Continuation
to the previous post……
07th August
2016.
The
place is called as Thirukachi, Athigiri, Kovil, Vezhamalai. One of the 108
Divya desams in Kanchipuram.
Moolavar
: Sri Varadharaja Perumal, Athi Varadar, Dewarajaswamy
Thayar
: Sri Perundevi Thayar.
Some
of the important features of this temple are …
The
main sanctum faces west with a 130 feet 7 tier Rajagopuram. The
Vimana under the moolavar is called as punyakoti Vimana, since if you do a
punyam it will grow kodi ( crore ) times. The moolavar is in the first level
with a beautiful smiling face. The urchavar is in the glass mandapam
with fire wound scars on his face. It was told that the scars are due to,
Perumal came from the fire of Yagna performed by Brahma. The main sanctum is called as hill, Athigiri, since Moolavar is on an elevated level of 10 meters with 24 steps.
There
is another Devarajaswamy’s idol made of Athi wood kept in a silver box in the
temple tank Ananthasaras mandapam. Pooja will be performed once in 40 year.
The
temple has three prakaras, 32 sannadhis, 19 vimanas and a 389 pillared
mandapam. There is also a 100 lion faced pillared mandapam with sculptures
associated with Mahabharata and Ramayana epic. This was constructed
during Vijayanagara period. The hanging chains sculptured out of single rock
stone is worth to watch.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Thayar
is in a separate temple and the vimana is called as Kalyana kotti
vimanam. There is a Malayala Nachiyar sannadhi presumably built
during 14th century
by Chera Kings.
The Temple was re-built during 1503 CE
by Kulothunga Chozha-I and Vikarama Chozha. During 14th century another
wall with Gopuram was built by Chozhas.
LEGEND:
As
per legend when Brahma performed yagna or the ashwametha yagam Saraswathy in
the form of Vegavathy river tried to destroy the yagna. Sri
Devarajaswamy emerged as thousands of suns and destroyed the demons,
Sarabam etc., and saved the Yagna and permanently stayed here.
Above moolavar sanctum there is an another floor. The ceiling of this floor has the Silver & Golden Lizards, Sun and Moon reliefs. It was believed that Indra installed after he was relieved from the curse of Goddess Saraswathi. The walls has the Nayak period paintings.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS:
The
temple is kept open for darshan during 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to
21.00 hrs.
HOW
TO REACH :
The
temple is very near to Bus stand and autos are available from there.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE. CLICK HERE
Hanging
chain carved out of single stone
The
beauty of the kodungai
Glass mandapam where Urchavar is being kept
Thayar
Sannadhi Vimanam
Nayak Period paintings
Nayak Period paintings 
Sri
Varadarajaswamy on Garudalwar
…. To be continued.
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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