| Tiruvekka Temple | |
|---|---|
Yathokthakari Temple | |
.jpg) | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Kanchipuram |
| Deity | Yathothkari (Vishnu) |
| Location | |
| Location | Kanchipuram |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Country | India |
  Location in Tamil Nadu | |
| Geographic coordinates | 12°49′27″N 79°42′44″E / 12.82417°N 79.71222°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Dravidian architecture |
Tiruvekkaa Temple or Yathothkari Perumal Temple (locally called Sonnavannam Seitha Perumall) is a Hindu temple located in Kanchipuram in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu and dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Yathothkari Perumal, and his consort Lakshmi as Komalavalli.
The temple is considered one of three oldest Vishnu temples in Kanchipuram, the other two being Ulagalantha Perumal Temple and Pandava Thoothar Perumal Temple. The temple finds a mention in the Sangam text Perumpāṇāṟṟuppaṭai which is dated between 300 BCE and 100 CE.[1] The temple is believed to have been built by the Pallavas of the late 8th century CE, with later contributions from Medieval Cholas and Vijayanagara kings. The temple has three inscriptions on its walls, two dating from the period of Parantaka I (907–955 CE), Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120 CE) and one to that of Rajadhiraja Chola (1018–1054 CE). A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all the shrines. There is a three-tiered rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower, in the temple.
Yathothkari Perumal is believed to have appeared for Saraswati and Thirumalisai Alvar. Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple. The temple houses a rare image of Ranganatha recumbent on his left hand unlike other temples where he is recumbent on his right.
Poigai Alvar, one of the Alvars, was born at this temple's lotus tank. Panguni Brahmotsavam celebrated during April - May and Poigai Alvar birthday during Aipassi Thiruvonam star are the two major festivals celebrated in the temple.