Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram

Sthala Puranam

Saraswati cursed Indra to become an elephant. Vishnu freed him by taking the form of the hill Hastigiri, 'the elephant hill'.

Brahma's yagna site was threatened by the Vegavati river. Vishnu lay down to hold back the flow so the rite could be completed.

Disciples of the sage Gautama, cursed to become lizards, were freed by Vishnu's grace. Lizard carvings remain in the temple.

Speciality

• Athi Varadar: a 3 m idol carved from atti (fig) wood, kept in an underground chamber in the temple tank. It is brought out for 48 days once every 40 years. The last time was 2019 and the next is 2059.
• The tank is called Anantha Saras (Anantha Theertham).
• A hall with 100 pillars from the Vijayanagara period has carvings from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and a chain carved from a single stone.
• The temple's old name Attigiri connects it with the sacred atti tree. Wikipedia does not name this as the sthala vriksham, so we have left that field open.
• One of the 108 Divya Desams.

Festivals

• Vaikasi Brahmotsavam (May–June), with Garuda Seva and the chariot (ther) procession

How to reach

Before you go

• Dress modestly. Leave footwear outside the temple.
• Timings, ticket rules and dress codes change. Check the temple's own notice or website before you travel.
• Book darshan, rooms and special poojas only at the official counter or website, not through agents.
• Garuda Seva and Athi Varadar years bring very large crowds. Use only official queues.

Prayers for this temple

• Vishnu Gayatri (Narayana)
• Achyutam Keshavam