Kari Varadaraja Perumal Temple

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Overview

Sri Kari Varadaraja perumal temple is located in the city of Nerkundram which is in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.The main deity of this temple is God Kari Varadaraja perumal.It is said that the temple is about 500 years old and The God of the temple Kari Varadaraja perumal is a God of 27 stars.It is said that he is also the Adhibadhi of the number 9, hence each devotee offer rupees 9 at the feet of God Kari Varadaraja perumal per wish or prayer. Mostly the devotees visit the temple within 9 days to thank for the wish been granted and fulfilled by the God.It is also believed that if a devotee comes for 27 months of their birth star without any discontinuity they could definitely achieve whatever their wish will be.

About The Temple

Today, this temple only has the main Moolavar shrine intact. Small semi-permanent structures house Anjaneya Swamy and Garudalwar. A large hall covered by thatch is where the devotees gather and wait to go into the Artha Mandapa in batches. A statue of Nammalwar stands in a corner behind the book stall only to be noticed when Thaligai is submitted to him. The Lord Kari Varadaraja Perumal, is the Lord of 27 stars. He is also the Adhibadhi of the Number 9. So for every wish or prayer that a devotee makes they offer a contribution of Rs.9 to the Lord which is then placed at his feet. The devotees come back (most often within nine days) to offer thanks for the wish having been granted. He also said that if a devotee came for 27 months on his birth star without a break he could definitely achieve whatever he wished. The Lord has Sridevi and Bhoodevi on either side and Neela Devi and Mahalakshmi in his heart, which is a unique feature here. His right hand shows Varada Hastham and the left hand holds a Gadhayudham. The two rear hands have Sanku and Chakra. He also has a Simhamukham below his navel. The Lord's Avatara Nakshatram is Hastham and Thirumanjanam is performed on those days at the temple. Those who wish to perform Thirumanjanam or offer Vastram (nine yard sarees are used to adorn the Lord) can contact the temple at least fifteen days in advance.

About the Deity

The most unique thing about the temple is that the God has Sridevi and Bhoodevi besides him, where Neeladevi and Mahalakshmi is in his heart.Where his left hand depicts a Gadhayudham and the right hand depicts Varada Hastham, also the two rear hands has Sanku and Chakra each.The God also has a Simhamukham just below his navel.Hastam is the Avatara of God and Thirumanjanam is performed on those days in the temple.Devotees who wish to perform Thirumanjanam or offer Vastram which is a nine yard saree which is used to adorn the God, the devotees must contact the temple at least 15 days prior.Beneath the face of the God there is a ghee Lamp which glows continuously and due to Bhattar which moves the lamp and it looks like the Gods eyes are following from left to right. The main utsav of the temple is the Santhyanarayan Perumal and Santhyanarayan pooja is done in the temple on every full moon day.Apart from Santhyanarayan there is another special utsav of the temple which is known as Sri Santhanagopala Krishnan, it is believed that this pooja is for those who are looking for a Child birth.In this pooja Bhattar gives the Utsavar in their hands and the women or her mother using the women's vastram takes the Krishnan with all devotion in the pallav of her saree where she swings him gently from side to side and the Bhattar sings pastramis. It is said that this Krishna with butter in his hands grants a child for sure.There are many devotees distributing sweets in the temple just because there wish have been granted and another unique feature of this temple is that there are community prayers done on every Tuesdays and Saturdays in the morning by 11AM.Since the crowd is very less on Tuesdays the community prayers are accompanied by reciting Vishnu Sahasranamam where on Saturdays the crowd is bigger the community prayers are done in Tamil by Shri Sugendra Bhattachar.

Legend and Stories

King Indrajyudham was a very loyal devotee of God Vishnu, leaving behind his pride and as he was a King he spend many hours worshipping God Vishnu everyday.Once, Sage Agasthya came to meet the king, the King was lost in his thoughts of the God and he didn't notice that Sage has come to meet him.The furious Sage cursed him to become an elephant, where the king Indrajyudham was shocked. Indrajyudham told the sage that he is a very loyal devotee of God Vishnu and he didn't ignored the sage intentionally.But the Sage said that once a curse is given it can't be taken back, he also said to pray to Vishnu to give him Shapa Vimochana.While King was praying to god he heard a voice (Asariri) which was telling him "I am in a place where Nel that is paddy is heaped like a Kundram that is hill, come there and worship me everyday and then you will get moksha said the voice to King.As the King who has turned into an elephant came to Nerkundram and he found Varadaraja Perumal Temple which was besides Pushkarni and he worshipped there every morning.The king who had turn into an elephant could pluck a lotus from the Pushkarni and worship the God by placing the Lotus flower in his feet.Once, Gandharva yelled Hoo Hoo and his wife came down to Bhooloka and were playing near the Pushkarni when Hoo Hoo noticed that the elephant is plucking Lotus and then worshipping God Vishnu he was very impressed, he just wanted to follow him and watch whatever is happening.So Hoo Hoo and his wife took the appearance of crocodiles and swam around the Pushkarni.While they were in Pushkarni a Sage named Bharadwaja came to the Pushkarni to perform his Sandhya Vandhanam, Hoo Hoo who was in the form of crocodile was chasing his wife banged the sage whom he didn't notice as the sage was standing in the water.

The Sage realized that it was a Gandharva he cursed him to turn into crocodile permanently.Hoo Hoo was very guilty of whatever he did and begged the sage to forgive him.The sage told him that once he holds the foot of Vaishnava then he would forgive him and then he could attain his original form.The first thing that came up to the crocodile's mind was the Elephant who was a loyal devotee of God Vishnu and he decided to hold his leg.The next day when the elephant came in the river to pluck a lotus the crocodile swam in Pushkarni and he caught his leg.Elephant tried to get out of the Pushkarni but he could not as the crocodiles are more powerful in water.As the elephant was in pain, he prayed to his God Adhimoolame whom he bellowed.When the God herd the cry of Elephant he wanted to come up and save both of his devotees that is the Elephant and theCrocodile. So the God send his Sudharshana Chakara and asked him to bring both the Elephant and the Crocodile to the shore.The chakra went smashing in the water and it took both of them to the shore, where Elephant was on land he gained energy and he somehow managed to take his leg out from Crocodiles mouth with many efforts.After that both of them gains their original forms of KingIndrajyudham and Hoo Hoo where the God gave them the boon of Paramapadha.As the God granted the boon of Paramapadha to an elephant he was known as Kari Varadaraja Perumal.

Accessibility

This temple has easy access from all parts of Chennai. From Koyambedu Bus Terminus, take a left at the Roundtana towards Poonamallee High Road. Once you cross the HP Petrol Pump on your right, you will find a First Choice Car showroom, with a green car suspended high up in the air on your right and the Vengaya Mandi Bus Stop on your left (it would be the first bus stop after Koyambedu if you take buses plying from Koyambedu towards Maduravoyal). Turn left opposite the First Choice Showroom. Turn left again after you enter the road. The temple is the second building on your right. Do not look out for Gopuram or Vimanam as you would be sadly disappointed. There is a garments company called Shamili Garments next to the temple.

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