Typetemple
Nearest baseKanchipuram
Best timeThe cooler months from about November to February are most comfortable, and early morning or evening visits avoid both the midday heat and the temple's midday closing
Time neededAllow roughly 30 to 45 minutes for an unhurried darshan, or longer if you plan to sit quietly or visit during a festival
EntryFree entry for darshan; special or expedited darshan tickets may apply (indicative)
Nearest town/baseKanchipuram
DistrictKancheepuram
Place typetemple
Time neededAllow roughly 30 to 45 minutes for an unhurried darshan, or longer if you plan to sit quietly or visit during a festival.
Yathothkari Perumal Temple stands at Tiruvekka (Thiruvekkaa) in Kanchipuram and is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the sacred Vishnu shrines glorified by the Tamil Alvar saints. The presiding deity is Vishnu in a reclining posture, worshipped as Yathothkari or Sonna Vannam Seitha Perumal, with the goddess venerated as Komalavalli.
By tradition the temple is closely linked to the poet-saint Thirumazhisai Alvar and his disciple Kanikannan. When the saint and his disciple were asked to leave the region, the Lord is said to have risen from his reclining posture and followed them, returning to Tiruvekka only when requested to do so, which is how he earned the name of the one who did exactly as he was told.