Varadaraja Perumal Temple,
Kanchipuram – Legends
Varadaraja
Perumal:
As per legend, Lord Brahma desired for darshan of Lord
Vishnu in Chaturbuja posture. He performed intense penance to realise his
desire. Pleased with his devotion, Lord Vishnu gave him darshan in the form of
Pushkarini (Theertham). Lord Brahma was not satisfied and continued with his
penance. Again, Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of forest at Naimisaranya.
Lord Brahma was not satisfied with the darshan as his ultimate aim of having
Chaturbuja darshan had not yet met.
He heard a divine voice from sky at that time. It instructed
him to perform thousand Aswamedha Yagna to realise his wish for Chaturbuja
darshan of Lord Vishnu. Lord Brahma felt depressed at the thought of performing
thousand Aswamedha Yaga. He knew that he won’t be able to complete the 1,000
Yagas during his lifetime. Lord Brahma chose to perform the Aswamedha Yaga at
the Satyavrata
Kshetra (Kanchipuram), where doing one Yaga was considered
equivalent to 1,000 Yagas.
Meanwhile, his consort Saraswathi, was angry with
him on the issue of Brahma rating Lakshmi over her, tried to disturb
the Yaga. She assumed the form of river Vegavathi and started
flooding the area. Lord Brahma invoked the intervention of Lord Vishnu. Lord
Vishnu took different forms to thwart her attempts. He stopped river Vegavathi
by sleeping across as a dam at Tiruvekkaa.
He appeared with 8 hands to kill the Asura and subdued Kali at Ashtabhujam.
He appeared as a flame to provide light as Saraswathi
had plunged the place into darkness at Thiruthangal.
Finally, Lord Vishnu is said to have landed here in his Punyakoti Vimanam and
appeared before Brahma as Devaraja Swamy in Chaturbuja posture to signal the
completion of the Aswamedha Yaga. As Lord Vishnu granted a boon (Varam in Tamil)
to Lord Brahma, he came to be called as Varadaraja Perumal.
As Lord Brahma worshipped Lord Vishnu here, the
place came to be called as Kanjitham
(Ka means Brahma and Anjitham means who was worshipped). Later, the name got corrupted
to Kanchi. It is believed that Lord Brahma comes here once a year on the full
moon day in the Tamil month of Chitirai (April-May) around mid-night, for a
darshan of Lord Varadaraja Perumal. It is the practice for the priests to place
food inside the sanctum and to wait outside for 24 minutes on this day. The food
is said to smell sweeter after the wait.
Golden
& Sliver Lizards:
As per legend, the two sons of sage Bringi were the
disciples of Sage Gautama. They used to fill pooja vessels regularly with
water. One day, a lizard fell into the pooja vessel which was filled
with water. Unknowingly, disciples placed this vessel in front of the sage.
Sage Gautama noticed the lizard in the vessel while offering prayers to the
Lord. Sage Gautama got angry and cursed the two for their carelessness to became
Lizards. They begged pardon for their mistake to the Sage Gautama. He advised them
to visit Kanchipuram
Varadaraja Perumal Temple for relief.
As advised, the two disciples reached here and stayed as
lizards for a long time. Disciples got relieved from their curse,
when Indra who was cursed by Goddess Saraswathi, came here as an
elephant Gajendra and prayed to Lord Varadaraja. They attained salvation,
but their mortal coil remained here. In memory of this event, there is a golden
lizard and a silver lizard outside the sanctum of Varadaraja Perumal. It is
believed that who prays Lord Varadaraja Perumal and touches these two
lizards on their way out will be relieved from all chronic diseases.
Brihaspati’s
curse:
Once, a debate took place in Indra Loka about worthiness
of family life and ascetic life. The devas could not come to a conclusive
answer. Hence, they approached Brihaspati for a final decision. He pronounced
his verdict in favour ascetic life. Indra was angry at this decision of not
recognizing the difficulty of family life. Indra cursed Brihaspati to become a
poor Brahmin with children. Brihaspati leading a simple life in earth due to this
curse. One day, he chased away a hungry dog which had come inside his house.
He was cursed for not providing refuge to a hungry
animal and was turned into a dog. The Devas were feeling the absence of their
preceptor, Brihaspati. They approached Indra to get back their preceptor. Indra
in turn approached Lord Brahma for help. Lord Brahma asked Indra to accompany
him to Kanchipuram where Brihaspati was already undertaking a penance before
Varadaraja Perumal. Answering their prayers, Lord Varadaraja Perumal is said to
have given Brihaspati his original status and form.
Lord
Varadaraja Perumal guided Ramanuja to Kanchipuram:
Ramanuja was an Indian philosopher, Hindu
theologian, social reformer, and one of the most important exponents of
the Sri Vaishnavism tradition within Hinduism. His
philosophical foundations for devotionalism were influential to the Bhakti
movement. Ramanuja was born in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. He was born to mother
Kandhimathi and father Asuri Kesava Somayaji. He is believed to have been
born in the month of Chaitra under the star Thiruvadhirai.
Ramanuja married Rakshambal at the age of 16. He moved
to Kanchipuram after the death of his father along with his mother, brother
and wife. He studied in an Advaita Vedanta monastery along with his brother Govinda
with Yadava Prakasa as his guru. Ramanuja and his guru frequently disagreed in
interpreting Vedic texts, particularly the Upanishads. His fellow students
hated Ramanuja and wanted to get rid of him. The teacher and the students
including Govinda and Ramanuja were all going on a pilgrimage to Varanasi.
They approached the Vindhya Mountains. They were
travelling through an impenetrable jungle when Yadava Prakasa and his other
disciples hatched a plot to kill Ramanuja, Govinda somehow sensed it; he warned
his brother and advised him to run for his life. Accordingly, Ramanuja went
away. The teacher and the other students frantically searched for him in the
forest. They presumed that he had been killed by some wild animal and they
proceeded on their way to Varanasi.
Ramanuja wandered wildly in the forest. He was tormented
by hunger and thirst. He saw a hunter couple and asked for their help. They
advised him to follow them. It was already dark when they emerged from the
jungle. They found a suitable place in the plain and rested for the night. At
midnight, the hunter’s wife said she was thirsty. Ramanuja got up and went in
search of water. He fetched water from a far-off pond at Sala Kinaru. The
hunter’s wife after drinking it asked for some more.
When Ramanuja went back to the pond for more water, it
was already daybreak. Ramanuja surprised to find himself in the midst of
familiar surroundings – temple towers, coconut trees and woods. He had
unconsciously come back to Kanchipuram. He wondered how he had managed to come
all the way here from the Vindhyas in a single night. He then guessed that the
hunter couple who had accompanied him were none other than Lord Vishnu and his
consort Lakshmi.
He rushed back to the place where the hunter couple had
stayed. He is said to have seen Lord Varadaraja, along with his consort,
disappear right in front of him into the sanctum. The sacred water for performing
pooja to Lord Varadaraja Perumal is brought from Sala
Kinaru even today. He was awarded with the name as Ramanuja Mamuni
by Varadharaja Perumal itself, when he became the Saint.
Aalavattam
Kainkaryam:
Thirukkachi Nambikal, also known as Kanchi Purnar, was
an ardent devotee of Lord Varadaraja Perumal of this
temple. He did Aalavattam Kainkaryam, waving to produce breeze
with the help of hand fan to prevent the Lord Varadaraja Perumal from sweating
under the heat. This worship practise is still followed. It is believed that Lord
Varadharaja Perumal used to converse with him, while he was doing Aalavattam
Kainkaryam.
Varadaraja
Perumal gave permission to Ramanuja to move to Srirangam:
Ramanuja was performing the daily rituals for Kanchi
Varadaraja Perumal. He had to be moved to Srirangam
to succeed Alavanthan. Thirukkachi Nambi is said to have got the permission
from Lord Varadaraja Perumal to allow Ramanuja to move to Srirangam.
Hence, Varadaraja Perumal is credited with the handing over of Ramanuja to Srirangam.
Vartha
Sathakam:
During their services to Lord Varadaraja Perumal in this
temple, Ramanuja and Thirukkachi Nambi used to discuss on various topics
for the betterment of the Vaishnavism. Thirukachi Nambigal would ask all doubts
raised by Ramanuja to Lord Varadaraja Perumal. Lord Varadaraja Perumal would
clarify all the doubts and Thirukachi Nambigal convey the clarifications to
Ramanuja next. The first six of such doubts raised by Ramanuja are known as
Vartha Sathakam.
They are;
1. Who / what are Para Tatvam?
2. Jeevathma / Paramatma are same or different?
3. What is more important to seekers of Mukthi, other
than Daanam, Dharman, Gnanam and Bhakti (Charity, Justice, Knowledge and
devotion)?
4. All Devotees at the end should leave the body with god
only in mind. If otherwise what will happen?
5. Moksham (salvation or liberation of soul) will it
happen after many lives? Or can it be had just after one life?
6. I am thinking of Tirukkachi Nambigal as Acharya, who
is helping me to clarify the doubts. But due to caste considerations that will
not be possible. So, who can be approached as Acharya?
Answers to Vartha Sathakam:
Lord Varada Raja himself answered all questions and
conveyed them to Ramanuja through Tirukkachi Nambi.
1. Ahameva Param Brahma – Jagat Kaarana Kaaranam - I am
the Para Brahmam who is the cause for whole world.
2. Kshetra Gneswarayo Bedha Siddha Yeava - Jeevatma and
Paramatma are different.
3. Moksho Payo Nyasa Eva - Those who desire Mukti only
way is Prapatthi.
4. Madh Bhakthanam Jananam Cha Nanthi Masmruthi
Rishyathe - Lord’s devotees need not think of Lord at the end moment, as they
think of him always.
5. Dehaavasane Bhakthanam Dadaami Paramam Padam - All My
devotees are rid of any Prarabdam, so they need no more bodies to take effects
of Prarabdams.
6. Next Acharya to lead Ramanuja is Periya Nambi, who is
a disciple of Alavandar (Yamunacharya).
Ramanuja decided to go to Periya Nambi. Lord Ranganatha
also directed the scholars to bring Ramanuja to Srirangam.
Periya Nambi and Ramanuja started for each other in opposite directions and
they met at Madurantakam. Ramanuja requested Periya Nambi to accept him disciple
unable to wait further. Periya Nambi recognised the Arthi of Ramanuja and
initiated Ramanuja to Pancha Samskarams and accepted him as his disciple.
Ramanuja
taking the mantle of Vaishnavism:
Ramanuja served his master Periya Nambi for nearly six
months in Kanchipuram. Periya Nambi explained Nalayira Divya Prabandham to
Ramanuja. He learnt the essence of Vishishadvaita contained in those hymns. One
day Periya Nambi’s wife was drawing water from the well, and inadvertently a
few drops were splashed on the pitcher of Ramanuja’s wife. The latter became
angry and shouted at her. Further, she stated that she had been polluted and
started a row. Periya Nambi felt deeply hurt by her conduct, decided to leave
the place and proceeded to Sriranga.
The decision of leaving Ramanuja created further
estrangement between Ramanuja and his wife. Ramanuja sent his wife to her
father’s house. Later Ramanuja took sacred bath in the Theertham at Kanchi and
pledged to Lord Varadaraja Perumal that he would work for Srivaishnavism to
establish its supremacy. Lord Varadaraja Perumal called him (through
Thirukkachi Nambi) and blessed him as Yathiraja. The residence of Ramanuja
(Thirumaligai) can be seen in the East Mada Street behind the temple tower.
Koorathazhwar:
Koorathazhwar, also known as Kuresa and Srivatsanka
Mishra, was the chief disciple of the great Vaishnavite acharya Ramanuja.
He assisted Ramanuja in all his endeavours. He was born as Kuresan in a small
hamlet Kooram
near Kanchipuram, in the year of 1010 A.D (Sowmya year, Thai month,
Hastham star), in an affluent family. He belonged to the clan of Haritha,
who were popular landlords. Koorathazhwar was married at a young age to Andal,
a devoted and pious lady. Both of them led a happy and peaceful life. They were
deeply devoted to Lord Varadaraja Perumal.
The pious couple were very famous in the holy town of
Kanchipuram, for their unstinting philanthropy and kindness. Their
children were Parasara Bhattar and Veda Vyasa Bhattar. Kuresan was heavily
influenced by the teachings of Ramanujacharya, who was staying in Kanchipuram
at that time. It was the time when Ramanuja's teachings were growing popular
and his fame was slowly spreading. Kuresan quickly approached Ramanuja and
became his disciple. A bond was established between them and under the
effective guidance of Ramanuja, Kuresan was initiated into rigorous study of
Vedic scriptures and other holy works.
Meanwhile, due to other plans of the Lord, Ramanuja
moved to Srirangam
and the friendship between Ramanuja and Koorathazhwar came to a temporary end.
Later Koorathazhwar continued his earlier philanthropic works. Once, it
happened that Lord Varadaraja Perumal and his Consort Perundevi Piratti heard a
heavy sound of a door being closed. The actual reason was that, Kuresan had
closed the brass doors of his home, after completing his daily routine of
feeding the poor. By the order of the Lord, who appeared in the dream, the
chief priest arrived at the door step of Kuresan to bring him to the Lord.
On hearing this news, rather than feeling happy, Kuresan
was extremely saddened, as he thought that it was a sin on his part to disturb
the Lord and his consort at the night time, by announcing his charity
activities. This incident created a turmoil in the mind of Kuresan, which was a
turning point in his life. At once he and his wife decided to renounce all
their belongings and move to Srirangam,
where Ramanuja was staying. On reaching Srirangam,
the couple were given a warm welcome and Ramanuja was very happy to have his
old friend again.
Kuresan became a disciple of Ramanuja and assisted him
in all his works such as spiritual study, management of the temple,
philosophical compositions and many others. Soon Koorathazhwar became the hand
and eye of Sri Ramanujacharya. One of the main aims of Ramanujacharya was to
compose the Sri Bhashya. To compose this work, he wanted to refer
Bodhayana's vritti Brahma Sutras, an ancient parchment. This work was
available in the royal library of the state of Kashmir. Ramanujacharya and
Koorathazhwar, along with certain other disciples undertook the tedious journey
to Kashmir and met the king of that state.
The king was very much pleased with these men of divine
nature and immediately granted them access to the library. But the pundits of
that place were not pleased with the outsiders and troubled them a lot. They
put forth a condition that the vritti shall not leave the library. So,
Ramanujacharya and Koorathazhwar decided to read the vritti within the premises
of the library itself. To incur more trouble, the pundits went still further to
put a condition that no notes must be taken, by reading the vritti. Then
Ramanujacharya decided to return to Srirangam
and they started their journey back south.
Ramanujacharya was disappointed for not making adequate
reading of the vritti. But after reaching Srirangam
he realized that he had lost nothing. Koorathazhwar had read the entire text of
the vritti and had memorized it completely. He was able to recall the vritti,
instantly and accurately word-by-word. With great sense of fulfilment,
Ramanujacharya completed the Sri Bhashya, which was a commentary on the
Brahmasutras. Sri Bhashya was completed mainly because of the
involvement of Koorathazhwar. His works include Sri Vaikunta
Stavam, Athimanusha Stavam, Sundarabahu Stavam, Varadaraja Stavam and Sri
Stavam. These five works were collectively known as Panchastavee.
After a certain period of time, the glory of Sri
Ramanujacharya spread far and wide. Along with it, grew the number of enemies,
i.e. the people who became jealous on Sri Ramanujacharya. At that time, the
present Chola king was influenced by certain groups and he ordered Sri
Ramanujacharya to be brought to his court. Coming to know this, Koorathazhwar
immediately rushed back to the mutt in Srirangam
and requested Sri Ramanujacharya and the others to move away to some safer
place.
Though not interested in moving, Sri Ramanujacharya had
to oblige to his adamant disciples. When the soldiers came to the mutt,
Koorathazhwar was dressed up as Ramanujacharya. Mistaken they took him along
with Sri Mahapurna (Periya Nambi) to the royal court in Gangaikonda
Cholapuram. At the court the King thrust a written declaration which read:
"Nothing higher than Shiva exists” and commanded them both to affix their
signatures to it without protest.
But both of them refused and argued the supremacy
of Lord Vishnu, quoting from the Vedas, Upanishads and
various other holy texts. At a stage, the king got furious and ordered their
eyes to be pulled out. On hearing the statement, Koorathazhwar replied that he
doesn't need the eyes which have seen a sinner like the king and he pulled away
his eyes himself. The eyes of Mahapurna were also gorged by the soldiers and
they were sent away from the court.
The ripe-aged Mahapurna died on the way to Srirangam.
Ramanujacharya meanwhile had moved to Melkote in Karnataka along with
his disciples and established Vaishnavism there with the support of the local
king. After the turbulence period of over 12 years had got over, Sri
Ramanujacharya returned to Srirangam
and the old friends reunited. Koorathazhwar lived for some more years and
attained the holy feet of the Lord. It is said that Lord Rama took birth as
Koorathazhwar to serve Ramanuja who was nothing but Lakshmana as a gratitude to
all the services rendered by Lakshmana to Rama.
Thyaga
Mandapam:
When Yamunacharya (Alavandar) died Ramanuja went to Srirangam
and promised for his three wishes but did not see Lord Ranganatha. Lord Vishnu was
disappointed, but Lord was happy at growth and achievements of Ramanuja. The
intent of Ranganatha
Perumal of Srirangam was conveyed to Lord Varadaraja Perumal of Kanchi,
who was reluctant to send Ramanuja to Srirangam.
But, Ranganatha sends a scholar Thiruvaranga Perumal to go to Kanchi
to impress Varadaraja Perumal and request for Ramanuja.
Thiruvaranga Perumal sings very well and goes to court
of Lord Varadaraja Perumal and exhibits his talent. Lord Varadaraja Perumal
grants him a wish. Thiruvaranga Perumal asks for Ramanuja. Lord Varadaraja Perumal
obliges the greater purpose and asks Ramanuja to go and continue his efforts
from Srirangam.
As Lord Varadaraja Perumal had sacrificed (Thyagam) Swami Ramanuja for the sake
of Srirangam
Namperumal.
The
place came to be called as Thyaga Mandapam. As per
Lord Vishnu wish, Ramanuja went to Srirangam.
Lord Ranganatha along with Periya Nambi and other scholars welcomed Ramanuja.
Lord said that the place merely gains importance by presence of Ramanuja. The
leadership was offered to Ramanuja by disclosing the wish of Alavandar through
his Paasuram.
Hastagiri:
As per legend, Saraswathi, cursed the king of celestial
deities, Indra, to become an elephant and roam around the place. He was relived
off the curse with the divine power of Lord Vishnu, who appeared as the mount, Hastagiri. Hastagiri indicates
a mount / hill in the form of elephant.
Athigiri:
The name Athigiri is derived from Athi tree (Fig). The Athi
tree is considered sacred to Vaishnavas and Hindus. The present
stone deity found inside the
temple is from a nearby Narasimha temple, the deity is called
Devaraja Perumal whose worship is equated to Adhi Athi Varadharaja Perumal
i.e.; two gods reside in one Moolavar idol.
Lord
Vishnu worshipped in different Yugas:
As per legend, Lord Vishnu was worshipped by Lord Brahma
in Krita Yuga, Gajendra in Treta Yuga, Brihaspati in Dwapara Yuga and Adisesha
in Kali Yuga.
Thirumangai
Azhwar:
Thirumangai Azhwar spent all his wealth and taxes
towards the building of the Srirangam
temple and the king punished him for not paying the taxes and losing
wealth of the kingdom. A divine voice informed the king in his dreams that he
can pick up wealth from Varadaraja
Perumal temple and relieve Thirumangai Azhwar.
Other
Names:
The
temple is called as Thirukachi, Athigiri, Perumal Kovil,
Vezhamalai and Hastagiri.