Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Arcot, Vellore
Varadaraja
Perumal Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Arcot Town
in Vellore District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Varadaraja
Perumal and Mother is called as Perundevi Thaayar. The Temple is believed to be
1500 years Old.
History
The
Temple was believed to be built during the Pallava period and was sabotaged
during the British rule and was lying in a state of disrepair. In 1936, the
Kodimaram was installed and Brahmotsavam was conducted by Sri Vaishnavas. The
sanctum sanctorum of the presiding deity, Varadaraja Perumal, was renovated and
a compound wall with lime mortar was built around it. The Nammazhwar shrine was
renovated and consecrated in 1942. The shrines of the presiding deities,
Varadaraja Perumal and Perundevi Thayar, were renovated by a committee formed
by the public in 1984 and was consecrated the same year. The construction of a
Rajagopuram & Thiruvaimozhi Mandapam commenced in 1985, the samprokshanam
of which took place in 1991. The committee constructed separate niches for
deities such as Ramar, Lakshmi Narasimhar and Shatkonam Chakkarathzhwar. The
separate sannidhi for Ramar was consecrated in 1993, while those for Lakshmi Narasimhar
and Chakrathazhwar were consecrated in 2006.
The
Temple
Presiding
Deity is called as Varadaraja Perumal and is facing east. Mother is called as
Perundevi Thaayar and is facing east. The speciality of this temple is that it
is the only temple where the Lord Vishnu statue is erected in the middle with
Sri Devi and Bhoomadevi at its sides. This type of posture of Lord Perumal is
only present in this temple. Moreover, the three statues are designed using a
single stone. This temple was built during the Pallava era. There are separate shrines for Andal,
Rukmini, Venkatakrishnan, Rama, Lakshmi Narasimha, Chakkarathalwar can be found
in this Temple.
The
Temple is located at about 750 meters from Arcot Bus Stand, 3 Kms from Ranipet,
5 Kms from Walajah, 6 Kms from Walajapet and 25 Kms from Vellore. Arcot is
situated in the Chennai – Bangalore Highway. The temple is just after you cross
the Palar River Bridge and visible from the main road itself. Nearest Railway
Station is located at Ranipet (3 Kms) and Nearest Airport is located at Chennai
(105 Kms).