Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Pasupathi Koil, Thanjavur
Varadharaja Perumal Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated
to Lord Vishnu located at Pasupathi Koil in Papanasam Taluk in Thanjavur
District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Varadharaja Perumal and
Mother is called as Perundevi Thaayar. The temple is associated with Kettai Nakshathra and is called as Kettai
Star Temple. Periya Nambi attained Salvation here.
Legends
Kulothunga, a Chola King, directed his people to sign a
document that Lord Siva was the greatest. A Vaishnavite devotee refused to sign
and asked the king to get Ramanuja to sign, if he really believed that Siva was
the Supreme Lord. Accordingly, the king ordered for Ramanuja to be brought to
his court. Anxious at the anger of the king and worried as to what could happen
to his Acharya, Koorathazhwaan, disguised as Ramanuja, entered the court of the
Chozha King and as expected, refused to sign. He was accompanied by his
preceptor Periya Nambi. Angered at his refusal to sign and having found out his
disguised form, the king ordered the plucking of his eyes.
Not wanting the king’s messenger to touch him,
Koorathazhwaan did the unthinkable- he removed both his eyes with his own hands
using his long sharp nails. The eyes of Periya Nambi, who was aged 105, were
plucked. Unable to see and over burdened by his age, Periya Nambi struggled to
make his way to Srirangam. Varadaraja Perumal appeared here at Pasupathi Koil
and provided darshan to Periya Nambi who attained Moksham here. Later,
Ramanuja is believed to have come here and built the temple and Sannidhi for
Periya Nambi.
The
Temple
Presiding Deity is called as Varadharaja Perumal. He is
housed in the sanctum in standing posture facing east. Mother is called as Perundevi
Thaayar. Lord Varadaraja Perumal and
Mother Perundevi grace in the temple from separate shrines.
Temple
Opening Time
The temple remains open from
7.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. and from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Festivals
Margazhi Kettai in
December-January, Special Pooja on Thiruvonam
Nakshatram every month and Purattasi
Saturdays in September-October are celebrated in the temple.
Prayers
Jeshta starrers pray here for
relief from adverse planetary effects. Those suffering from vision problems
pray to Koorathazhwar in the temple. Devotees offer white clothes (vastras),
jasmine garlands with Vada and sweet Vada known as Adhirasam in Tamil. They
light ghee lamps and also light lamps with oil prepared with three herbals
called Marudani, Karisilankanni and Sembaruti in Tamil. This is considered to
be more sacred and effective. Those born in Kettai star are advised to worship
in this temple as often as they could or at least on their birth star day.
Contact
Varadaraja Perumal Temple,
Pasupathikoil, Ayyampettai,
Papanasam Taluk,
Thanjavur District – 614 201
Mobile: +91 97903 42581 / 94436 50920
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 600 meters from Pasupathikoil
Bus Stop, 1.5 Kms from Pasupathikoil Railway Station, 4 Kms from Ayyampettai
Railway Station, 3 Kms from Ayyampettai, 15 Kms from Thanjavur, 26 Kms from Kumbakonam,
13 Kms from Thiruvaiyaru, 12 Kms from Papanasam, 64 Kms from Trichy and 69 Kms
from Trichy Airport.
The Temple is situated off the Thanjavur - Kumbakonam
highway. Buses ply every 5 minutes between Kumbakonam and Thanjavur. One can
get down at Pasupathikoil Bus Stop and can reach temple by walk. Also, one can
also get down at the Pasupathi Koil Railway Station (Trichy – Kumbakonam
Passenger trains stop here) and can reach temple by walk.