Kabisthalam Perumal Temple

Kabisthalam  Gajendra Varadha Perumal Temple

Gajendra Varadha Perumal Temple in Thirukkavithalam, a village in the outskirts of Papanasam in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Maha Vishnu.

It is Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Gajendra Varadha and his consort Lakshmi as Ramamanivalli. The temple is one of the five Pancha-Kannan temples, where Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu is given prominence over the presiding deity.

ThiruKabisthalam - Sri Gajendra Varadha Perumal Temple கபிஸ்தலம் - ஸ்ரீ கஜேந்திர வரதப் பெருமாள் திருக்கோவில்
Main Deity	Lord Vishnu
Moolavar Name	Gajendra Varadhar, Adhimoola Perumal, Kannan
Goddess Name	Ramamani Valli, Pon Thamarayal / Shenbagavalli
Location	Kabisthalam
Ancient Name	Thirukavithalam
Significance	One of the 108 divya desams. One of the Paandya naatu thiruthalangal One of the Pancha Krishnaranya Kshetrams / Pancha Kannan Temples
Travel Base	Kumbakonam

Lord Perumal is in a reclining (Bhujanga Sayanam) posture facing east.  The Vimana above the sanctum sanctorum is called Gaganakrutha Vimana.  Devout Gajendra the elephant also called Indrajumnan, the crocodile called Koohoo, Sage Parasara and Sri Anjaneya had worshipped the Lord in this temple and had his darshan.

Saint Tirumazhisai Azhwar had praised Perumal of this temple as “Attrangarai kidakkum Kannan – Kannan reclining on the river bed”.  Since then He is endearingly called Kannan by the devotees and the name had come to stay.  Among the celebrated five Perumal temples as Pancha (five) Krishna Kshetras, Kabisthalam is one.  Other four are Tirukannamangai, Tirukannapuram, Tirukovilur and Tirukannangudi.  It is also noteworthy that of the 108 Divya Desas, only in this temple, Perumal had granted the darshan two non-humans, an elephant and a crocodile.

Krishnaranyam  Kshetrams / Pancha Kannan Temples
Location	Temple Name
Thirukannangudi ThiruKabisthalam Thirukannapuram Thirukannamangai Thirukkovilur	Loganatha Perumal Temple Gajendra Varadha Temple Neelamegha Perumal Temple         Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple Ulagalantha Perumal Temple

The temple is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas of the late 8th century AD, with later contributions from Vijayanagar kings and Madurai Nayaks.

How to Reach : The temple is located in Kabisthalam, a village situated 3 km away from Papanasam and around 20 km away from Kumbakonam and Thanjavur, towns in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The village is located in between the two rivers Kaveri and Kollidam.

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