Srimath Varadarejendra
Srivathsanaka Subapradaha
Thundira Mandallolassi
Tapatraya Nivarakaha - Sri Narada Purana
It was a hot day of peak summer. The chief priest was about to close the shrine after morning puja. Suddenly he heard a hurried flight of steps coming up the Hills. Before he can realise what was happening, there stood before him in the sanctum sanctorum , the Prime Minister of India, the late Jawaharlal Nehru, with folded hands. Arathi, archana and theertha Prasadam done, the Prime Minister made enquiries about Robert Clive’s Makarakandi and continued his election tour in 1952. Cheema Bhattar used to narrate this episode with pride.
The Srivaishnavites of Kanchi do not feel the necessity to go to Srirangam or Tirupathi. For them, Koil is Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Thirumalai is the Hasthigiri Hills and the temple is Perumal Koil – all three in one place. Tirupati is famous for Vadai, Srirangam for Nadai and Kanchi for Kodai. You can enjoy all three in one go in the Kanchi Brahmotsavam. Every evening you get tasteful Vada prasadam at Gangai Kondan Mandapam. The pathu ulathal on the fourth morning inside the temple will remind you of Namperumal Nadai Azhagu –
Rishbathunadaya serukkum,
matha gajathinudaya thimirppal vandha pisipithalum,
Puliyunadaiya sivitkudaimaiyaal vantha urattuthalum,
simhathinnudiya menanipaal vantha parapi vanamum
ivai ellam nammakku (why Namperumal alone?) Devaperumal Nadai azhagile kanalaam .
Kanchi is famous for its town planning — Nagareshu kanchi, Narishu Ramba, Purusheshu Vishnu, Pushpeshu Jathi (Baravi).
The peak day of the year is the third day of the Brahmotsavam. The thronging crowd on the Rajaveedhi go ecstatic while Lord Varadaraja appears in Garudotsavam to the singing of ‘Thirukkanden, Ponmeni Kanden.’ Truly He has been designated as Arulicheyal Pithan. The Veda Parayana goshti follows the Lord and He follows the Prabandha Goshti. This tradition was first established in Kanchi and was followed in other temples.
Innumerable epigraphic evidence inside the temple point to the legendary origin of the Lord after the Brahma yagna. Image of the original deity up the Hills was made of athi tree and hence called Athi Varadar. According to ancient Sanskrit texts, the original deity up the Hills, was in a standing posture. The athi ( ficus glomerate ) or udumbura wood is of special significance to Srivaishnavites. The Vishnu Sahasranamam includes udumbura among the thousand names of Vishnu. The original Athivaradar idol was displaced sometime in the 15th century A.D. according to historian and archaeologist Dr. K.V. Raman. The present one was brought from Pazhaya Seevaram and reconsecration done at the instance of Azhagiya Manavala Jeer, who was the Koil Kelvi of the temple at the time. The original Athivaradar image was kept in a silver casket inside the Anantha Saras and the deity is brought out once in 40 years.
Lord Varadaraja is Satyavrataa Kshetra Vasi and Charanagatha Rakshaka. Hasthigiri derived the name from Gajendra Moksham. Gajendra moksham festival is celebrated during the Adi Garuda Sevai festival.
Epigraphic references
The temple is full of epigraphical inscriptions dating back to 1073 A.D. The garbagraha on the Hill has a prakaram with two-walled mandapams and a maha mandapam. Lord Varadaraja stands majestically inside this mandapam. The Punyakoti Vimanam adorns the mandapam. The pradakshina pada around the sanctum sanctorum is vayya malikai meaning house on earth signifying the Lord’s presence in Nithya vibhuti and Leela vibhuti.
For going up the Hill, we have to ascend a flight of 24 steps to enter the second prakaram. The Dwajasthamba peeta is 24 ft tall, Anantha Saras has 24 steps, height of the wall at the Hill is 24 ft. — the Gayatri has 24 aksharas and the Valmiki Ramayanam has 24,000 slokas.
We have the Senaiyarkon Thirumutram and then the Alwar pradakshinam. At the foot of the Hill is the shrine for Lord Narasimha conceived in the form of a cave. An epigraph of AD 1053 describes the sub-shrine as ancient. As we go round the Hill, we find the Andal shrine. Every time Lord Devaraja returns to the Hill, He bestows His garland to Sri Andal. There are also shrines for Dhanvantri, Ganesa and Malayala Nachiyaar. The third prakara houses the Thirumadappalli (the temple kitchen). This prakaram is known as Yamunai Thuraivar Thirumutram, the place where Alavandar spotted Ramanuja. The abisheka mandapam is at the centre — a sanctum sanctorum lined with mirrors. It is said to have been constructed in AD 1236. On the right hand side is a stone sculpture narrating the episode of Athan Jeer bringing back Lord Devaraja from Udayar Palayam in 1705. On the Western side is the shrine for Perundevi Thayaar. Custom requires first worship at this shrine before entering the shrine of Varadaraja.
Raja Raja Chola III had made endowments for Arulala Perumal and Periya Pirattiyaar according to an epigraphic inscription of 1236 AD. The Kili Mandapam is on the other side of the Abisheka Mandapam. As we come out, we can see the 100-pillared kalyana mandapam, which is spellbinding and rich in architecture.
Dwaya kshetram
The temple is known as Perumal Koil and Thyaga Mandapa. This is mentioned in the Guru parampara of Pin Azhagiya Perumal Jeer 13th century AD and Acharya Hridayam of Azhagiya Manvala Jeer of 14th century ( Pushpa Thyaga Bhoga Mandabangalil pani poovum alavattamum veenaiyum …. Acharya Hridayam 85). Probably the reference is about the way Lord Devaraja parted with Ramanuja for the sake of Srivaishnava Darshanam and Ramanuja established himself at Srirangam. Dwaya kshetra signifies that Perumal and Piratti are found together on most of the occasions. The ten-day Navaratri festival at the 100-pillared mandapam with padiyettam — Deva Devathi Raja Yecharikkai is a feast to the eyes and the ears
Asthu Sristhana Kasthuri Vasana Vasithora se
Sri Asthigiri Nathaya Devarajaya Mangalam
