Ambassador at Thiru Padakam

Out of all the Archa murthies of emperuman, the one at padakam is the most majestic and tone of the tallest.

The moolavar of this divya desam is Pandava Thoodha perumal. Here emperuman is 28 feet tall and is in Irundha thirukolam (sitting posture). Emperuman is flanked by Thaayaars Rukmani and Sathyabama in the sanctum sanctorum. As the taayaars are present by emperumans side, there is no separate sannidhi for taayaar. The designs on the moolavars garments are truly intricate and also fantastic. The deity is not of stone but of stucco and the design of the garment is part of the idol, so there is no need for any Vastharam for the Perumal.

The legend goes thus, once Vaisampayana was narrating the story of Mahabharatha to King Janameyajeyan, the king was impressed when the event of Sri Krishna revealing himself through the Viswaroopa dharshan when he went to Hasthinapuri as an ambassador of Pandavas. The king longed to have the same kind of dharshan of Vishnu and was advised to perform an Aswamedha yaga. The king performed the yaga at this place and emperuman revealed himself as pandava thootan to the king. Later on about 1,000 years ago King Rajakesari Varman built the present temple. Some Sculpture in the temple refer to the lord as Thootha Hari.

Mangalaasaasanam: There are a total of 6 pasurams about emperuman of this divya desam referred in Naalaayira Divya Prabhandam.

• Bhoothath Alwar has sung 1 pasuram (2275)
• Pei Alwar has sung 1 pasuram (2311)
• Thirumazhisai Alwar has sung 2 pasurams (814, 815)
• Thirumangai Alwar has sung 2 pasurams (1541, 2674 (427))
  

Location: This temple is situated near to Ekambareshwarar temple in Big Kanchipuram. It is near Gangai Kondaan Mandapam. Kanchipuram is about 75 Kms from Chennai and is well connected by road.