Varadharaja Perumal Temple (Hastagiri),
Kanchipuram – First Prakaram (Thiru Malai Pradakshinam)
The
first prakaram is on the Hastagiri hill. It houses the sanctum, and the two
co-axial walled mandapams. The sanctum houses the imposing image of Varadaraja Perumal.
The sanctum is the womb of the fire, that is believed to hold the manifest
universe within which the standing Vishnu appeared. This prakaram is also
called as Thiru Malai Pradakshinam.
In this precinct
downstairs contains four shrines, of which the important one is of Malayala
Nachiar (Kerala consort), presumably built during the Chera kings in the
early 14th century. The first prakaram houses the shrine of Varadarajaswamy is
on a small hillock 10m tall and a flight of 24 steps, termed
"Hasthagiri". It has murals of the late Vijayanagara Empire on the ceiling.
Other
significant features of the temple are beautifully carved lizards and gilded
with gold, over the sanctum. Belief is that one will be relieved of all
diseases if one prays to Lord Varadarajan and touches the Lizard on the way
out. The vimana over the sanctum of Varadaraja Swami is
called Punyakoti Vimanam and the one over Perundevi Thayar shrine is
called Kalyana Koti Vimanam.
Apart
from the main stone idol, the temple has the wooden image of Varadarajaswamy
preserved within a silver box from which water is pumped out every 40 years. There
is a shrine of Narasimha on the hillock. It is said that the Narasimhar
Sannadhi is first Sannadhi to be built. The origin of the mask of Narasimha is mysterious
and believed to possess inexplicable powers.
This
Prakaram is also known as “Senaiyar Kone Thirumutram”. This Corridor
also consists of the shrines of Dhanvantri, the deity for Medicine. There is an
entrance to take us from this corridor to inner Corridor. Opposite
to this entrance is the Sannidhi of Periya Thiruvadi (Garuda). Andal Sannadhi & Vishwaksenar Sannadhi is also
situated in this Corridor.
Some of the famous Sannadhis in this prakaram are;
Downstairs:
·
Azhagiya
Singar Sannidhi
·
Andal
Sannidhi
·
Malayala
Nachiyar Sannidhi
·
Dhanvanthari
Upstairs:
·
Sri
Varadaraja Swamy Sannidhi on small hillock
·
Golden
Lizard
