Kalyana Varadaraja Perumal Temple

Overview

The Kalyana Varadaraja Perumal Temple is located in Kaladipettai and is dedicated to God Kalyaana Varadaraja Perumal.

About the temple

The Prime God here is believed to grant wedding boons to and hence the name Kalyaana Vardaraja Perumal. Devotees here believe that offering of unstrapped coconuts to the God during the wedding festival and then taking it home to offer pooja would immediately remove any hindrance from their wedding proposals. The shrine on the left of the God is graced by Mother Perundevi.

The vehicle of the God's shrine is of Tridala design. God Sri Rama, Mother Sri Andal, Sri Anjaneya and Sri Chakarathalwar grace from different shrines.

About the Deity

Mother Perundevi graces from a shrine left that of the Lord. There is a separate shrine for Navagrahas-nine planets. All the planets are installed on a stage designed as lotus petal.

Legend and stories

Legend has it that Vijayaraghavachariar, a staunch Vishnu devotee was working for an English administrative officer, Colat Durai, of this region. He would begin his everyday work only after praying to God Pavalavanna Perumal in Kancheepuram. As he had to travel a long distance every day the officer erected a temple for him. But Vijayaraghavachariar continued his trip to Kancheepuram. When Colat asked him the reason for this Vijayaraghavachariar said that he was attracted by the beauty of the procession deity there. Colat at once ordered for the deity to be brought to this temple. The God then told his devotee that He did not differ in appearance and he lived in the hearts of His devotees. From then on, Vijayaraghavachariar offered his services to the God throughout his life. The Vimana of the God's shrine is of the Tridala design. Gopuja – cow puja is perfomed daily before the shrine of the God. God Sri Rama, Mother Sri Andal, Sri Anjaneya and Sri Chakarathalwar- the deity of the discus of the God, all grace the temple from separate shrines in the temple.

Festivals

Theerthavari festival is celebrated in Vaikasi-May-June. The temple is situated so centrally that the devotees can also conveniently visit the Thyagaraja temple, North faced God Dakshinamurthy temple and Pattinathar temple. A devotee cannot afford to miss these temples. Procession deity Pavalavanna Perumal of the temple enjoys special reputation in the temple with a staff in His left hand. The wedding festival is celebrated on the Panguni Uthiram day. He comes to the Mandap with Mothers Sridevi and Bhoodevi before the Mother Perundevi shrine where the festival is celebrated. Throughout the day Perumal grants darshan with Mother. After special Tirumanjanam, He returns to the sanctum sanctorum. During the wedding festival, those facing wedding problems offer UN-stripped coconut as nivedhana, take it home and do pujas in the faith that their wedding would soon happen. As Perumal grants wedding boon, He is praised as Kalyana Varadaraja Perumal – Wedding Boon Perumal. A 9-day festival in connection with Sri Rama Navami (God Sri Rama's birth day) is celebrated in the temple. As this is celebrated after the birth of Sri Rama, this is called Janana Utsav. In this temple, this festival begins 9 days earlier and ends on Navami the birth day of the God, hence called Garpa Utsav – Utsav when the God was in Mother Kausalya's womb. The coronation of Sri Rama is celebrated on this day. Earlier, it was an 18 day Garba and Birth Utsav covering both the periods. Now, only the Garba Utsav only is celebrated.

Accessibility

Nearest Major Town/City

Chennai - 17 Km from Chennai to Thiruvottiyur.

Rail

Thiruvottriyur has two railway stations one at thiruvottriyur and the other at wimco nagar.

Air

The nearest airport is Chennai International Airport.

Address

Sri Kalyana Varadaraja Perumal Temple,
Kaladipettai,
Chennai – 600 019.