Thiruthanka is traditionally enumerated as number 61 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.
The Deepaprakasa temple at Thirutanka is situated about half a kilometer to the West of Yadhoktakari temple i.e. the temple for Lord Bhujagasayana at Thiruvekka. The deity here is known as Deepaprakasar. It is said that once upon atime, there was a dispute between Goddess Sarasvati and Goddess Mahalakshmi as to who was superior. They approached Indra, the Chief of the Devas, for his opinion. He said that Goddess Lakshmi who granted prosperity was superior. Goddess Sarasvati got angry and cursed Indra. Not satisfied with this decision, Sarasvati met Brahma. But He also favoured Goddess Lakshmi. This annoyed Goddess Sarasvati further and she is said to have decided to leave Brahma for some time. At that time, Brahma wanted to do penance and cleanse His mind and have a darshan of Lord Vishnu. In order to fulfil this desire, He did severe penance. Goddess Sarasvati was annoyed that Brahma had started his Asvamedha Yaga without her, His divine consort, by His side. She, therefore, decided to place hurdles before Lord Brahma to disturb His penance. She created fire by her super natural power so as to envelop the sacrificial site. Lord Vishnu however intercepted the fire, made it as a lamp and avoided the destruction of the sacrificial site. Vishnu is, therefore, known at this site as Deepaprakasa.
Another version of this story is that Goddess Sarasvati sent Rakshasas to spoil the yaga of Brahma. They enveloped the entire world with darkness, disrupting the
yaga. Lord Vishnu therefore appeared as a big light and dispelled darkness. Hence the Lord is known as Deepaprakasa or Vilakku oli, ie. lamp’s light.
The symbolic significance in both the stories is that God appears as a shining light to dispel darkness and assist us in performing good deeds.
The Lord here is shown in a standing posture under Sri Kara Vimana. He is facing west. The Goddess is known as Maragathavalli.,
On the base of the northern wall of the central shrine in the Tirutanga Vilakkolipperumal temple, there is an inscription in Tamil relating to the period of the Chola King Rajaraja III (1223 A.D.), which registers a gift, by the residents of Vilakkodu, in obedience to the order of Madurantaka Pottappichcholan, of certain lands in that village to the Vilokkoli Emperuman temple and Thiruvelirukkai temple in the proportion of 2:1.
TELUGU · తెలుగు
దివ్యదేశం: తిరుత్తణ్కా (వేగాసేతు). పూర్తి వివరణ త్వరలో.