Kaladipet Kalyana Varadharaja Perumal Temple,
Thiruvotriyur – History
The
temple was built in the 18th century CE and it has an interesting
story. Historically, Colletpet owes its existence to two men, Joseph Collet who
was Governor of Madras from 1717 to 1719 and Veeraraghava, a Brahmin who was
rather unfortunately referred to as Virago Brahminy in the East India Company
records. Veeraraghava was the son of Venkatapathy, who was the agent of the
East India Company at the court of the Nawabs of Golconda. In 1675,
Venkatapathy died and his son succeeded him to the post. But he was shortly
thereafter dismissed for being ‘unduly close’ to Podala Lingappa, the Governor
of Poonamallee who was inimical to British interests. Later Veeraraghava was
reinstated and by 1717 or so held the high post of Brahman Writer at the East
India Company in Madras. He had to interact frequently with Collet and the two
formed a close relationship.
What
irritated or intrigued Collet was Veeraraghava’s habit of frequently
undertaking a journey to Kanchipuram (some say he went every day in the morning
and reported late for duty). On coming to know that this was due to latter’s
devotion to Lord Varadaraja Perumal of that town, he berated Veeraraghava for
his faith. In jest, he also asked Veeraraghava, who claimed that his mind was
ever in Kanchipuram, to tell him what was happening there at that very moment.
The devotee immediately replied that he could see the deity being taken around
the town in a chariot and that at that precise moment, the wheels had sunk into
mud and attempts were being made to extricate them.
Collet
made enquiries and found that what Veeraraghava had said was true. Impressed,
he decided to bring the Lord to his devotee. He offered to build a temple for
Lord Varadaraja close to where Veeraraghava lived. Cloth being the chief
business of the East India Company at this time, a number of artisans involved
in the trade were settling down near Madras. By the promise of special
concessions, Collet encouraged the immigration of weavers and painters (those
who printed or drew designs on cloth) to settle in the environs of Thiruvotriyur.
By 1718, the new settlement had 104 houses, 10 shops, a temple and contained
489 adult inhabitants.
The
temple was referred as Kalyana Varadarajaswami Temple or as the East India
Company records referred to it, the Colleana Verdaraja Swaminee Covela. Collet
had made good his promise to Veeraraghava. The area was defended by Collet as
well from Carnatic Nawabs. In 1717, Nawab Sadatullah Khan of Arcot demanded
that the five villages of Thiruvotriyur, Sattangadu, Nungambakkam, Kattupakkam
and one more that appears in the records as Vezallawarrow (Valasaravakkam) be
made over by the East India Company to his Chief Renter, Ducknaroy (Daya Ram).
Collet
refused and a pitched battle was fought near Thiruvotriyur and its environs.
The much larger army of the Nawab was defeated by the East India Company army. In
1719, Collet announced his decision to return to England. On 28th December
that year, Collet informed the Council at Fort St George that the local
inhabitants of the new settlement had desired that the place should be named
after him. He also mentioned that the town had a handsome pagoda (temple). The
area became Colletpet thereafter and in course of time, the name was corrupted
to Kaladipettah.
Today, a
legend persists here that as this was an area that Vallalar Ramalinga Swamigal
walked over, it became Kaal adi pettah. Veeraraghava lavished money and love on
the temple. He was allowed by Collet to collect a small duty on imports and
exports for the maintenance of the temple. After his death, his son Kolacherla
Papiah Brahminy petitioned the Company that his father had expended his whole
estate on the pagoda. The Company settled the management of the temple as a
hereditary right on Papiah. Many years later, the temple passed into the hands
of the HR&CE Department of the Government.