Sri Padmanabha Swami

Two Vishnu murthies residing in the Saligramam found by Lord Hanuman in Gandaki Nathi are Lord Renganathar and Lord Narashimhar. Lord Narashimha is facing west and Lord Renganathar is facing east side.

Both temples are built in the same time period by Pallava Kingdom.

Lord Sri Renganatha is lying down on Python King Karkodaka’s body. This is called Karodaka Sayanam and could be seen only in Namakkal temple. The God has laid down in a relaxed posture. He is having only two hands, like human beings. Right hand has been structured as straight aside of his head and left hand with Aaswana Muthra, like inviting Devotees and blessing them. The total height of the total structure is 10 feet length and 3 feet in width.

Snake King Python is having 5 lion faces and huge long body framed in the form of bed and he serves as a bed to the Lord with devotion. Lord Brahma, Great Vaishnava Naratha, and excellent singer Thamburu are present near the Lord chanting and singing the glories of Lord. Apsaras (Dancing girl servants of demigods) are dancing. Five important weapons of Lord namely Sudharsana Chakra (disk), Panchasanya (conch), Nandhaki (sword), Saranga (Bow – Arrow), Komadhaki (Mace) are worshipping the Lord in the human form.

This cave temple is an excellent example of Pallava’s kingdom stone scriptures. The cave is created artificially by drilling the hills inch by inch and designed as roof, pillars, walls and floors. The roof of this temple is craved like the roof made up of bamboo sticks.

We could see two demons named Madhu and Kaidapa standing near the Lord worshipping daily in this scared temple. Their Spiritual story is as follows:
The demos Madhu and Kaidapa are came here with the intension of stealing Lords precious jewels. As the Lord Hari is full of mercy, he didn’t bother about the jewels and let the demons take it. The demons, started taking all the jewels from the Lord thinking that Lord is in deep sleep, touched the lotus feet of Lord to take the jewels on the foot.

By touching the lotus foots of Lord, all their demonist nature was washed away; they obtained the knowledge of Vedic literature, they understood the value of devotion to Lord Hari, and hence, they realized their offence.

They became true Vaishnava and great devotees of Lord. Immediately, they grabbed the lotus feet of Lord and requested to forgive them. They pleased the Lord with words full of devotion as follows:

"You are my mother, father, husband, friend, son, preceptor, brother, sister and my darling. Throughout this vast universe, O!! My Lord, I have been trying to know Reality but have not succeeded in my attempt. Father, mother, etc. are just artificial relations. You are the sole true relation, my Lord. “

“Just by looking at you, all sins become removed. Just by touching your deity, one's body becomes pure. By praying to you, all diseases practically become removed. If one baths you with milk and water, the fear of Yamaraja (death personified) is destroyed. Just by chanting your names and glories, one achieves nearness to you; therefore I pay my humble obeisance to you”.

The God Renganatha has permitted Madhu and Kaidapa to serve the Lord in this temple. Daily, the python king Karkotaka, the Demons Mahtu, Kaidapa and all other demigods worships the Lord at night.

King Python Karkodaka is traveling daily to Kamalalyam( Holly Pound), to take water for Thiruvarathanam ( Prayer). Because of the Poisson, which it had in its body, the way becomes very black in Saligrama Parvatham (Hill). You can see the above dark, which like snake has traveled, line up to Kamalalyam. The above black line becomes permanent. This is one of the unique features of this temple.

God Renganathar temple is having 3 gates like Thiruvananthapuram Lord Padmanabha swamy temple.

Other Gods in the cave temple

The deity of Lord Bala Narashimha, Lord sankara Narayana with seven holly rivers, Lord Vamana Avataram with God Ulagai Aalantha Perumal are designed in stonewalls in excellent manner.