Sri Pachai Vannar Temple and Sri Pavalai Vannar Temple (or Thiru Pavala Vannan)

In Kanchipuram, there are two temples of Pachai Vannar and Pavalai Vannar. Two shrines standing opposite to each other, two places where the Lord is mentioned by His colour. He is seen in emerald green at the Pachai Vannar and coral coloured at the Pavalai Vannar.

The temple of Pavalai Vannar was praised in the hymns of the Azhwar saints as the 108 sacred abodes of Vishnu. Sri Pachai Vannar Temple is the 54th among 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu. Here Vishnu is worshipped as Sri Pavala Vannar Perumal with his consort Pavalavalli Thayar.

Lord Pavala Vannan Perumal is in standing posture facing west. There is another shrine opposite to this sannadhi about half kilometre away called Pacchai Vannar Sannadhi. Lord Pachai Vannan Perumal is seated on divine serpent Adiseshan. The two sannadhis together are considered as one divyadesam. It is said that both the Pacchai and Pavala Vannan perumal has to be worshipped, without leaving any one of them.

Lord Vishnu appears green as emerald, hence praised as Pachai Vanna Perumal – Pachai Vannam-emerald green. As He granted darshan to sage Marichi alone, no one is with Him in the Altar. He granted darshan as Lord Ramachandra to the Rishi, hence worshipped as Lord Rama and Mother Sita. Just opposite here is the Pavala Vanna Nathar temple, (red as a coral) one of the 108 Divya Desams. Worshipping Pachai Vanna Nathar and Pavala Vanna Nathar is a rare opportunity for the devotees. Mother Mahalakshmi blesses the devotees from a separate shrine. Generally Sri Chakra is installed in temples either opposite Mother’s shrine or nearby. Here, Sri Chakra is installed in the shrine itself. Mother blesses Her devotees in three forms, Sri Chakra Rupini, Mahalakshmi and Sita.