Kanchipuram
Benares of Southern India
Lord Sri Varadaraja Perumal
Important temples in and around Kanchipuram:
1. Sri Deepa Prakasar Perumal Temple (or Thiruthanka)
2. Sri Ashtabujam Perumal Temple (or Sri Aadhikesava)
3. Sri Azhagiya Singar Perumal Temple (or Thiru Velukkai)
4. Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple (or Thiru Kanchi)
5. Sri Yatoktakari Temple (or Thiru Vekka)
6. Sri Ulagalantha Perumal Temple (or Thiru Ooragam) and Sri Thirukkaar Vaanar Temple (or Thirukkaar Vaanam)
7. Sri Vaikunda Perumal Temple (or Thiruparameshwara Vinnagaram)
8. Sri Pandava Dhootha Temple (or Thiru Paadagam)
9. Sri Pachai Vannar Temple and Sri Pavalai Vannar Temple (or Thiru Pavala Vannan)
10. Sri Ekambaranathar Temple and Sri Nilathingal Thundathan Perumal Temple
11. Sri Kamakshi Temple and Sri Aadhi Varaha Perumal Temple
12. Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple (or Thiruputkuzhi)
13. Sri Koorathazhwan Temple at Kooram
14. Sriperumbudur (birthplace of Sripad Ramanujacarya, 32km from Kanchipuram)
15. Sri Veeraraghava Perumal Temple (or Tiruvallore)
16. Sri Bhatavatsala Perumal Temple (or Thiru Nindravoor)
17. Hare Krishna (ISKCON) Chennai Temple - Sri Sri Radha-Krishna Temple
18. Srinivasa Perumal Temple at Elanagar
19. Ramanujar Sannidhi at Sevilimedu
20. Ranganathar Temple at Nathamedu
21. Sri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal at Pulikkundram
22. Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal Temple at Kazhiyur
Other temples: Sri Muktheeswarar temple, Sri Kachapeswarar temple, Sri Kumarakottam temple, Sri Kailasanathar temple
Kanchipuram, also known as Benares of Southern India or The City of Temples, is one of the most ancient and sacred cities of India. Kanchipuram is an eternally holy place and has some of the most magnificent temples. The Garuda Purana enumerates seven sacred cities (sapta-moksha puri) as giver of moksha. They are Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kasi, Kanchipuram, Avantika (Ujjain) and Dwarka. Kanchipuram is one of among such holy place. It is 75km from Chennai, 130km from Tirupati and 32km from Sriperumbudur (birthplace of Sripad Ramanujacarya).
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited Kanchipuram in year 1511 A.D. during His South India tour as mentioned in Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya lila 9.68-70. Lord Balarama visited Kanchipuram as mentioned Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 79 verses 11-15. Lord Nityananda Prabhu also visited Kanchipuram during His pilgrimage to holy places. Great Vaishnava acarya, Sripad Ramanujacarya, spent a number of years in Kanchipuram in practising and preaching Vaishnava philosophy and rendering loving devotional services to Lord Sri Varadaraja Swamy (the principal Deity of Kanchipuram) and the Vaishnavas. Many great devotees like Kanchipurna and others also spent most of their life at Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram city is divided into two parts: the Little Kanchi (or Vishnu Kanchi) surrounding Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple, and the Big Kanchi (or Siva Kanchi) surrounding Sri Ekambaranathar Temple. Kanchipuram is also prominently known for silk industry. Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya lila 9.68-70 mentions: Arriving at Siva-kanci, Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited the deity of Lord Siva. By His influence, He converted all the devotees of Lord Siva into Vaishnavas. The Lord then visited a holy place known as Visnu-kanci. There He saw Laksmi-Narayana deities, and He offered His respects and many prayers to please Them. Visnu-kanci is situated about 5 miles away from Kanchipuram. It is here that Lord Varadaraja, another form of Lord Visnu, resides. There is also a big lake known as Ananta-sarovara. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at Visnu-kanci for 2 days, He danced and performed kirtana in ecstasy. When all the people saw Him, they were converted into devotees of Lord Krishna.
Lord Brahma’s penance and Appearance of Sri Varadaraja Perumal
[Reference: His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj’s South India Yatra 2005]
It is only by the causeless infinite mercy of our beloved Guru Maharaj, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and our most merciful previous acaryas that today, we are blessed with the benediction of being in this eternally holy place, Kanchipuram. In the Sri Sampradaya, there are three most holy and important deities;
· Sri Ranganatha Swamy in Srirangam, Sri Varadaraja Perumal in Kanchipuram and Sri Venkateswara Balaji in Tirupati.
In the histories of the Azhwars, there are profuse prayers glorifying these forms of the Lord, especially in the life of Sripad Ramanujacarya. The more we dive deeply into these most illuminating pastimes, the more our hearts over flood with gratitude, to have the opportunity to be here in this holy place and have the darshan of the Lord in this form.
In the Satya Yuga, Lord Brahma wanted to have the darshan of Lord Narayana and worship him with love and devotion. He performed penance for this purpose, and the Lord appeared in the form of the forest of Naimisharanya. Brahma wanted to see the personal form of the Lord. He carried on with his tapasya. In reciprocation, the Lord appeared in the form of water, the holy place Pushkar. Still, Brahma wanted to see the form of the Lord. The original, transcendental form of the Lord. This is not something easy to achieve. Brahma was told that he would have to perform 1000 Ashvamedha yajnas, in order to receive this benediction. Lord Brahma, he pleaded, he begged. "This will take a very long time, and it's very difficult." He was given a benediction. "Go to Kanchipuram, where any spiritual act of devotion is multiplied by 1000 times over other places. If, there you do one Ashvamedha yajna, you will have the darshan of Lord Narayana."Lord Brahma came here. He invited Saraswati Devi, his consort, but her inconceivable pastimes regarding the Lord's pastimes, she was not accessible.
Lord Brahma began the yajna. Like any yajna, impediments will come. It is the mercy of the Lord. In the age of Kali, there was only one yajna that is recommended in the Vedas, to achieve the ultimate goal of life. It is not the fire yajna, it is the yajna of the chanting of the holy names. In fact, Srila Prabhupada in Vrindavana, he had the high priests, monks, the Brijwasis to perform days and days of yajnas. In the meanwhile, the devotees were off to the side doing Nama Sankirtana. Prabhupada writes and purport that, "The real installation that invited the deities to come, was the sincere devotional chanting of the holy names of the devotees."
Krishna-varnam tvisa Krishnam sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah
(Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 11 chapter 5 verse 32)
In this age of Kali, the Yuga avatar appears to teach the Yuga Dharma: Harinama Sankirtana.
We all have experienced that, when we perform Harinama Sankirtana, do our Japa, many impediments will come, to try to stop our progress. The impediments come from within, impediments come from without. Those impediments are coming by the will of the Lord because in the face of those impediments, we either have to perish, remain lukewarm neophytes, or we have to surrender to the Lord. There is no other alternative. We have to take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna. Therefore, Caitanya Mahaprabhu told His devotees that, "Obstacles are the servants of the Lord. Obstacles in the path of devotion are necessary, because human nature is to be complacent. Human nature is to be ritualistic." Even in a spiritual life, it is a strong tendency and none of us are exempt. We all have this human nature, that we take sacred things to be ordinary. And even when we perform our religious duties, they become routine, they become ritualistic. We chant the names of the Lord just to get the number done, without really taking shelter. We come before the deity in a lackadaisical way.
vipadah santu tah sasvat tatra tatra jagad-guro
(Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 1 chapter 8 verse 25)
This was Kunti Devi's prayer. That, "Let calamities, let unbearable obstacles come in my life, because then I have no other alternative but to really take shelter of you in great need." When everything is going very nicely, it is an opportunity to sincerely surrender. When things go against the grain of our plan or expectations, when there's crisis, disaster, great impediments, a sincere devotee does not lose faith, does not lose enthusiasm. A sincere devotee understand, this is a benediction. Now I have no alternative, but to take shelter, to surrender.
Factually, that is what Bhakti is about, taking shelter of the Lord Krishna. I am not the doer, Lord Krishna is the doer. To acknowledge that fact is very difficult for a conditioned soul. We can do it verbally and mentally, but from the heart, our tendency is to complain, our tendency is to find fault in others. Our tendency is to blame, either the environment or people around us for the inadequacies we have. Yes, you can complain and you can convince the whole world of the truth that justifies your dilemma, but there is a problem. You make Zero spiritual advancement by doing so. Why should we try to convince people of this world, how we are right and how the difficulties I am going through, are not my fault? We get nowhere.
tat te ’nukampam su-samiksamano bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam
hrd-vag-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te jiveta yo mukti-pade sa daya-bhak
“My dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, all the while patiently suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his heart, words and body, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim.”
(Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 10 chapter 14 verse 8)
This was spoken by Lord Brahma. He knows, when difficulties come, we have to, with folded palms, thank God, thank Krishna. Now for difficulties to actually be difficulties. It cannot be the difficulties that we select. "Krishna, I will surrender to you with this difficulty or that difficulty. I have a whole list of difficulties, and which will help me surrender." The problem is this. If it is on your list, it is not really a difficulty. The real difficulties are things that come, that really we don't want, really we didn't expect. Even if we did expect it, it was what we were praying not to happen.
Getting stripped naked in the assembly of gurus was not on Draupadi's list, but it was worse than death. She took shelter of Krishna. Being bereft off all of his wealth, his reputation. Be rejected by his family members and all of his friends, was not on the list of the Avanti Brahmana. It was just the medicine that the doctor ordered, for him to surrender to Krishna wholeheartedly. Follow in the footsteps of the great souls. Today, it is very hot in this very beautiful mandap. There is not much circulation of air. Are any of you suffering? This might not be what you travelled all across the world for, to come to South India, to be under the cool ocean breezes, under the palm trees. It is a perfect arrangement, to take shelter of hearing the glories of the Lord.
Many obstacles came in Lord Brahma's execution of his yajna. First, the great river came, the massive river, massive river that was just going to wash away the entire yajyashala. Then Brahma took shelter of the Lord, and Lord Narayana appeared as Vega Sethu. The Lord appeared as a deity sleeping on Ananta-Sesa. He was like a dam that stopped the flow of the river, Meghavati River.
Then, demons created complete darkness. How do you perform yajna in complete darkness? Lord Brahma took shelter of the Lord, and the Lord appeared in another form, Deepak Prakash, and created wonderful light. Then the demons sent a ferocious beast, Sharabha (snake) and the Lord appeared with eight arms (Ashtabhuja) and killed the demon in the form of Ashtabhuja. Then all the other demons were just gathered around, just harassing Brahma, trying to do everything possible to stop this yajna. Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared on the call of Brahma. These are self-manifesting deities, of all of these forms of the Lord, here in Kanchipuram. With Lord Krishna's grace, we will visit some of these temples.
Most importantly, Brahma continued performing his yajna. At the successful conclusion of the yajna in which he prayed with pure devotion for Lord Vishnu to appear, because please understand, it is not just the ritual of the yajna that invokes the presence of the Lord. It is the feeling, the intention in which it is being offered. That is why yajnas by Brahmans who really don't care anything about you, are just doing it for money, the affect is very minimal. Brahmanaswho are performing in a spirit of compassion, to help you. Who are doing it with great faith and devotion, their offerings are very pleasingly accepted by the Lord.
Srila Prabhupada says that "Lord Krishna does not accept what you offer Him. Krishna accepts the purpose in which something is offered. Krishna accepts the intention of your heart." Therefore it is very important to have very pure-hearted priests and very pure-hearted pujaris, because the intentions and the purpose and the purity of their offerings is very much, what the Lord is accepting.
Lord Brahma completed his yajna, and from the fire came a magnificent Vimana. Within that Vimana, was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His beautiful four-arm form. Because He came to the world to be the king of all bestowers of blessings, His name is Varadaraja.
It is this Varadaraja Swamy who is the predominating deity of Vishnu Kanchi. Everyone, please be sure you do go for the darshan and offer your prayers of love and devotion because Lord Varadaraja will bestow blessings upon us. What should we ask for? We should not ask the absolute truth for mundane things of this world. We should ask the absolute truth Sri Varadaraja, for the highest blessing. The blessing of eternal service to His devotees, the blessing of pure, unalloyed love, unconditional in all circumstances. From that time of Satya Yuga, Lord Sri Varadaraja Swamy is one of the most prominent deities on earth, worshiped by great acaryas. Sri Ramanujacarya resided, here in Kanchipuram. He daily worshiped Sri Varadaraja with great love and devotion.
Kanchipuram was the historical capital of the Pallavas. It was under Pallavas from 6th to 8thcentury A.D. and later became the citadel of Cholas and Vijayanagar kings. During the 6th and 7thcenturies, the Pallavas built some of the best temples in the city. Kanchipuram was also a great seat of learning. many scholars both in Sanskrit and Tamil flourished here. Yuan Chwang, a famous Chinese traveller visited the city in the 7th century and said that this city was 6 miles in circumference and famous for piety and veneration for spiritual learning. Kanchipuram is the birthplace of Canakya Pandita, author of Niti-sastra (civic laws) and minister of the Maurya empire.
1. Sri Deepa Prakasar Perumal Temple (or Thiruthanka)
Sri Deepa Prakasar Perumal Temple or Sri Vilakkoli Perumal is one among the 108 Divya Desamsof Lord Visnu. This temple is the 45th Divya Desam. [A Divya Desam is one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are revered by the 12 Azhwars (great saints) in the Divya Prabandha, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses. Divya means "premium" and Desam indicates "place" (temple). Of the 108 temples, 105 are in India, one is in Nepal, and last two are outside the Earthly realms. The Divya Desams are revered by the 12 Azhwars in the Divya Prabandha, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses.]
Pastime: In the Satya Yuga, Lord Brahma wanted to have the darshan of Lord Narayana and worship him with love and devotion. He performed penance for this purpose, and the Lord appeared in the form of the forest of Naimisharanya. Brahma wanted to see the personal form of the Lord. He carried on with his tapasya. In reciprocation, the Lord appeared in the form of water, the holy place Pushkar. Still, Brahma wanted to see the form of the Lord. The original, transcendental form of the Lord. This is not something easy to achieve. Brahma was told that he would have to perform 1000 Ashvamedha yajnas, in order to receive this benediction. Lord Brahma, he pleaded, he begged. "This will take a very long time, and it's very difficult." He was given a benediction. "Go to Kanchipuram, where any spiritual act of devotion is multiplied by 1000 times over other places. If, there you do one Ashvamedha yajna, you will have the darshan of Lord Narayana." Lord Brahma came here. He invited Saraswati Devi, his consort, but her inconceivable pastimes regarding the Lord's pastimes, she was not accessible.
Lord Brahma began the yajna. Many obstacles came in Lord Brahma's execution of his yajna. First, the great river came, the massive river, massive river that was just going to wash away the entire yajyashala. Then Brahma took shelter of the Lord, and Lord appeared as Vega Sethu. The Lord appeared as a deity sleeping on Ananta-Sesa. He was like a dam that stopped the flow of the river, Meghavati River.
Then, demons created complete darkness. How do you perform yajna in complete darkness? Lord Brahma took shelter of the Lord, and the Lord Narayana appeared in another form, Deepak Prakash, and created wonderful light. Since, the darkness was taken away, the Perumal there is called as "Deepaprakasar". Deepam means light and Prakasam is said as the flash referred to as the light of spread out to take away the darkness. Since the Perumal gave light, the Perumal is called as "Vilakku Oli Perumal". It means the Perumal gave light.
Temple: The deity at Sri Deepa Prakasar Perumal Temple is facing west direction. This is a big temple with huge Vaagana Mandapam. The temple is located in Vishnu Kanchi along with most other Vaishnava temples in Kanchipuram. The temple has a three-tiered rajagopuram, the gateway tower. The central shrine of the temple has the presiding deity, Deepaprakasar Perumal. There are shrines for Lakshmi Hayagriva, Andal, Vedanta Desika and Azhwars. The place is also known by the name Thoopul as it was dense with Dharba grass.
This is the birthplace of Sri Vedanta Desika (or Swami Desikan, Swami Vedanta Desikan, Thoopul Nigamaantha Desikan). Vedanta Desika (1268–1370) was one of the most brilliant stalwarts of Sri Vaishnavism in the post-Ramanuja period. He was an ardent devotee of DeepaPrakasar Temple at Thoppul. Sri Desikan is a gift to his mother who prayed to Lord seeking child boon. Responding to her prayer, Lord of Tirupati - Lord Venkatachalapathi Balaji asked the Bell in His hand to be born the son of the mother. For this reason, Bell is not used during pujas in Tirupati Balaji temple after this event. Born in the year 1268, Sri Desikar was centenarian plus till 1369. He was an outstanding scholar of highest degree in the Vaishnava scriptures. He rendered a large number of Sanskrit works in Tamil. He has also authored in Tamil the Adaikala Pathu (Asylum 10) on Lord Varadaraja Perumal. There is a separate shrine for Lord Hayagriva along with Vedanta Desika.
The Brahmostavam festival during the Tamil month of Puratasi (Sep - Oct) is the major festival celebrated in Vedanta Desika shrine. During the festival, the festival deity of Desika is carried to the Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple. Sri Vedanta Desika had unparalleled devotion to Lord Varadaraja Perumal which was evidently visible in one of his compositions Varadaraja Panchasat, he sung praising the glories of Lord in sacred 50 verses. During Brahmostavam of Lord Varadaraja pays visit to Thupool and resides here for 3 days. On Garuda Seva day, Lord Varadaraja presents His garlands to Desika acarya and pays tribute to His fervent devotee. In this way Lord pays continuous visit and homage to His devotee during the Brahmostavam. Lord Varadaraja pays periodic visits to Thupool on the auspicious days of Chaitra Pournami and on the 12th day after Vaikundha Ekadashi. The temple tank, Saraswathi Theertham, is located outside the premises. A shrine is dedicated to Vedanta Desika facing South is seen in the temple. Desika’s son Nayina Varadachari completed the construction of this temple.
Sri Deepa Prakasar Perumal Temple or Sri Vilakkoli Perumal
In the Satya Yuga, Lord Brahma wanted to have the darshan of Lord Narayana and worship him with love and devotion. He performed penance for this purpose, and the Lord appeared in the form of the forest of Naimisharanya. Brahma wanted to see the personal form of the Lord. He carried on with his tapasya. In reciprocation, the Lord appeared in the form of water, the holy place Pushkar. Still, Brahma wanted to see the form of the Lord. The original, transcendental form of the Lord. This is not something easy to achieve. Brahma was told that he would have to perform 1000 Ashvamedha yajnas, in order to receive this benediction. Lord Brahma, he pleaded, he begged. "This will take a very long time, and it's very difficult." He was given a benediction. "Go to Kanchipuram, where any spiritual act of devotion is multiplied by 1000 times over other places. If, there you do one Ashvamedha yajna, you will have the darshan of Lord Narayana." Lord Brahma came here. He invited Saraswati Devi, his consort, but her inconceivable pastimes regarding the Lord's pastimes, she was not accessible.
Lord Sri Deepa Prakasar Perumal
Lord Brahma began the yajna. Many obstacles came in Lord Brahma's execution of his yajna. First, the great river came, the massive river, massive river that was just going to wash away the entire yajyashala. Then Brahma took shelter of the Lord, and Lord appeared as Vega Sethu. The Lord appeared as a deity sleeping on Ananta-Sesa. He was like a dam that stopped the flow of the river, Meghavati River.
Lord Sri Deepa Prakasar Perumal
Then, demons created complete darkness. How do you perform yajna in complete darkness? Lord Brahma took shelter of the Lord, and the Lord Narayana appeared in another form, Deepak Prakash, and created wonderful light. Since, the darkness was taken away, the Perumal there is called as "Deepaprakasar". Deepam means light and Prakasam is said as the flash referred to as the light of spread out to take away the darkness. Since the Perumal gave light, the Perumal is called as "Vilakku Oli Perumal". It means the Perumal gave light.
Sri Vedanta Desika
This is the birthplace of Sri Vedanta Desika (or Swami Desikan, Swami Vedanta Desikan, Thoopul Nigamaantha Desikan). Vedanta Desika (1268–1370) was one of the most brilliant stalwarts of Sri Vaishnavism in the post-Ramanuja period. He was an ardent devotee of Deepa Prakasar Temple at Thoppul. Sri Desikan is a gift to his mother who prayed to Lord seeking child boon. Responding to her prayer, Lord of Tirupati - Lord Venkatachalapathi Balaji asked the Bell in His hand to be born the son of the mother. For this reason, Bell is not used during pujas in Tirupati Balaji temple after this event. Born in the year 1268, Sri Desikar was centenarian plus till 1369. He was an outstanding scholar of highest degree in the Vaishnava scriptures. He rendered a large number of Sanskrit works in Tamil. There is a separate shrine for Lord Hayagriva along with Vedanta Desika. The Brahmostavam festival during the Tamil month of Puratasi (Sep - Oct) is the major festival celebrated in Vedanta Desika shrine. During the festival, the festival deity of Desika is carried to the Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple. Sri Vedanta Desika had unparalleled devotion to Lord Varadaraja Perumal which was evidently visible in one of his compositions Varadaraja Panchasat, he sung praising the glories of Lord in sacred 50 verses. During Brahmostavam of Lord Varadaraja pays visit to Thupool and resides here for 3 days. On Garuda Seva day, Lord Varadaraja presents His garlands to Desika acarya and pays tribute to His fervent devotee.
2. Sri Ashtabujam (or Sri Aadhikesava Perumal Temple)
Gajendra Varada Perumal
Sri Ashtabhuja temple is 2km from Sri Varadaraja Perumal temple. This temple is the 44th Divya Desam dedicated to Lord Visnu.
Pastime 1: In continuation of pastime from above (Sri Deepa Prakasar Temple), after Lord Narayana appeared as Deepak Prakash, to dissipate the darkness created by demons to disrupt Lord Brahma’s yajna, the demons sent a ferocious beast, Sharabha (snake). Lord appeared with eight arms (Ashtabhuja) and killed the demon in the form of Ashtabhuja holding eight different weapons in His arms. The Lord holds a disc (chakra), sword, a flower and an arrow on His four right hands, and conch (sanka), bow, kedayam (armour which is used to protect while fighting using a sword) and club (gadha) in His four left hands. The snake is found on the Vaayu end of the yajna sala as "Sarabeswaran" in this temple. This is the only Visnu temple with a Mangalasasanam dedicated exclusively for Mother Alarmel Mangai. Lord Visnu was in this place as Adi Kesava Perumal even before His fame as Ashtabhuja Perumal.
Pastime 2: Another pastime associated with this temple is that of Gajendra moksha. In front of the temple is the Gajendra Pushkarani. Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 8 chapters 2 to 4 describe Gajendra moksha pastime. (http://www.vedabase.com/en/
This pastime happened during the reign of the fourth Manu. Once the chief of the elephants, Gajendra, along with female elephants, went to enjoy bathing in that lake, and they disturbed the inhabitants of the water. Because of this, the chief crocodile in that water, who was very powerful, immediately attacked the elephant’s leg. Thus there ensued a great fight between the elephant and the crocodile. This fight continued for 1000 years. Neither the elephant nor the crocodile died, but since they were in the water, the elephant gradually became weak whereas the power of the crocodile increased more and more. Then the elephant, being helpless and seeing that there was no other way for his protection, sought shelter at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna.
Gajendra offered following prayers, “The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna is the cause of all causes, the original person from whom everything has emanated. He is the root cause of this cosmic manifestation, and the entire cosmos rests in Him, yet He is transcendental, for He does everything in relation to the material world through His external energy. He is eternally situated in the spiritual world - in Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana - where He engages in His eternal pastimes. The material world is a product of His external energy, or material nature, which works under His direction. It is thus that creation, maintenance and annihilation take place. The Lord exists at all times. This is extremely difficult for a non-devotee to understand. Although the transcendental Lord Krishna is perceivable by everyone, only the pure devotees perceive His presence and activities. The Lord is completely free from material birth, death, old age and disease. Indeed, if anyone in this material world takes shelter of Him, he also becomes situated in that transcendental position. For the satisfaction of the devotee (paritranaya sadhunam), the Lord appears and exhibits His activities. His appearance, disappearance and other pastimes are not at all material. One who knows this secret can enter the kingdom of God. In the Lord, all opposing elements are adjusted. The Lord is situated in everyone’s heart. He is the controller of everything, He is the witness of all activities, and He is the original source of all living entities. Indeed, all living entities are parts of Him, for He is the origin of Maha-Visnu, who is the source of the living entities within this material world. The Lord can observe the activities of our senses, which can work and achieve material results because of His mercy. Although He is the original source of everything, He is untouched by any of His by-products. In this way He is like a gold mine, which is the source of gold in ornaments and yet is different from the ornaments themselves. The Lord is worshiped by the method prescribed in the Pancaratras. He is the source of our knowledge, and He can give us liberation. Therefore it is our duty to understand Him according to the instructions of devotees, in particular the spiritual master. Although for us the mode of goodness is covered, by following the instructions of saintly persons and the spiritual master we can be freed from material clutches. The self-effulgent material form of Lord is adored by non-devotees, His impersonal form is adored by those advanced in spiritual knowledge, and His feature as the localized Supersoul is appreciated by yogis. But His original form as a person is understood only by devotees. That Supreme Personality of Godhead is competent to dissipate the darkness of the conditioned soul through His instructions in Bhagavad-Gita. He is the ocean of transcendental qualities and can be understood only by liberated persons freed from the bodily concept of life. By His causeless mercy, the Lord can rescue the conditioned soul from the material clutches and enable him to return home, back to Godhead, to become His personal associate. Nonetheless, a pure devotee does not aspire to go back to Godhead; he is simply satisfied with executing his service in this material world. A pure devotee does not ask anything from Lord Krishna. His only prayer is to be freed from the material conception of life and to be engaged in the Lord’s transcendental loving service.”
In this way the King of the elephants, Gajendra, offered prayers directly to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna without mistaking Him for one of the demigods. None of the demigods came to see him, not even Brahma or Siva. Rather, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, seated on Garuda, personally appeared before him. Gajendra, by lifting his trunk, offered obeisances to the Lord, and the Lord immediately pulled him from the water along with the crocodile who had captured his leg. Then the Lord killed the crocodile and thus rescued Gajendra. When Gajendra, by the mercy of the Lord, became one of the Lord’s associates in Vaikuntha, he got four hands. This achievement is called sarupya-mukti, or the liberation of receiving a spiritual body exactly like that of Narayana.
Temple: Saints Peyazhwar and Tirumangai Azhwar had sung the glory of Lord Ashtabhuja Perumal in their Mangalasasanam hymns. Vedanta Desikar, Manavala Maamuni also has done Mangalasasanam. A separate Mangalasasanam is addressed to Mother by Azhwar only in this temple. Vedanta Desikar wrote the stotra called “Ashtabhuja Ashtakam”. This stotra is about Lord in His form with eight Divyabhujas in the Divya kshetram called Attabuya Karam. This temple was built by Thondaiman Chakravarthy who is popularly named as Vayiramoghan. The temple also has altars dedicated to Hanuman, Azhwars, Andal, Chakra and Sarabeswara. Paal Payasam(Milk Kheer), Aval and Appam are delicious prasadams at this temple.
Lord Sri Ashtabujam Perumal (or Sri Aadhikesava Perumal)
In continuation of pastime from above (Sri Deepa Prakasar Temple), after Lord Narayana appeared as Deepak Prakash, to dissipate the darkness created by demons to disrupt Lord Brahma’s yajna, the demons sent a ferocious beast, Sharabha (snake). Lord appeared with eight arms (Ashtabhuja) and killed the demon in the form of Ashtabhuja holding eight different weapons in His arms. The Lord holds a disc (chakra), sword, a flower and an arrow on His four right hands, and conch (sanka), bow, kedayam (armour which is used to protect while fighting using a sword) and club (gadha) in His four left hands.
Utsav deities - Lord Sri Ashtabujam Perumal
Another pastime associated with this temple is that of Gajendra moksha. Once the chief of the elephants, Gajendra, along with female elephants, went to enjoy bathing in that lake, and they disturbed the inhabitants of the water. Because of this, the chief crocodile in that water, who was very powerful, immediately attacked the elephant’s leg. Thus there ensued a great fight between the elephant and the crocodile. This fight continued for 1000 years. Neither the elephant nor the crocodile died, but since they were in the water, the elephant gradually became weak whereas the power of the crocodile increased more and more. Then the elephant, being helpless and seeing that there was no other way for his protection, sought shelter at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna.
Sri Ashtabujam Perumal temple
Gajendra offered following prayers, “The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna is the cause of all causes, the original person from whom everything has emanated. He is the root cause of this cosmic manifestation, and the entire cosmos rests in Him, yet He is transcendental, for He does everything in relation to the material world through His external energy. He is eternally situated in the spiritual world - in Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana - where He engages in His eternal pastimes. The material world is a product of His external energy, or material nature, which works under His direction. It is thus that creation, maintenance and annihilation take place. The Lord exists at all times. This is extremely difficult for a non-devotee to understand.
In front of the temple is the Gajendra Pushkarani
Although the transcendental Lord Sri Krishna is perceivable by everyone, only the pure devotees perceive His presence and activities. Lord is completely free from material birth, death, old age and disease. Indeed, if anyone in this material world takes shelter of Him, he also becomes situated in that transcendental position. For the satisfaction of the devotee (paritranaya sadhunam), the Lord appears and exhibits His activities. His appearance, disappearance and other pastimes are not at all material. One who knows this secret can enter the kingdom of God. In the Lord, all opposing elements are adjusted.
Gajendra Pushkarani
The Lord is situated in everyone’s heart. He is the controller of everything, He is the witness of all activities, and He is the original source of all living entities. Indeed, all living entities are parts of Him, for He is the origin of Maha-Visnu, who is the source of the living entities within this material world. The Lord can observe the activities of our senses, which can work and achieve material results because of His mercy. Although He is the original source of everything, He is untouched by any of His by-products. In this way He is like a gold mine, which is the source of gold in ornaments and yet is different from the ornaments themselves. The Lord is worshiped by the method prescribed in the Pancaratras. He is the source of our knowledge, and He can give us liberation. Therefore it is our duty to understand Him according to the instructions of devotees, in particular the spiritual master.
Although for us the mode of goodness is covered, by following the instructions of saintly persons and the spiritual master we can be freed from material clutches. The self-effulgent material form of the Lord is adored by non-devotees, His impersonal form is adored by those advanced in spiritual knowledge, and His feature as the localized Supersoul is appreciated by yogis. But His original form as a person is understood only by devotees. That Supreme Personality of Godhead is competent to dissipate the darkness of the conditioned soul through His instructions in Bhagavad-Gita. He is the ocean of transcendental qualities and can be understood only by liberated persons freed from the bodily concept of life. By His causeless mercy, the Lord can rescue the conditioned soul from the material clutches and enable him to return home, back to Godhead, to become His personal associate. Nonetheless, a pure devotee does not aspire to go back to Godhead; he is simply satisfied with executing his service in this material world. A pure devotee does not ask anything from the Lord.
His only prayer is to be freed from the material conception of life and to be engaged in the Lord’s transcendental loving service.” In this way the King of the elephants, Gajendra, offered prayers to Lord Krishna without mistaking Him for one of the demigods. None of the demigods came to see him, not even Brahma or Siva. Rather, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, seated on Garuda, personally appeared before him. Gajendra, by lifting his trunk, offered obeisances to the Lord, and the Lord immediately pulled him from the water along with the crocodile who had captured his leg. Then the Lord killed the crocodile and thus rescued Gajendra. When Gajendra, by the mercy of the Lord, became one of the Lord’s associates in Vaikuntha, he got four hands. This achievement is called sarupya-mukti, or the liberation of receiving a spiritual body exactly like that of Narayana.
3. Sri Azhagiya Singar Perumal Temple (or Thiru Velukkai)
Lord Nrsimhadeva temple (or Sundhara Yogha Narasimha Perumal)
Sri Azhagiya Singar Perumal Temple is ½km from Sri Ashtabhuja Temple. This temple is the 46thDivya Desam dedicated to Lord Visnu.
Pastime: In continuation of pastime from above (Sri Deepa Prakasar Temple and Sri AshtabhujaTemple), after ferocious demon Sharabha (snake) was killed by Sri Ashtabhuja Perumal, all thedemons gathered and harassing Lord Brahma to do everything possible to stop his yajna. Then Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared on the call of Brahma. The Lord chased the asuras away and decided to stay here out of His own desire to continue protecting His devotees. Since the Perumal itself wished to stay there to help his devotees, this sthalam is known as "Vellukkai". “Vel” means wish with pure affection or love and “ukkai” means satisfying. To ride away the asuras, Lord Nrsimhadeva sits in Yoga position facing west direction as "Yoga Narasimar".
Temple: Sri Vaishnava acarya, Vedanta Desikar had praised Perumal in his celebrated Kamasikashtakam (Kamaasi: Kama + Aasika - standing on His own wish). The vimana above the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Nrsimhadeva is called Kanaka Vimanam. Sage Brugu had worshipped Perumal in this temple. Sri Sudarsana Chakkarathazhwar the deity of Lord Vishnu’s disc graces from a shrine in the outer corridor. Garuda in the Nrsimhadeva shrine appears with his head slightly on a side as if unable to bear the fury of the Lord. The temple is also known as Kamashika Narasimha Sannadhi.
Sri Azhagiya Singar Perumal Temple
In continuation of pastime from above (Sri Deepa Prakasar Temple and Sri Ashtabhuja Temple), after ferocious demon Sharabha (snake) was killed by Sri Ashtabhuja Perumal, all the demons gathered and harassing Lord Brahma to do everything possible to stop his yajna.
Thiru Velukkai or Lord Nrsimhadeva or Sundhara Yogha Narasimha
Then Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared on the call of Brahma. The Lord chased the asuras away and decided to stay here out of His own desire to continue protecting His devotees. Since the Perumal itself wished to stay there to help his devotees, this sthalam is known as "Vellukkai". “Vel” means wish with pure affection or love and “ukkai” means satisfying. To ride away the asuras, Lord Nrsimhadeva sits in Yoga position facing west direction as "Yoga Narasimar".
Utsav deities of Sri Azhagiya Singar Perumal
4. Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple (or Thiru Kanchi)
Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple is also called as Devaraja Swamy temple. The shrine is on an elephant-shaped rock called Hastigiri. From that time of Satya Yuga, Lord Sri Varadaraja Perumal is one of the most prominent deities on earth, worshiped by great acaryas. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple during His visit to Kanchipuram in year 1511 A.D. Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya lila 9.69-70 mentions: The Lord then visited a holy place known as Visnu-kanci. There He saw Laksmi-Narayana deities, and He offered His respects and many prayers to please Them. Visnu-kanci is situated about 5 miles away from Kanchipuram. It is here that Lord Varadaraja, another form of Lord Visnu, resides. There is also a big lake known as Ananta-sarovara. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at Visnu-kanci for 2 days, He danced and performed kirtana in ecstasy. When all the people saw Him, they were converted into devotees of Lord Krishna.
Sri Ramanujacarya resided here in Kanchipuram, and he daily worshiped Sri Varadaraja with great love and devotion. We must offer our prayers of love and devotion because Lord Varadaraja will bestow blessings upon us. We should ask the absolute truth Sri Varadaraja, for the highest blessing. The blessing of eternal service to His devotees, the blessing of pure, unalloyed love, unconditional in all circumstances. We should not ask the absolute truth for mundane things of this world.
Pastime: In the Satya Yuga, Lord Brahma wanted to have the darshan of Lord Narayana and worship him with love and devotion. He performed penance for this purpose, and the Lord appeared in the form of the forest of Naimisharanya. Brahma wanted to see the personal form of the Lord. He carried on with his tapasya. In reciprocation, the Lord appeared in the form of water, the holy place Pushkar. Still, Brahma wanted to see the form of the Lord. The original, transcendental form of the Lord. This is not something easy to achieve. Brahma was told that he would have to perform 1000 Ashvamedha yajnas, in order to receive this benediction. Lord Brahma, he pleaded, he begged. "This will take a very long time, and it's very difficult." He was given a benediction. "Go to Kanchipuram, where any spiritual act of devotion is multiplied by 1000 times over other places. If, there you do one Ashvamedha yajna, you will have the darshan of Lord Narayana." Lord Brahma came here. He invited Saraswati Devi, his consort, but her inconceivable pastimes regarding the Lord's pastimes, she was not accessible.
Lord Brahma began the yajna. Like any yajna, impediments will come. Many obstacles came in Lord Brahma's execution of his yajna. First, the great river came, the massive river, massive river that was just going to wash away the entire yajyashala. Then Brahma took shelter of the Lord, and Lord Narayana appeared as Vega Sethu. The Lord appeared as a deity sleeping on Ananta-Sesa. He was like a dam that stopped the flow of the river, Meghavati River. Then, demons created complete darkness. How do you perform yajna in complete darkness? Lord Brahma took shelter of the Lord, and the Lord Narayana appeared in another form, Deepak Prakash, and created wonderful light. Then the demons sent a ferocious beast, Sharabha (snake) and the Lord appeared with eight arms (Ashtabhuja) and killed the demon in the form of Ashtabhuja. Then all the other demons were just gathered around, just harassing Brahma, trying to do everything possible to stop this yajna. Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared on the call of Brahma. These are self-manifesting deities, of all of these forms of the Lord, here in Kanchipuram. With Lord Krishna's grace, we will visit some of these temples.
Brahma continued performing his yajna. At the successful conclusion of the yajna in which he prayed with pure devotion for Lord Vishnu to appear, because please understand, it is not just the ritual of the yajna that invokes the presence of the Lord. It is the feeling, the intention in which it is being offered. That is why yajnas by Brahmans who really don't care anything about you, are just doing it for money, the affect is very minimal. Brahmanas who are performing in a spirit of compassion, to help you. Who are doing it with great faith and devotion, their offerings are very pleasingly accepted by the Lord. Lord Brahma completed his yajna, and from the fire came a magnificent Vimana. Within that Vimana, was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His beautiful four-arm form. Because He came to the world to be the king of all bestowers of blessings, His name is Varadaraja.
It is this Varadaraja Swamy who is the predominating deity of Vishnu Kanchi. Lord Varadaraja is the bestower of blessings upon everyone. What should we ask for? We should not ask the absolute truth for mundane things of this world. We should ask the absolute truth Sri Varadaraja, for the highest blessing. The blessing of eternal service to His devotees, the blessing of pure, unalloyed love, unconditional in all circumstances. Sri Ramanujacarya resided here in Kanchipuram. He daily worshiped Sri Varadaraja with great love and devotion.
Golden and Silver Lizards pastime: 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 two disciples stayed here at Kanchipuram as lizards until Indra came 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.
Temple: Thirukkachi Athigiri - Varadaraja Perumal temple is referred to as the ‘Perumal Koil’among Divya Desams. While Srirangam is referred to as ‘The Koil’ and Tirupati as the ‘Malai’among Divya Desams. There are two big Gopurams - the Eastern Gopuram built by Krishnadeva Raaya and the Western temple tower built by the Pallavas. Temple has beautiful pavilions in the courtyard and a remarkable 100 pillared hall which has sculptures depicting Ramayana, episodes from Srimad-Bhagavatam and pastimes of Lord Krishna carved on many of the panels. Lord Varadharaja Swamy resides in the upper prakaram. Beneath the Sannidhi (altar) there is a shrine for Yoga Nrsimhadeva. Within the enclosure of the temple is a sacred Pushkarini called Anantha Sarovara. Apart from the main deity, the temple has the wooden deity of Varadaraja Swamy preserved within a silver box from which water is pumped out every 40 years. There are two long Mandapas under the tank north of the 100 pillar mandapam in the temple, where the 40 feet long Athi Varadaraja Perumal in his reclining posture is placed. The wooden deity is brought out for the darshan of the devotees once in forty years. Special Pujas are offered to Perumal. The temple has a fabulous collection of ancient and precious jewellery presented by the Vijayanagar rulers, Muslim rulers and also the English rulers. There is a very costly necklace presented by Robert Clive of East India Company.
Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple
From that time of Satya Yuga, Lord Sri Varadaraja Perumal is one of the most prominent deities on earth, worshiped by great acaryas. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited Sri Varadaraja Swamy Temple during His visit to Kanchipuram in year 1511 A.D. Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya lila 9.69-70 mentions: The Lord then visited a holy place known as Visnu-kanci. There He saw Laksmi-Narayana deities, and He offered His respects and many prayers to please Them. Visnu-kanci is situated about 5 miles away from Kanchipuram. It is here that Lord Varadaraja, another form of Lord Visnu, resides. There is also a big lake known as Ananta-sarovara. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at Visnu-kanci for 2 days, He danced and performed kirtana in ecstasy. When all the people saw Him, they were converted into devotees of Lord Krishna.
Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple
Sri Ramanujacarya resided here in Kanchipuram and he daily worshiped Sri Varadaraja with great love and devotion. We must offer our prayers of love and devotion because Lord Varadaraja will bestow blessings upon us. We should ask the absolute truth Sri Varadaraja, for the highest blessing. The blessing of eternal service to His devotees, the blessing of pure, unalloyed love, unconditional in all circumstances. We should not ask the absolute truth for mundane things of this world.
Lord Sri Varadaraja Perumal
In the Satya Yuga, Lord Brahma wanted to have the darshan of Lord Narayana and worship him with love and devotion. He performed penance for this purpose, and the Lord appeared in the form of the forest of Naimisharanya. Brahma wanted to see the personal form of the Lord. He carried on with his tapasya. In reciprocation, the Lord appeared in the form of water, the holy place Pushkar. Still, Brahma wanted to see the form of the Lord. The original, transcendental form of the Lord. This is not something easy to achieve. Brahma was told that he would have to perform 1000 Ashvamedha yajnas, in order to receive this benediction. Lord Brahma, he pleaded, he begged. "This will take a very long time, and it's very difficult." He was given a benediction. "Go to Kanchipuram, where any spiritual act of devotion is multiplied by 1000 times over other places. If, there you do one Ashvamedha yajna, you will have the darshan of Lord Narayana." Lord Brahma came here. He invited Saraswati Devi, his consort, but her inconceivable pastimes regarding the Lord's pastimes, she was not accessible.
Lord Sri Varadaraja Perumal
Lord Brahma began the yajna. Like any yajna, impediments will come. Many obstacles came in Lord Brahma's execution of his yajna. First, the great river came, the massive river, massive river that was just going to wash away the entire yajyashala. Then Brahma took shelter of the Lord, and Lord Narayana appeared as Vega Sethu. The Lord appeared as a deity sleeping on Ananta-Sesa. He was like a dam that stopped the flow of the river, Meghavati River. Then, demons created complete darkness. How do you perform yajna in complete darkness? Lord Brahma took shelter of the Lord, and the Lord Narayana appeared in another form, Deepak Prakash, and created wonderful light.
Festival at Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple
Then the demons sent a ferocious beast, Sharabha (snake) and the Lord appeared with eight arms (Ashtabhuja) and killed the demon in the form of Ashtabhuja. Then all the other demons were just gathered around, just harassing Brahma, trying to do everything possible to stop this yajna. Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared on the call of Brahma. These are self-manifesting deities, of all of these forms of the Lord, here in Kanchipuram. With Lord Krishna's grace, we will visit some of these temples.
Utsav deities at Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple
Brahma continued performing his yajna. At the successful conclusion of the yajna in which he prayed with pure devotion for Lord Vishnu to appear, because please understand, it is not just the ritual of the yajna that invokes the presence of the Lord. It is the feeling, the intention in which it is being offered. That is why yajnas by Brahmans who really don't care anything about you, are just doing it for money, the affect is very minimal. Brahmanas who are performing in a spirit of compassion, to help you. Who are doing it with great faith and devotion, their offerings are very pleasingly accepted by the Lord. Lord Brahma completed his yajna, and from the fire came a magnificent Vimana. Within that Vimana, was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His beautiful four-arm form. Because He came to the world to be the king of all bestowers of blessings, His name is Varadaraja.
Yoga Nrsimhadeva at Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple
It is this Varadaraja Swamy who is the predominating deity of Vishnu Kanchi. Lord Varadaraja is the bestower of blessings upon everyone. What should we ask for? We should not ask the absolute truth for mundane things of this world. We should ask the absolute truth Sri Varadaraja, for the highest blessing. The blessing of eternal service to His devotees, the blessing of pure, unalloyed love, unconditional in all circumstances. Sri Ramanujacarya resided here in Kanchipuram. He daily worshiped Sri Varadaraja with great love and devotion.
Golden and Silver 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 two disciples stayed here at Kanchipuram as lizards until Indra came 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.
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