ஸ்ரீ அமிர்தவல்லி நாயகா சமேத ஸ்ரீ சௌமிய தாமோதர பெருமாள்
Welcome to our Damodara Perumal Kovil Website. Our Kovil is said to be existing for the past 650 years. There are very few temples dedicated to Damodaran, another name of Lord Krishna. One among them is the Sowmya Damodara Perumal Temple in Villivakkam.
ஓம் தாமோதராய வித்மாஹே
ருக்மிணி வல்லபாய தீமஹி
தன்னோ கிருஷ்ண ப்ரசோதயாத்
About Kovil
Sowmya Damodara Perumal Kovil: One of the ancient temples in Chennai, said to be in existence for well over 650 years.
Swami Damodaran’s Moolavar thirumaeni has a scar in the stomach which is due to the rope tide by Yasodha. Lots of devotees who pray for Puthrabaakyam had realized the true blessings of Swamy Damodaran.
The Goddess in the temple is known as Amirthvalli and she is housed in a separate shrine to the right of the sanctum sanctorum. We can’t explain the kindness of this Thayar in simple words. There are shrines for Rama and Krishna, Andal, Anjaneya and Azhwars.
Chennai can be called temple city as it abounds in temples. Villivakkam, a vibrant locality in north Chennai, is the abode of Sowmya Damodara Perumal and his divine consort Amirthavalli Thayar. Situated at a vantage point, this temple has a hoary past.
It is believed that this temple is more than 650 years old and many rulers have contributed to its growth. This place is also called Konnur. Why? Sage Athri's son Dhurva married Asuvamukhi (Surapadman's sister). Their two sons Ilvalan and Vatapi became demonic and troubled everybody. Sage Agasthya, known for his strength and valour, destroyed them and restored peace in this world. Since this sage killed (koll) them in this place, it came to be called Konnur.
Why is the Almighty called Sowmya Damodaran? Sowmya means beautiful. In Gokulam, Yasodha tied Lord Krishna to grinding stone (ural) and called him Damodaran. Since he looked bewitching tied to the stone, he is called Sowmya Damodaran. Damodaran is one of the 12 names - nama - of the Lord.
The temple deity flashes an enchanting smile and looks stunning. Amirthavalli Thayar poses effulgently in a separate enclosure.The divine set-up in the temple consists of Ramanujar, Garudazhwar, Rama, Krishna and Andal. The temple buzzes with spiritual activities and festivities throughout the year. There is a holy tank near the temple.
This is a prarthana sthalam and devotees throng the temple during the Brahmotsavam which occurs in the the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May 15 to June 15). The temple authorities have deceided to build a rajagopuram for this temple.
Please refer the below links for More information
http://archives.chennaionline.com/hotelsandtours/Placesofworship/2007/05temple167.asp
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/03/06/stories/2003030601050300.htm
About Damodara Perumal
There are very few temples dedicated to Damodaran, another name of Lord Krishna. One among them is the Sowmya Damodara Perumal Temple in Villivakkam.
Significance of “Damodoaran” in Nalayira Divya Prabandham
THE LAST of Lord Narayana's 12 names mentioned in the "Dwadasa Nama Stotra" is Damodaran or the one who was bound to a grinding stone, known in Tamil as "ural". The name has a special significance, according to Madhurakavi Azhwar, one of the Vaishnavite saints. He says in his Kanninunn Chiruthambu, his only work of 10 verses, forming part of the Nalayira Divyaprabandham, that the Lord allowed Himself to be bound to the grinding stone after playing for a long time with His foster-mother, Yasodha. Another saint, Nammazhwar, mentions Damodara as the Lord of Brahma and Siva in hisThiruvaimozhi verse.
Andal, the saint-poetess, in her Thiruppavai, goes one step further and says that Devaki, the mother of Lord Krishna, was purified by giving birth to Him. But there are only a very small number of temples to the Lord with this name and one among them is the Sowmya Damodara Perumal Temple in Villivakkam.