Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple

In the South Indian union territory of Puducherry, Sri Varadaraja Perumal temple, also called Vedapureeswarar – Varadharajar Temple, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. In the heritage town region of the city, this temple is situated. The temple is a storehouse of Chola architecture, constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture. Enclosing all its shrines, a granite wall surrounds the temple.

Attraction

Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple Although one can find the idol of Lord Narasimha, who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu itself, Venkatachalapathy is the principal deity here. To several other gods and goddesses including Lord Rama, Sri Venugopala, Lord Lakshman, Goddess Sita, Sri Santhanagopala, Lord Hanuman, and Lord Navaneetha Krishna, the temple also provides a home. The Varadharaja Perumal Temple is a place where you can see several parents bringing their infant to feed him/her the first rice meal, also called Annaprasanam, widely famous for adorning a great Dravidian style architecture. As the people believed that it would help the child grow better in life, to feed the child in front of the lord. For solving all the other problems related to marriage and children, this temple is also well-known.

History

Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple During the 11th century, with later expansion from the Pandyas, the temple is originally believed to have been built by the Cholas. Vaikasana Agama tradition of worship is followed by the temple. The ten-day annual Brahmostavam during the Tamil month of Chittirai (April – May) and five-day Pavitrotsavam during Avani (August – September) and the 25-day Ramar festival during Chittirai are the most prominent, there are four daily rituals, and three yearly festivals are held at the temple. By the Archaeological Survey of India, the temple is maintained and administered as a protected monument.

Inside/Outside Views

The temple’s gateway tower, the five-tiered raja gopuram, is 110 ft (34 m) tall. In standing posture, the sanctum houses the image of Varadaraja Perumal, 5 ft (1.5 m) is made of granite sporting four arms. While the two sport Abayamudra and Kadahasta, his two other arms hold the conch and Chakra. On either side, there are images of Sridevi and Bhudevi. As that of the presiding deity, the image has identical features, and the festive image is called Srinivasan. On either side, the Ardha mandapa is protected by two Dwarapalas. In the second precinct, there is a separate shrine of Perundevi, which also houses the festival image. Adjacent to the sanctum, there is a mirror hall in the temple. Showing the 108 Divya Desams, there are paintings done in modern days around the walls of the precinct. For Vaishana Gurus like Nikamanda Mahadesikan and Manavalamamunigal, there are separate shrines. The temple has 12 bodies of water and 83 springs in the temple tanks. As considered to be medicinal, the water in the temple tank is taken by devotees to cure themselves of common ailments.

How to Reach

By Air: Chennai International Airport is the nearest airport. It is 135 km away. Chennai is well connected to many cities in India some of them are Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Pune, Hyderabad, etc. One can hire a taxi from the airport to reach the desired destination.

By Rail: Villupuram, Central Railway It, 35 km. Villupuram is with Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, and Chennai by State Railway. The hospital is available from Villupuram to Puducherry. One can hire a taxi from the airport to reach your destination.

By Road: Pondicherry is best accessible by road, bus, or taxi. Private tourist buses from Chennai, Madurai, and Bangalore ply to Pondicherry. Buses connect Pondicherry with Thanjavur, Trichy, Chidambaram, and Coimbatore. There are frequent buses from Koyambedu in Chennai about every 15 minutes. One can hire taxis from the bus stand to reach his desired place.

FAQ

Que-01: Is this place safe to visit?

Ans: Yes, the place is safe to visit.

Que-02: Is photography allowed in this place?

Ans: As it is a religious place, photography is not allowed inside the temple.

Que-03: what is the best time to visit the place?

Ans: You may visit the temple anytime throughout the year. But it would be best to visit it between October and March if you are looking for a suitable time to plan a getaway to Pondicherry. With temperature sometimes even dropping to 17 degrees Celsius, during this period, the weather remains cool and pleasant, thus making the overall climate conditions favorable for you and your family members as well.