Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

Golden & Sliver Lizards - Two disciples of gautama rishi used to fill water every day for their Guru. One day, to their shock, they found a lizard jumping out when they placed the tumbler in front of their Guru. An angry Rishi cursed the two for their carelessness and they instantly turned into Lizards. The 2 disciples stayed here at Kanchipuram as lizards until indra came, as Elephant Gajendra, to worship Varadarajan Perumal and relieved them from their curse. In memory of this, there is a golden Lizard and a Silver Lizard outside the Varadarajan Sannidhi. Belief is that one will be relieved of all diseases if one prays to Lord Varadarajan and touches the Lizard on the way out. The lizard is considered to be a very important creature in such modes of communications. When a Lizard steps into the puja room and stays there it's considered auspicious. They say that either your Guru or the lord himself rides on the lizard when they come visiting. The nature of the Lizard in such cases is quite different. They tend to be fearless, hang around the deep dark corners of the room and come closer to the devotee as and when they wish, sometimes it's too close for comfort. A family is considered blessed and the home is believed to have positive vibrations when lizards come to live within the walls of its puja room. Lizards seem to have held a very strong place in function. Killing or harming Lizards is considered one of the greatest "doshams"(negative effects) committed ever. Even more intriguing is the fear that is triggered with the accumulation of "doshams" when a Lizard falls over a person. They say that if a lizard fell over our head, something very inauspicious is going to happen, like probable death in the family, while if it falls on the foot it means travel. It looks like our ancestors didn't take to traveling very well, not half has lightly as we take it today. There might have been dangers they would have to face in the journey so avoiding travel was probably recommended. In order to rid one off these negative effects our ancestors thought a lot for the masses. Interestingly found only in the Varadaraja Perumal Temple at Kanchipuram is the Silver and Gold Lizards on the ceiling of a small chamber in this temple. With mystical diagrams of the sun and moon near it, this large lizard is supposed to wipe out all the accumulated "doshams" if we get to touch it. There is an endless list of "doshams" given in our panchangam. The Sun, Moon and the Lizard (palli) are related to astrology and give remedies with relation to our horoscopes for a more peaceful living. Touching these Lizards on the ceiling nullifies the negative effects that we might have accumulated in the course of our living, knowingly or unknowingly.

Thirukkachi Nambikal doing Aalavattam Kainkaryam - Thirukkachi Nambikal (Also known as Kanchi Purnar) was an ardent devotee of this temple. He used to bring flowers every day from Poovirundhavalli, where he maintained a garden. He did Aalavattam Kainkaryam, waving to produce breeze with the help of hand fan. It is believed that Varadharaja used to converse with him, while he was doing that Seva. Aalavattam Kainkaryam is a worship practise followed in modern times also.

Thirukkachi Nambikal Compositions - Nambi also composed Devarajaashtakam (A Sanskrit poem of 8 verses) on the presiding deity. Sri Ramanujar, another great Vaishnavite, got answers to his six questions from Lord Varadharaja through Sri Thirukkachi Nambikal.

Special Privilege to Vedantha Desikar - Vedantha Desikar (of Thoopul) visits Varadaraja Perumal once a year during the month of Puratasi (Sept-Oct). This is the only Divya Desam, where Desikar enters the Sanctum of Lord Varadaraja. No other Azhvaar has this privilege. “Sri Varadaraja Stavam” in praise of this lord. “Sri Sthuthi” was sung in praise of Goddess Perundevi Thayaar. On account of that, there was a huge sum of gold coins fell from sky in order to acknowledge the work. Varadaraja Panchaasath was also written by Vedanta Desika and Devaraja Mangalam by Swamy Manavalamamuni in praise of Lord Varadharaja Swamy.

Brihaspathi’s curse - A debate took place in the court of the Devas as to which was more worthy – ‘Family life’ or “Life of a Sanyasi’. When they could not come to a conclusive answer, the Devas looked to their preceptor, Brihaspati for a final decision. Brihaspati pronounced that Sanyasin was better. Angered at this decision of not recognizing the difficulty of family life, Indra cursed Brihaspati to become a poor Brahmin with children. Leading this life, Brihaspati one day chased away a hungry dog which had come inside his house and was cursed for not providing refuge to a hungry animal. And he was turned into a dog. The Devas, by now, were feeling the absence of their preceptor. When Indra approached Brahmma to help get Brihaspati back amongst them, he was asked to accompany Brahmma to Thirukkachi where Brihaspati was already undertaking a penance before Varadaraja Perumal. Answering their prayers, Lord Varadarajan is said to have given Brihaspati his original status and form.

Lord Varadarajan Saves Ramanuja - Aalavanthaan met Ramanuja for the first time here in Kanchipuram. The story goes that Ramanuja once lost his way in the Vindhya forest. Lord Varadarajan is said to have appeared as a hunter and carried Ramanuja all the way to Kanchipuram. A tired Varadarajan (the hunter) asked Ramanuja for water. When Ramanuja brought water from the street well, he is said to have seen Lord Varadarajan, along with the goddess, disappear right in front of him into the temple Sannidhi. To this day, sacred water for Lord Varadarajan is brought from this street well. Ramanuja moved from Kanchi to Srirangam: Thirukkachi Nambi used to ‘fan’ Lord Varadarajan to prevent the lord from sweating under the heat. It is believed that he also used to have daily interactions with the lord. Ramanuja, who was performing the daily rituals for Kanchi Varadaraja Perumal, had to be moved to Srirangam to succeed Aalavanthaan. Thirukkachi Nambi is said to have got the permission from Varadarajan to allow Ramanuja to move to Srirangam. Hence, Varadaraja Perumal is credited with the handing over of Ramanuja to Srirangam.

Brahmma desire on Chaturbhuja Seva of Vishnu - The legend has that, Lord Brahma desired for Dharshan of Lord Sriman Narayana with Sangu, Chakra, Gadha, ( Conch, Disc, Mace) / ‘Chaturbhuja Seva’ and underwent severe penance. Lord Narayana pleased at the devotion of Lord Brahma and gave him Dharshan in the form of ‘Pushkarani’ (Theertham). Lord Brahma was not satisfied, He continued his Tapasya, Lord Narayana appeared in the form of a ‘forest’, which was came to known as ‘Naimisharanya’. At this point of time, an unknown voice from the sky instructed Lord Brahma to perform hundred Aswamedha Yaga to get the Chaturbhuja Seva of Lord Sriman Narayana as Sri Varadharaja. Lord Brahma felt depressed at the thought of performing hundred Aswamedha Yaga and the requirement of time and efforts for it. As per the instruction of Lord Sriman Narayana, performing one Aswamedha Yaga at the scared land of Kanchi is equivalent to thousand Aswamedha Yaga, Lord Brahma began performing the Yagam and Sri Varadharaja emerged out of the scared fire. Finally, Lord Brahma had the Chaturbhuja Seva of Sri Varadharaja as he desired.

Brahmma conducting Aswamedha Yaagam: Brahmma wanted to see Lord Vishnu, on earth, in his full form. He undertook penance and the Lord appeared in the form of water in Pushkaram and in the form of forest in Naimisarinyam. He was then asked to do Aswamedha Yaagam at ‘Sathya Vratha Kshetram’. It was here in Kanchipuram that Brahmma performed the Aswamedha Yaagam. As seen in the earlier Divya Desam stories (relating to Kanchipuram), Saraswathi was angry that Brahmma undertook the Yaagam without her support and presence and adopted different ways to stop the Yaagam. Lord Vishnu took different forms to thwart her attempts. At Thiruvekka, he stopped river Vegavathi by sleeping across as a dam, at Ashtabhujam he came with 8 hands to kill the Asura and subdue Kaali, at Thiru Thanka, he appeared as a flame to provide light (after Saraswathi had plunged the place into darkness). Finally, Lord Vishnu is said to have landed here in his Punyakoti Vimaanam and appeared before Brahmma to signal the completion of the Aswamedha Yaagam. “Ka” – means Brahma and “Anjitham” – means who was worshipped. Since, Brahma worshipped Emperumaan as Varadharajar; this sthalam is called “Kanchi”. Belief is that Brahma comes here once a year on the full moon day in the Tamil month of Chitrai (April-May) around mid-night, for a darshan of Varadarajan. On this day, it is the practice for the priests to place food inside the sanctum and to wait outside for 24 minutes. At the end of this, the food is said to smell sweeter.

Atthi Varadar - During the Muslim invasion, the Moolavar deity (Lord Varadarajan) is said to have been damaged. As a damaged deity could not be worshipped, it was immersed in the temple tank. The Moolavar that we see today at Kanchipuram was brought from Pazhaya Seevaram, about 20kms from Kanchipuram. In memory of this, the Utsava idol of Lord Varadarajan is taken on a procession once a year, during the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb) to Pazhaya Seevaram. Lord Narasimha is also taken on a procession to Keezh Seevaram during the Sankaranthi period (Kanu). The original Moolavar of Lord Varadarajan which was immersed in the temple tank. Athi Varadan is taken out once in 40 years and placed outside for public worship for a period of 10 days. This event took place last in 1979 and the next one is slated for 2019.

Lord Vishnu saving Ramanuja - When Ramanuja was about sixteen years old he married a girl called Rakshambal who appears to have been known also as Tanjamma. After a few days, his father Keshavacharya died. This caused bitter sorrow to Ramanuja. With his wife and mother he left for Kanchipuram and settled there. Govinda followed them to Kanchipuram. Ramanuja had not yet received all his lessons in Vedanta. He was looking for the right guru. Yadavapraksha was one of the greatest scholars of those days. Ramanuja became his student. Though he became a student, he did not relish the manner in which the teacher taught him. It would of course be wrong to find fault with one’s teacher. But in Ramanuja’s judgment, Yadavapraksha was not explaining the texts properly. Ramanuja was in a dilemma. One day the teacher was explaining some intricate sentence in the Chandogya Upanishad. The meaning of the passage as given by the teacher was rather crude. Ramanuja gave his own interpretation of the line. The teacher resented that the student had the temerity to debate a point with the teacher. He was even nervous that someday his student might steal a march over him. It happened that on another day, they were discussing a line in Taittiriya Upanishad. The teacher gave a faulty explanation. Ramanuja explained the line in his own way. The teacher should have felt happy with his student who had given such a brilliant exposition. Instead he became angry with him. “Look here if you are not satisfied with my way of teaching, you don’t have to take any more lessons.” The teacher spoke with obvious displeasure. Ramanuja went away without uttering a word. He was too full of respect for his teacher. His fellow students hated Ramanuja and wanted to get rid of him. The teacher and the students including Govinda and Ramanuja were all going on a pilgrimage to Varanasi.

They approached the Vindhya Mountains. They were travelling through an impenetrable jungle when Yadava Prakasha and his other disciples hatched a plot to kill Ramanuja, Govinda somehow sensed it; he warned his brother and advised him to run for his life. Accordingly Ramanuja went away. The teacher and the other students frantically searched for him in the forest. They presumed that he had been killed by some wild animal and they proceeded on their way to Varanasi. Ramanuja wandered wildly in the forest. He was tormented by hunger and thirst. There was also the fear of the wild animals. He prayed to God and slept under a tree. It was already nightfall when he awoke. He was not feeling hunger and thirst any longer. However it was not easy to find his way out from the wild forest. Just then a man and a woman appeared on the scene. They were a hunter-couple. They felt sad when they heard the boy’s tale of woe. Since they were also heading south, Ramanuja followed them. It was already dark when they emerged from the jungle. They found a suitable place in the plain and rested for the night. Sometime after midnight, the hunter’s wife said she was thirsty. Ramanuja got up and went in search of water. He fetched water from a far-off pond. The hunter’s wife after drinking it asked for some more. When Ramanuja went back to the pond for more water, it was already daybreak. Ramanuja surprised to find himself in the midst of familiar surroundings – temple towers, coconut trees and woods. He had unconsciously come back to Kanchipuram. He wondered how he had managed to come all the way here from the Vindhyas and that in a single night. It must be the will of -the Almighty, he thought. He then guessed that the hunter-couple who had accompanied him were none other than Lord Narayana and his consort Lakshmi. He rushed back to the, place where the hunter-couple had stayed. They were no longer there. Ramanuja was profoundly grateful to God. From that day onwards he made it a custom to carry water from that pond (Salakkinanar 2 miles from Varadaraja temple) for the worship of God Varadaraja. Ramanuja took upon himself the responsibility of carrying the holy water every day. He worshipped and did Thirumanjanam (the divine bath for the Perumal) and for this, he used to get the water from the well which is 2 miles away. He was awarded with the name as “Ramanuja Maamuni” by Sri Varadharaja Perumal itself, when he became the Saint.

Yamunacharya praying to Varadharaja for Ramanuja to lead Vishishtadvaita School : In those days Yamunacharya was the leader of the Vishishtadvaita School. He had authored many learned works in Sanskrit on that school of philosophy. Mighty contributions yet remained to be made for the development of its tenets, but Yamunacharya was becoming very old. He was wondering who would continue the great tradition. He was then living in Sriranga. He had devoted himself to the worship of Lord Ranganatha. He used to hear now and then about Ramanuja. Once he happened to come to Kanchi. He saw Ramanuja when the latter was going in a crowd, and was much pleased. Ramanuja was tall, handsome and well built. He thought that Ramanuja was the right man for the task of guiding the Vishishtadvaita School. He prayed to God Varadaraja Swami that Ramanuja would be the successor.

Tirukkachinambi : Poorivindamalli is a village near Kanchi. Tirukkachinambi is a Bhagavath, who offers Vinjamara Sevai to Kanchi Varada Raja perumal every day. Lord Varadaraja speaks to him on point to point and clarifies issues. After Ramanuja escaped from forest with the help of Lord Varada Raja, he took shelter with Tirukatchi Nambi and used to do Theertha Kainkaryam to Lord. After Alavandar, called Ramanuja, he went to Srirangam, but could not meet him in person as the later died. Ramanuja returned from Srirangam to Kanchi. Tiru Kachi Nambi asked Ramanuja to continue Teertha Sevai to Lord, but he should work for the three promises he made to late Alavandar.

Vartha Sathakam - Bhagavad Ramanuja and Thirukkachi Nambi had an arrangement for learning. Tiru Kachi Nambi will ask all doubts of Ramanuja to Lord Varada Raja, who will clarify. Next day Nambi shall tell the clarifications to Ramanuja. The first six of such questions of Ramanuja are known as Vartha Sathakam. They are (1) Who / what are Para Thatvam (2) Jeevathma /Paramathama are they same or different? (3) What is more important to seekers of Mukthi, other than Daanam, Dharmam, Jnanam and Bhakti (charity, Justice, Knowledge and devotion)? (4) All Devotees at the end should leave the body with God only in mind. If otherwise what will happen? (5) Moksham – Moksham (salvation or liberation of soul) will it happen after many lives? Or can it be had just after one life? (6) I am thinking of Tiru Kachi Nambi as Acharya, who is helping to clarify the doubts. But due to caste considerations that will not be possible. So who can be approached as Acharya? Answers to Vartha Sathakam: Lord Varada Raja himself answered all questions and conveyed them to Ramanuja through Tiru Kachi Nambi. (1) Ahameva Param Brahma – Jagat Kaarana Kaaranam - I am the Para Brahmam who is the cause for whole world (2) Kshetra Gneswarayo Bedha Siddha Yeava - Jeevatma and Paramatma are different (3) Moksho Payo Nyasa Eva - Those who desire Mukti only way is Prapatthi (4) Madh Bhakthanam Jananam Cha Nanthi Masmruthi Rishyathe - Lord’s devotees need not think of Lord at the end moment, as they think of Him always (5) Dehaavasane Bhakthanam Dadaami Paramam Padam - All My devotees are rid of any Prarabdam, so they need no more bodies to take effects of Prarabdams (6) Next Acharya to lead Ramanuja is Periya Nambi, who is a disciple of Alavandar (Yamuna Charya) Ramanuja decided to go to Periya Nambi. Lord Ranganatha also directed the scholars to bring Ramanuja to Srirangam. Periya Nambi and Ramanuja started for each other in opposite directions and they met at Madurantakam. Ramanuja requested Periya Nambi to accept him disciple unable to wait further. Periya Nambi recognised the Arthi of Ramanuja and initiated Ramanuja to Pancha Samskarams and accepted him as his disciple. Afterwards at Kanchi, Periya Nambi explained Nalayira Divya Prabandham.

Ramanuja taking the mantle of Vaishnavism - For nearly six months Ramanuja served his master Periya Nambi and learnt from him the inner esoteric meaning of the ‘Nalayira’ (four thousand) Prabandha compositions. He learnt the essence of Vishishtadvaita contained in those hymns. One day Periya Nambi’s wife was drawing water from the well, and inadvertently a few drops were splashed on the pitcher of Ramanuja’s wife. The latter became angry that she had been polluted and started a row. Maha- Poorna felt deeply hurt by her conduct. He decided to leave the place lest his presence create further estrangement between Ramanuja and his wife, and proceeded to Sriranga. Ramanuja came to know that his guru had left. His anger knew no bounds. How could he continue to live with such a wife? He cleverly dispatched her to her father’s house. Later Ramanuja took sacred bath in the Theertham at Kanchi and pledged to Lord Varada that he would work for Srivaishnavism to establish its supremacy. Lord Varada called him (through Thirukkachi Nambi) and blessed him as Yathiraja. All the scholars started regarding Ramanuja as Jagat Guru after he took Asramam as leader. Even till date one can find Swamy Ramanuja’s Kanchi residence (Tiirumaligai) can be found in the East Mada Street behind the Temple tower.

Kuresan and Mudali Andan - Mudali Andan is nephew of Ramanuja. He learnt about achievements of Bhagavad Ramanuja and was waiting for opportunity to join Ramanuja. Koorathalwar was a brilliant student of Vedantic scripts, who stays in nearby village Kuran. He was also eager to join Ramanuja and came to Kanchi. On the first meet itself, Kuresan and Ramanuja felt they are born to be ideal Acharya and Shishya (disciple). Ramanuja gave Pancha Samskarams to both Mudali Andan and Kuresan and initiated them as Srivaishnavas. Later Kuresan played very important role in saving Bhagwad Ramanuja at odd times. Swami Koorathalwan, to save this Sampradaya, lost his eyes. Swami Ramanuja ordered him, to go to Sri Devaraja, and pray to get his lost eyes. Reluctantly, Swami Koorathalwan arrived at Kanchi and composed a beautiful poem Sri Varadaraja Sthavam. He prayed the Lord to show him. The Lord appeared and enquired what he wanted. Unwilling to ask for the lost eyes and at the same time to obey Swami Ramanuja’s order, Swami Koorathalwan requested the Lord to grant him eyes with which he could see only the Lord and Swami Ramanuja. The Lord also granted Moksham to all his relatives. And, as prayed by Swami Koorathalwan, the traitor Naluran, who helped the King to summon and remove eyes for not complying with King’s order, also was granted Moksham. It is therefore, evident that only with his grace, one can ever see him, whether in Viswaroopam or in temples in Archa form.

Tyaga Mandapam : When Yamunacharya (Alavandar) died Ramanuja went to Srirangam and promised for his three wishes but did not see Lord Ranganatha. Lord was disappointed which is a rare phenomenon. Lord is happy at growth and achievements of Ramanuja, but has greater purpose for him. The intent was conveyed to Lord Varadaraja of Kachi, who is immersed in devotion of Bargavan and was reluctant to send But, Ranganatha sends a scholar Tiruvaranga Perumal to go to Kanchi to impress Varada Raja and request for Ramanuja. Tiruvaranga Perumal sings very well and goes to court of Lord Varada and exhibits his talent. Lord Varada grants him a wish. Perumal asks for Ramanuja. Lord Varada obliges the greater purpose and asks Ramanuja to go and continue efforts from Srirangam. Thyaga Mandapam – Kancheepuram (As Lord Varadhan had sacrificed Swami Ramanuja for the sake of Srirangam Namperumal. Thiyagam Seithathal Thiyaga mandapam). Ramanuja goes to Srirangam. Lord Ranganatha along with Periya Nambi and other scholars welcomes Ramanuja. Lord says the place merely gains importance by presence of Ramanuja. The leadership is offered to Ramanuja by disclosing the wish of Alavandar through his Paasuram “poliga poliga”, which means “you are the person to elevate the world”.