Varadaraja Perumal Temple:
The Varadharaja Perumal Temple, also known as Hastagiri and Attiyuran, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Divya Desams, the 108 Vishnu temples thought to have been visited by the Alvars, or the 12 poet saints.It is located in Kanchipuram’s Vishnu Kanchi neighbourhood, which is home to many prominent Vishnu temples. Ramanuja, one of the foremost Hindu scholars of Vaishnava Vishishtadvaita philosophy, is said to have lived in this temple.
Legend of Kanchi Perumal Temple:
According to Hindu legend, Saraswati punished Indra, the monarch of celestial deities, to transform into an elephant and roam the land. With the divine force of Vishnu, who manifested as the mount Hastagiri, he was freed from the curse. Hastagiri denotes an elephant-shaped mount or hill. After being freed from the curse of the goddess Saraswati, Indra, the king of the devas, is said to have installed the silver and golden lizards who saw the experience in the temple. Brahma performed a yagna here, on the verge of being carried away by the fast-flowing river Vegavati (Saraswati in the shape of a river), now known as the Palar River.
The temple deity, Vishnu, laid himself flat to stop the flow, and the yagna was completed successfully. Vishnu appeared as Varadarajaswamy inside the athi tree with the brilliance of a thousand Suns, and remained there permanently until he was submerged in a nearby tank because the deity came from yagna performed by Brahma (Historically speaking, his placement may have been due to fear of invasion by the Delhi Sultanate). As with the association of South Indian temples with a sacred tree, the temple’s name, Attigiri, is derived from the atti tree, which is revered to both Vaishnavas and other Hindus. The current stone god found inside the temple came from a Narashima temple nearby. The deity is known as Devaraja Perumal, and his adoration is comparable to that of Adi Athi Varadharaja Perumal, or two gods residing in one presiding idol.
According to Hindu mythology, Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, divorced his wife Saraswati due to a misunderstanding. He offered the ashvamedha sacrifice in order to obtain boons from Vishnu. Vishnu was pleased by the devotion and emerged from beneath the soil as a boar, uniting Saraswati and Brahma. According to another account, the students of the sage Gautama were condemned to become lizards. They lived at the temple and were freed from the curse thanks to Vishnu’s heavenly favour. There is a panel in the temple that depicts the two lizards on the temple’s roof.
Varadharaja Perumal Temple History:
Around 350 inscriptions from various dynasties such as Chola, Pandya, Kandavarayas, Cheras, Kakatiya, Sambuvaraya, Hoysala, and Vijayanagara indicate numerous donations to the temple as well as Kanchipuram’s political condition.The Cholas restored Varadharaja Perumal Temple in 1053, and it was expanded under the reigns of the great Chola monarchs Kulottunga Chola I and Vikrama Chola. Later Chola monarchs added another wall and a gopura in the 14th century. When a Mughul invasion was expected in 1688, the deity’s main image was sent to Udayarpalayam, which is today part of Tiruchirappalli district.It was returned with greater difficulty with the involvement of a local preceptor, who enlisted the assistance of General Todarmal. During the colonial time, Robert Clive, a British commander, visited the Garuda seva festival and handed a beautiful necklace (today known as the Clive Maharkandi), which is ornamented on a particular occasion every year.The management is currently carried out by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Vishnu Kanchi temple timings:
The timings of Varadharaja Perumal Temple is
Morning: 6.00 am – 12.00 pm
Evening : 4.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Pooja Timings:
Thirumanjanam & Vishwaroopa Darshan – 6.00 am
1st Thiruvaradhanam – 6.30 am & 7.30 – 9.00 am
2nd Nivedanam- 10.00 – 11.00 am
Thirukkapu Sathudal (Closing Of Sannidhi) – 12.30 – 3.30 pm
Sarva Darshan- 3.30 – 6.00 pm
3rd Thirumalai Sathupadi & Nivedanam – 6.00- 6.30 pm
4th Thiruvardanam – 7.00 – 8.00 pm
Manna Senai Theermanam – 8.00 – 8.30 pm
Architecture of Kanchipuram Varadharaja Perumal Temple:
Chinna Kanchipuram is a hamlet on the eastern side of Kanchipuram, a South Indian town in the state of Tamil Nadu. The temple occupies a 23-acre area and is famed for its sanctity and historical history, as well as displaying the architectural talents of ancient Vishwakarma Sthapathis in temple architecture. Alvar Prakaram, Madai Palli Prakaram, and Thiru Malai Prakaram are the temple’s three outside precincts (prakarams).There are 32 shrines, 19 vimanams (towers), 389 pillared rooms, and sacred tanks scattered around the complex, some of which are located outside the compound.
Anantha Theertham is the name of the temple tank. There are 96 ornately crafted pillars illustrating various Mahabharat and Ramayana stories. Rati, Manmatha, Lakshmi Narayana, Lakshmi Narasimha, Lakshmi Varaha, and Lakshmi Hayagreeva are among the most prominent sculptures.
Festivals at Varadharaja Perumal Temple Kanchipuram:
The temple is well-known for its massive umbrella, which is employed at joyful events. Thousands of people flock to the temple during the bhramotsavam (main festival) in Vaigasi (May/June), and this number doubles during the Garuda Vahanam and the Ther Thiruvila, the chariot parade.
Atthi Varadar:
The 10 foot deity picture, Atthi Varadharaja Perumal (Atthi Varadar), is made of the Atthi or fig tree and is kept in an underground chamber inside the temple tank known as the Anantha Sarovaram/ Anantha Saras. Every 40 years, it is brought out for worship for 48 days. It is worshipped at the Vasantha Mantapam, which is located in the temple’s south-west corner. In the first 24 days, the Aththi Varadar is worshipped in a sleeping posture (Kidantha Thirukkolam or Sayana Kolam), followed by a standing posture (Nindra Thirukkolam) in the following 24 days.
How to reach Varadharaja Perumal Temple:
By Rail: For internal and international visitors, the nearest airport to Chennai is Kanchipuram (58.8 miles).
By Train: Kanchipuram has a railway station and is well connected to Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tirupati, and Bangalore.
By Road: Kanchipuram is 74 km from Chennai and is well connected to major national and state highways. Buses run frequently between Chennai and Kanchipuram.
Accommodation at Kanchipuram Perumal Temple:
The majority of the lodges are located near the downtown bus stop. Some guest houses also offer basic amenities and a relaxing setting for tourists. Kanchipuram has a wide range of accommodations, from deluxe hotels to affordable hotels. Kanchipuram hotels are well-known for their traditional warmth and hospitality.
Varadharaja Perumal Temple Online Booking:
There is no internet ticketing for the temple tickets must be purchased at the ticket desk near the temple.
Kanchipuram Varadaraja Perumal Temple Address:
Injimedu, Tiruvannamalai District
Tamil Nadu, Thiruvannamalai – 604503, India.
Varadaraja Perumal Temple Photos:
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