Have you ever heard of a beautiful boar? So attractive that maidens queued up to marry him? There were so many of them that there had to be a wedding celebration every day.

The boar is none other than Varaha Perumal of Tiruvidanthai, also called Nityakalyana Perumal because of his predilection for connubial bliss. He married the 360 daughters of Kalava Maharishi on 360 days.

The lovely temple, over a 1000 years old, is situated on the East Coast Road linking Chennai to Mahabalipuram. It is one among the 108 Tirupathis sung of by the Vaishnavite saints the Azhwars. Cars can approach the temple through a mud road branching off from the main road from the temple pond, which is easily spottable. There is a bus stop on the main road called Tiruvidanthai.

Varaha is the third incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who defeated the demon Hiranyakshan. Hiranyakshan was the elder brother of Hiranyakashapu, father of Prahlada. But that is a different story.

In Tiruvidanthai the mood is very different. The idol of Varaha here is said to have manifested itself. No human hand crafted that stately presence. With him is his consort Komalavalli. She embodies all the maidens Varaha Perumal married. In Tamil, "Ella Manaviyarum adakki oru thaiyaraga amaithar."

There is no "Thirumanjanam" for the main deity.

Lord Varaha’s foot is on Adisesha, while before the main shrine is a small "Sannidhi" to Garuda. There are separate shrines to the goddess Komalavalli and Andal too.

This temple has a steady stream of aspiring grooms and brides from all parts of India. Those who for some reason find it difficult to get married come to this temple to solve their problem.

The tradition is that a garland of flowers bought by the devotee and offered to the Lord is then worn by him or her. The youngsters have to go round the sanctum sanctorum nine times.

There are many who speak of the success of this exercise in faith.

As you complete the circumambulation, you come across a bigger shrine to Lord Ranganatha. He is in relaxed recumbency with right hand under his head, both Sridevi and Bhoodevi seated by his side. Ranganayaki too is there – a standing Panchaloha idol. Worshipping the feet of the Lord is said to be a sure way of obtaining his benediction. There is a specialty in this temple. The "Thamarai Thiruvadi" – feet resting on a lotus – of Lord Ranganatha should not be missed when the priest is lighting the camphor.

Yes, there is a reason why Ranganatha is gracing this temple. He came with his consorts to attend the wedding of Varaha Perumal. Finding that there was a wedding day after day, he decided to stay on in Tiruvidanthai!