Kamala Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Arasar Koil – The Temple

Kamala Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Arasar Koil – The Temple

This temple is facing towards west with an entrance arch. Balipeedam, Dhwaja Sthambam and Garudazhwar can be seen immediately after the entrance arch, facing towards the sanctum. Only the base of the Dhwaja Sthambam exists. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, maha mandapam and pillared mukha mandapam. The sanctum enshrines an image of Kamala Varadaraja Perumal with his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi. 

The image is believed to be of Salagrama. He is seen in a standing pose and holds a lotus in his right hand which is rare. The vimana over the sanctum is called as Pranava Kodi Vimanam and is of two tiers. The Utsava (processional) idols is also called as Kamala Varadaraja Perumal. He is four armed and in standing posture. His upper arms holds the conch and discus, his lower right hand holds a lotus and lower left hand rests on a mace.

Mother is called as Sundara Mahalakshmi / Perundevi Thayar. She is housed in a separate east facing shrine. Sundara Maha Lakshmi enjoys the prime importance in this temple. The temple is also famously called as Sundara Maha Lakshmi Temple. It is a general practice in this temple to worship her first and then proceed to the Vishnu shrine. Her shrine consists of sanctum and mukha mandapam. She is four armed.

Her upper hands holds lotus and lower hands show abhaya & varada hastha. She is seated in the padmasana pose. It is unique to notice six toes in her right foot. She is seen in everlasting smile with chubby cheeks. The pillars of the mukha mandapam are intricately carved and made of resonant stone as they emit musical notes when tapped. Hence, these pillars are called as musical pillars.

The corbels of these pillars bear the plantain flower motif very characteristic of the architectural style of the Vijayanagara Empire. There is a hole at the top of the pillars. If anyone passes a thin stick through this hole, the stick comes out cut into four pieces. The vimana over her shrine is called as Shukra vimana.

There is a sculpture of Palapazha Siddhar carrying Jack fruit on his head can be seen in one of the pillars. It is said that Mother Sundara Maha Lakshmi has a preference over Jack fruit and the Siddhar used to offer jack fruit to Mother daily as nivedhana. Yoga Narasimha, Kubera, Kalinga Nardana, Paramapathanathar, and Trivikrama are the koshta idols located around the walls of her shrine.

There is an east facing shrine for Andal in the temple premises. The vimana over her shrine is called as Vasthu vimana. Shrines of Thumbikai Azhwar, Vishwakasena, Vedanta Desikar, Manavala Mamuni and Anjaneya can be seen in the temple premises. Sthala Vriksham is Peepal tree. Theertham associated with this temple is Palar River.