Varadaraja Perumal Temple,
Kanchipuram – Third Prakaram
This prakaram is the outermost prakaram of this
Temple. It is also called as Alwar Pradakshinam.
Chakrathazhwar
Shrine:
There is a shrine of Chakrathazhwar on the eastern side
of the temple tank. The shrine is believed to have been built during the reign of
Kulothunga Chola III in 1191 CE by Ilavazhagan Kalingarayan of Nettur as per the
inscriptions in the
temple. The later additions are presumably made by Vijayanagara
Kingdom during the 13th or early part of 14th century.
The kings also added pillared columns in the leading hall sculpted with figures
from Ramayana and various forms of Lord Vishnu.
This shrine houses an image of Chakrathazhwar
(Sudarsana) with 16 hands holding conch and discus with Narasimha on the back
side. There are two entrances to the shrine as the two images are considered to
be separate. There festival image of the
temple has seven different images of Sudarshana depicted within the
same Chakra.
100
pillared Hall:
There is a 100 pillared hall (Nuttrukkal Mandapa)
immediately after the Rajagopuram. The pillars of this mandapa are adorned with
sculptures depicting Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is a masterpiece of Vijayanagara
architecture. Stone chains sculpted in a single stone adorn the hundred
pillared halls are the best examples of architectural prowess of Vijayanagara
sculptors.
Athi
Varadar:
Lord Varadaraja Perumal made of Athi tree is said to
have been damaged during the Muslim invasion. As a damaged deity could not be
worshipped, it was immersed in the temple tank. The current
presiding deity is made of granite and was brought from Pazhaya Seevaram at about
20 Kms from Kanchipuram. There are two long Mandapas under the tank north of
the 100 pillared Mandapam in the temple where this image of Athi Varadan is
preserved in a silver casket.
Athi Varadan is taken out once in 40 years and placed
outside for public worship for a period of 48 days after which it is immersed
in the water and stored for the next 40 years. This event took place last in
2019. It is believed that there is a heavy downpour after the idol is immersed
to fill the tank.
Other
Shrines:
There are shrines for Ranganatha, Nammalvar, Manavala Mamunigal,
Ramanuja, Vedanta Desikar, Azhwars and Acharyas in the outer prakaram.
Nandavanam:
The temple garden, Nandavanam, is situated in the outer
prakaram.