Varadaraja Perumal Temple | Kanchipuram Varadharaja Perumal Temple

Varadharaja Perumal Temple| Kanchipuram Varadaraja Perumal Temple

The Varadaraja Perumal Temple is a famous in in Kanchipuram. It is also called as Athigiri and Hasthagiri. It is regarded as one of the 108 Divya Desams , by the Alwars. This temple along with th Ekambareswara temple and The Kamkshi Amman temple is regarded as the ‘Mumoorthivasam’.

LEGEND AND HISTORY:

It is believed that, when Brahma was doing Yajna, Vedhavathi river was about to overflow and disrupt it.Then, Lord Vishnu laid himself in the form of Athi tree by stopping the river. This is followed by the emergence of Vishnu as Thousand suns and people believe that he stayed permanently in this temple.

This temple was initially built by Chozha Kings, although it is believed to be built by the Pallavas. Further expansion and the construction of a Gopura was also done by the Chozhas during later 14^th century.

ARCHITECHTURE:

The temple stands magnificiently over 23 acres of Land. It has three Pragarams namely, Azhwar Pragaram, Madai Palli Pragaram and Thirumalai Pragaram. It has a 389 pillared hall, which mostly consists of Lion sculptures in it. He temple is also significant in having thirty two shrines.The temple sculptures reveal the style of Vishwakarma Sthabathis.

One important specialty of this temple is that, the Rajagopuram9western Gopuram) is smaller than the eastern Gopuram, which is highly contrasting to the other temples of South India. Beautiful sculptures depicting Ramayana and Mahabaratham are present in the hundred pillared hall of this temple. This resemble the Vijanagara kings Architechture.

SPECLITIES OF THE TEMPLE:

The Moolavar(Primary deity) of this temple is Varadharaja Permal (Vishnu) and his consort is Perundhevi Thaayar(Lakshmi).

The Urchavar (Festival deity ) is Perarullalan and his consort is Sriperundhevi ( Bargavi)

The Sthalas Virutcham is Fig tree( Athimaram)

There are several temple tanks and some of them include, Vegavadhi Nadhi, Anandha Saras, varaga, Sesha, Brahma , Agni, Kusala and Padma Theertham.

Azhwars like Thirumangai Azhwar, Boodhathaazhwar and Peyazhwar have sung their famous Pasurams in this Temple.

FESTIVALS AND POOJAS:

·         Brahmotsavam during April-May

·         Garuda Vaghavanam

·         Ther festival

CONTACT ADDRESS:

Varadharaja Perumal Temple,
W Mada street,

Kanchipuram,

Tamil Nadu.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

6 AM TO 12.30 PM

3.30 PM TO 8.30 PM