanju and two Manjadi in his 39th year from a merchant intended for the Pujaris, who were to furnish two nails of curds daily, can be seen on the south wall of the same temple.

A Tamil inscription about the Chola King Rajadhiraja II (1167 A.D.) may be seen on the base of the western wall of the central shrine of the Pandava Perumal temple. It records the gift of 32 cows to God for the burning of an everlasting lamp.

Pandava Dhootha Perumal Temple Timings

• Morning Hours: 7:00 am  – 11:00 am
• Evening Hours: 4:00 pm – 7:30 pm

The best days to worship the Lord are here: Wednesday, Saturday, Rohini Star days, and Ashtami days

How to reach Pandava Dhootha Perumal temple?

1. The temple is 108 km from Tirupati. The direct bus is available from Tirupati Central bus station.
2. Temple is 1.6 km from Kanchipuram Bus station
3. Temple is 1.4 km from Kanchipuram Railway station

Temples Near Pandava Dhootha Perumal temple

1. Ekambareswarar Temple is at a walkable.
2. Kailsanathar Temple is 1.1 km away
3. Kumarakottam Subramanya Swamy Temple is at a walkable distance
4. Kanchi Kamakshi Amman Temple is 2.6 km away
5. Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple is 4.8 km away
6. Karchpeswarar Temple is 1 km away

Temple Gallery