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Varadharaja Perumal Temple Brahmotsavam
 Kancheepuram,
the city of temples is located 75 km from Chennai, the capital of Tamil
Nadu and 35 km from Chengalpattu. The city houses various temples
including the famous Kamakshi
Amman temple and Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple.
Sri
Varadharaja Perumal Temple is situated in Chinna Kancheepuram (Vishnu
Kancheepuram). This temple is one of the 108 divya desams of Vaishnavism
(important pilgrim spots). Great Vaishnavite saints like Vedanta Desikar
have worshipped here.
The main deity is
called Devarajan, and the utsavar, Varadharajar. The Thayar's name is Perundevi.
 Great
saint-poets like Periazhwar,
Thirumangai
Azhwar,
Boothathazhwar,
Ramanujar,
Thirukachi Nambigal and Manavala Mamunigal have sung about this temple.
Temple history
Brahma
performed yaga at Kancheepuram for purifying his soul. He performed the
yaga with Savithri and Gayathri, his other wives, leaving behind Saraswati.
Knowing this, Saraswati took the form of Vegavathi river and tried to
destroy the yaga. As per Brahma's request, Lord Vishnu laid down,
obstructing the Vegavathi river. Vardharaja Perumal came out of the yaga.
Special features of
the temple
The
Lord in this temple is found standing, facing west. Lord
Vishnu named the deity of this temple as Varadharajar. Iravatham,
Lord Indra's elephant, is believed to bears the Lord in the form of a
mountain called 'Athigiri'. One has to climb 24 stairs to reach the
temple on top, the 24 stairs being the 24 Gayathri
mantras.
Athigiri has been
derived from the name of the Lord Athigiri Varadhar. Athigiri means
'Elephant Mountain'.
Once in every 40 years,
the idol of the Lord is taken out from the pond and kept for worship.
The temple has many festivals, including the famous Garudasevai.
There are many deities
inside this temple, including Garudan, Yoga Narsimhar, Chakarathazhwar,
Perundevi Thayar, Ranganathar and Ramar.
The Bramhotsavam of
this temple starts on May 27. The itinerary of the Bramhotsavam is as
follows:
| 28.05.2004 |
Angurarpanam in
the morning |
Sri Sanai
Muthanmaiyar Street darshan in the evening |
| 29.05.2004 |
Sri Azhwar
Thirunal in the morning |
Siru
Punyakodi Vimanam in the evening |
| 30.05.2004 |
Dwajarohanam and
gold chapram in the morning |
Simha
Vahanam in the evening |
| 31.05.2004 |
Hamsa Vahanam in
the morning |
Suryaprabhai
in the evening |
| 01.06.2004 |
Garudasevai in
the morning |
Hanumantha
Vahanam in the evening |
| 02.06.2004 |
Sesha Vahanam in
the morning |
Chandra
Prabhai in the evening |
| 03.06.2004 |
Golden palanquin
in the morning |
Yali
Vahanam in the evening |
| 04.06.2004 |
Chariot in the
morning |
Elephant
Vahanam in the evening |
| 05.06.2004 |
Chariot |
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| 06.06.2004 |
Thoti
Thirumanvahanam in the morning |
Horse
Vahanam in the evening |
| 07.06.2004 |
Mataiyadi
Mahotsavam and theerthavari in the morning |
Punyakodi
Vimanam |
| 08.06.2004 |
Dwajasaradhanam
in the morning |
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