Thiruthanka – Sri Deepa Prakasar Perumal Temple

Lord Brahmadevan wanted to do the Aswamedha Yaagam in Kanchipuram. But, Goddess Saraswathy was influenced by the demons to create an obstacle of this Yaagna. To do the Yaagna, Light is the primary thing. The Asuraas stopped the light by covering the sky, there by covering the light and spread the darkness. At that time, Sriman Narayanan appeared there as a “Light” and thereby getting the light to the yaagan and ride away the darkness. Since, the darkness was taken away, the Perumal there is called as “Deepaprakasar”. Deepam means light and Prakasam is said as the flash referred to as the light of spread out to take away the darkness. Since the Perumal gave light, the Perumal is called as “Vilakku Oli Perumal”. It means the Perumal gave light.

The place is also known by the name Thoopul as it was dense with Dharba grass then. This is the birth place of Sri Vedanta Maha Desikar, hence the Acharya is also praised as Thoopul Vedanta Desikan.