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The temple of Varadaraja is located in
Kanchipuram, 80 km from
Chennai. The
Varadaraja temple is one of the important shrines of Sri Vaishnavites and
is also known as "Hastigiri" and it is one of the celebrated
Vaishnava Divya Desams, located in Vishnu Kanchi or the little Kanchi.
Originally it was known as "Attiyuran". Sri Varadaraja Swami is
also known as 'Devaraja', 'Pranatharthihara', 'Deva Perumal', 'Athiyooran'
and 'Perarulalan'.
History Of The Temple
This temple with superb art has a magnificent history, which is
associated with Sri Ramanuja, who used to serve here. Many miracles are
said to have occurred. It was with his ministry that the temple, then
already several centuries old, began to gain fame. The base hall was
rebuilt in 1053 by the Cholas on the east west axis, to signify a cave in
the hill, within which the icon of Narasimha sits as a 'Yogi' facing west.
The earliest surviving inscription in the temple is dated 1703.
Varadaraja temple was expanded vastly during the reign of Kulottunga
Chola-I and his son Vikrama Chola (1075 - 1135). A separate shrine for
Perundevi was built on the southwest, facing the sanctum, (rebuilt in 15th
century). By 14th century, the Cholas built another encircling wall
including a tank etc with a gateway and a 7-storied tower. Its
hundred-pillared Mandapam is one of the great achievements of the
Vijayanagar artist.
The Legend
Tradition states that it was on the site of the main sanctum that Lord
Brahma once performed a grand sacrifice. Legend has it that Bharma
worshipped Vishnu in 'Krita Yugam', "Gajendran" in 'Treta Yugam'
(also spelt as Yuga or Yug), "Bhrihaspati" in 'Dwapara Yugam'
(also spelt as Dwapar Yug) and "Adiseshan" in 'Kaliyugam' (also
spelt as Kalyug).
When Saraswati, taKing the form of a fast flowing river, the Vegavati,
which runs a few km from Kanchipuram, attempted to wash away the area,
Lord Vishnu, the deity now enshrined in the Tiruvekha temple, laid himself
down flat to stop its progress. When Lord Brahma's sacrifice was
successfully concluded, Lord Vishnu emerged resplendent as a thousand
suns, as Devarajaswami, the King of the Gods. Granting the request of Lord
Brahma he remained here in this temple.
Bhutattaalwar, one of the earliest of the Alwars, has sung of this
temple. The name Hastigiri is applied in the connotation of Gajendra
Moksham (also spelt as Moksha) and from The Legend that Indras
elephant Airavatam - in the form of a hill bears the image of Vishnu. The
name Attiyurar emerges from the tradition that the original image of
Varadaraja Perumal here was made from Attimaram. This ancient wooden image
is worshipped for 10 days, once in 40 years.
The Temple
The older structures are all lost in series of rebuilding and additions.
The temple is now about 335m long and over 192m wide. It has four
Prakarams, with two huge Gopurams on the west, which is the main entrance,
and on the east. The main sanctum is on a hillock, the Hasthigir. The
shrine is a square and has a barrel-vaulted sikhara, called the "Punyakoti
Vimana", itself an object of worship. There are two Mandapams in
front of it and also a closed pradakshinapath, which is considered the
first Prakaram. There are some paintings of late Vijayanagar times here.
Around the foot of the hillock, to which the devotees descend by a flight
of twenty-four steps runs the second Prakaram. A double-storied pillared
colonnade encloses it. It contains four shrines. One of these is of "Malayala
Nachiar", or the Consort from Kerals, probably a relic of the Chera
occupation of Kanchipuram early in the fourteenth century. There is a
shrine dedicated to Lord Narasimha on the hill lock.
The third Prakaram too contains a number of shrines and Mandapam. The
most important of these is the shrine of Goddess, Perundevi Thayar. It is
customary to offer worship here before going to the Sri Varadaraja Shrine.
It is a splendid glowing Vijayanagar structure. The Mandapam has
ornamental double pillars with rearing cavaliers, as in the celebrated
hundred-column Mandapam in the fourth Prakaram. Adjacent to the shrine
there is a dainty Mandapam carrying four pillars, standing on a high
basement. The pillars and the ceiling are of great beauty.
The fourth and the outermost Prakaram, which is the largest, contain two
tanks besides many shrines and Mandapam. In one of the tanks, the
impressive Anantasaras, a wooden image of the Lord is kept submerged.
Previously it is taken out for worship and then replaced.
Nearby is the Kalyana Mandapam, a marvel, which was built in the second
half of the 16th century. Occupying an area of about 167 sq.km and set on
a lofty basement 1.8 m high, it contains ninety-six pillars. Those on the
facade carry, on their shafts, warriors astride rearing steeds. Most of
these cavaliers, who wear swords, are familiar from Vijayanagar sculptures
elsewhere.
But there are also others with carbines or muskets and they are probably
Portuguese. There are two smaller four-pillared Mandapams in this Prakaram
called "Thulabhara Mandapams", they were probably built for a
ceremony in 1532 when Achyutha, the Vijayanagar Raja, weighed himself
against pearls and gifted these to the temple. They are identical in form
and style.
Two huge Gopurams stand on the east and the west. Today the main entrance
is through the latter. The former is seldom used because, it is said, it
was through it that, in 1688, when a Muslim invasion was expected, the
images of the Lord and his consorts were taken away to safety.
They remained in Udayarpalayam for twenty-two years. When attempts were
made to bring them back, the local chieftain would not part with them.
There upon, a religious preceptor enlisted the services of Todarmal. He
overawed the chieftain with a small force. There are images of Todarmal,
his mother and his wife near the entrance from the third to the fourth
Prakaram in this temple. There are also images of these three in the
Tirumala temple.
The western Gopuram, which faces the town, is of late Cholas times. It is
smaller than the eastern, which Vijayanagar in style and is about 45.7 m
high. It rather resembles the main Gopuram of the Sri Ekamranath temple.
In fact, these two huge Gopurams seem to mark the eastern and western ends
of the town when viewed from a distance, say, from the Chennai road.
The Deities
The main deity here is Varadaraja Perumal in a standing posture facing
west. Perundevi Taayaar is housed in a separate temple within the complex.
Other shrines here include those to Kannan, the Alwars, and the Acharyas,
Ramar, Kariamanikka Perumaal, Andal and Varaaha Perumaal.
Services And Festivities
Priests, who are said to be descendants of Yagna Vakyar, offer four
worship services to the deity everyday. The annual Brahmotsavam is
celebrated in the month of Vaikasi (May-June), while the Adhyayanotsavam
is celebrated in the month of Margazhi (December-January). The Garuda
Sevai and the Chariot festival during the Brahmotsavam draw thousands of
pilgrims. During Chitra Pournami and Pongal, the deity is taken out to the
neighbouring areas.
Air: The nearest airport is at
Chennai, which has
both National and International terminals.
Rail: Kanchipuram
has a railway station on the Chengalpattu - Arakkonam line, which can be
reached via Chengalpattu from Chennai.
Road: Kanchipuram
being a major city and pilgrimage center of Tamil Nadu is
well connected by road with all other places in Tamil Nadu.
Accommodation is available at the moderate and economy class hotels, lodges and choultries in Kanchipuram.