Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal Temple is a Hindu
temple located at Kallankurichi in the Ariyalur
district of Tamil
Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Vishnu. Vanniyars of Udayarpalayam created a Perumal Temple
near Ariyalur in the early 18th Century AD that now attracts lakhs of devotees
during Brahmotsavam and Puratasi.
Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal is the Kula Deivam for
people for nearby 10 villages. It is located 6kms East of Ariyalur & it is
over 250years old Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal temple, one that was built by the
Padaiyaachi Vanniyars of Sithalavadi Village in Udayarpalayam.
It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Idol of Lord Hanuman was
installed nearby the main presiding deity. The temple is about 250 years old
built by a man called Mangaan Padaiyaachi.
Significance
The temple is about 250 years old and built by a cowherd
on the spot of a 12-feet high post believed to have miraculous powers. The post
now forms the main deity in the temple. Close by is the idol of Hanuman. There are no idols as presiding deity in the sanctum
sanctorum.
Pujas are performed only to this post. There
is no Sorgavasal (Gates of Heaven) on the Vaikunda Ekadasi day as traditionally
seen in Vaishnavite temples. Instead, procession deity is taken on
procession. There is no separate shrine for Mother.
As the presiding deity is believed to be in the post in
the sanctum, it implies that Mothers too are with the Lord in the
post. Procession deity Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal graces with
Mothers Sridevi and Bhoodevi.
The ten Avatars of Lord Sri Vishnu are aesthetically
sculpted in the Dasavathara Mandap in the temple. The temple is
noted for its sculptures. The sacred tree Mahalingamaram is near the
sanctum still green as in ancient days.
Legends
Gopalan Padaiyaachi moved to Kadugur village and built
several small houses in the place that was until then an uninhabited forest
area thus converting it into a vibrant commercial location. Pleased with his
efforts, the villagers named this place as ‘Gopalan Kudikadu’.
The story goes that once his son Mangaan took out a herd
of cows and found one of the cows missing on his return. Despite extensive
search, he failed to locate the pregnant cow, an event that left him dejected
back home.
A few days later, he heard an invisible voice directing
him to a particular place here in Kallankurichi where he found the cow with her
new born. Pleased with this, he brought home the mother and the new born. A day
later he heard the invisible voice again, this time expressing disappointment
at not having thanked him for helping locate his lost cow.
When Mangaan Padaiyaachi went back to that place, he
found a sacred pillar with the cow’s milk on it and immediately that it was
Lord Vishnu who had himself come and helped him the previous day. Mangaan
performed Abhisheka and erected the sacred pillar with an Anjaneya idol at the
bottom of sacred pillar. It was an accepted practice in olden days to erect the
pillar as the deity when people were short of funds to install an idol.
Later after collecting funds from the village Mangaan
Padaiyaachi built the temple here at Kallankurichi with the sacred pillar as
the Moolavar deity. Initially Poojas were conducted only on a weekly basis.
Later the Utsava deity of South-facing Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal with Sri
Bhudevi was installed and a pooja process as per Vaikhanasa Agama was started
and Bhattars were appointed to perform the daily Poojas which is followed
diligently even today at this temple. Interestingly, Vanniyars perform pooja
inside the Moolavar Sannidhi; while the Vaishnavite Bhattars perform pooja at
the Utsava Sannidhi.
Kula Deivam - Varadaraja Perumal
Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal is the Kula Deivam for
people from 10nearby villages.
Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 6.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from
3.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
Prayers
If agricultural yields are happy, farmers undertake to contribute
a specific quantity to the temple. There are huge warehouses around the temple
to stock food grains. Ear boring ceremonies only are conducted in
the temples. Marriages are not celebrated here. Besides
contributing large quantities of food grains, farmers also donate the first
calf of their cattle for their health.
Festival
Chithirai New Year day falling almost on April 14,
Chithira Poornima-Full Moon in April-May, Akshaya Tritiya in April-May with
Lord coming in procession on Garuda Vahana, procession of Lord on Silver Garuda
Vahana on Vaikasi Visakam star day in May-June, Aadi Perukku in July-August,
Gokhulashtami and Vinayaka Chathurthi in August-September, Purattasi Saturdays
and Vijayadasami in September-October, Tirukarthika in November-December,
Hanuman Jayanthi, two car processions for Anjaneya and the Lord with Mother on
Sri Rama Navami day and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the festivals
celebrated in the temple.
There are two chariots here at this temple- one for the Utsava
deity and one for Anjaneya. Chariot Festival too attracts huge number of
devotees.
During Puratasi Saturdays, devotees throng in lakhs
starting from mid night
Every morning, sharp at 7am, there is milk Abhishekam
for the Moolavar – the sacred pillar. Every Saturday, there is a Thirumanjanam
for the Utsava deity Varadaraja Perumal.
Quick Facts
Moolavar: Sacred Pillar
East Facing
Utsavar: Kaliyuga
Varadaraja Perumal South Facing
On Saturday, the temple is open from 630am to 9pm
without a break
Contact: Srinivasa Bhattar
@ 94435 15842
Contact
Sri Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal Temple
Kallankurichi, Ariyalur district
Phone: +91-4329- 228 890
Connectivity
By Bus:
Take a bus to Ariyalur from any district in Tamil Nadu.
From Ariyalur Bus station, Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal Temple in Kallankurichi
is located 4kms away from the bus stand. Auto Rickshaws from Ariyalur Bus stand
may cost you a minimum of Rs.150.
By Rail:
Take a train to Ariyalur. And from there it is just 6 km
travel towards East to Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal Temple.
By Flight:
After reaching Chennai airport, one can take a private
cab or taxi to reach the temple in Kallankurichi in Ariyalur.