Sri Ulagalanda Perumal Temple

Sri Ulagalanda Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram enshrines the Lord in His magnificent Trivikrama form — "Ulagalanda" means "He who measured the world." The deity stands tall in the iconic posture with one foot on earth and the other raised to the heavens, recalling the moment when Lord Vishnu as Vamana grew to cosmic proportions and measured the three worlds in three strides from King Mahabali. Thirumangai Azhwar sang passionately about the Trivikrama leela, and this Kanchipuram shrine captures that grandeur. Poigai Azhwar, the very first of the twelve Azhwars, born in Kanchipuram at the sacred Yathothkari temple tank, would have known this ancient shrine intimately. The Pallava dynasty rulers, who made Kanchipuram their glorious capital, patronized this temple extensively, and the architectural elements reflect the grandeur of Pallava craftsmanship with fine bas-reliefs depicting the Vamana-Trivikrama episode.