Ashtabujakaram, also called Ashtabuja Perumal Temple, is located in Vishnu Kanchi (Chinna Kanchipuram) in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the sacred temples glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham by the Alwars between the 6th–9th centuries.
The temple was originally built during the Pallava period around the 8th century CE. Later, the Chola kings and Vijayanagara rulers renovated and expanded it. Stone inscriptions belonging to Kulothunga Chola I and Rajendra Chola are found here, showing its ancient heritage.
The main deity of the temple is Lord Vishnu, worshipped here as Ashta Bhuja Perumal (also called Adi Kesava Perumal). “Ashtabhuja” means eight-armed, and the idol of Vishnu here is unique because he holds eight weapons and symbols — the conch (shanka), discus (chakra), sword, shield, mace, bow, arrow, and lotus – signifying his power to protect and uphold righteousness. His consort Goddess is Alamelu Mangai (another form of Lakshmi), worshipped in her own separate shrine.
The temple is built in the traditional Dravidian style with a three-tiered rajagopuram and a granite enclosure wall around it. The sacred temple tank here is called Gajendra Pushkarani, connected with the Gajendra Moksha legend. The main deity faces west, which is quite rare among Vishnu temples.
Inside the complex are shrines for Thayar, Varaha Perumal, Andal, Hanuman, Sudarshana, Alwars and other deities. The temple atmosphere is peaceful and devotional.
Brahma’s Yajna & Vishnu’s Eight-Armed Form
Once, Lord Brahma wanted to perform a grand yajna (holy sacrifice) at Kanchipuram to worship Lord Vishnu. But he began the ritual without informing his consort, Goddess Saraswati, which made her upset. Angry that she was not respected, Saraswati decided to stop the yajna so that it would fail.
She then took fierce forms and sent powerful forces to destroy the sacrifice. To protect Brahma and the sacred ritual, Lord Vishnu appeared in a grand form with eight arms, holding eight divine weapons and symbols. With this mighty form, he removed every obstacle and guarded the yajna until it was completed.
Because he manifested here with eight hands, the Lord is worshipped as Ashta Bhuja Perumal – “The Lord with Eight Arms.”
Another beautiful legend tells us of King Indradyumna, who was reborn as an elephant named Gajendra due to a curse. Even in the elephant form, he remained a great devotee of Vishnu. He lived near the sacred lake of this temple and offered lotus flowers daily to the Lord.
One day, while plucking flowers, a crocodile caught Gajendra’s leg. Unable to free himself even after struggling for a long time, Gajendra finally surrendered completely to Lord Vishnu and cried out for help.
Hearing his devotee’s desperate call, Vishnu immediately arrived on Garuda, used his Sudarshana Chakra to kill the crocodile, and freed Gajendra, granting him moksha (liberation).
Because of this, the Lord here is also called Gajendra Varadan – “The One Who Granted Salvation to Gajendra.”
The temple tank here is known as Gajendra Pushkarani. Devotees believe that bathing here with faith and praying to the Lord removes difficulties and brings divine grace, just as Gajendra received liberation through devotion.
The most important festival in Ashtabujakaram Temple is Vaikunta Ekadashi (Margazhi – Dec/Jan), when special pujas and celebrations are held and devotees seek the Lord’s grace for spiritual upliftment and liberation. Other festivals like Gajendra Moksha (Aadi), Brahmotsavam (Chittirai), and major occasions such as Sri Rama Navami, Krishna Janmashtami, Navaratri, Deepavali, and Pongal are also observed in a simple and devotional way.
