The Tale of Athivaradhar's Darshan, Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.

18^th July 2019.

‘ஒன்றே புகலென்றுணர்ந்தவர் காட்டத் திருவருளால்

அன்றே அடைகலம் கொண்டநம் அத்திகிரித் திருமால்

இன்றே இசையில் இணையடி சேர்ப்பர் இனிப்பிறவோம்

நன்றே வருவதெல்லாம்: நமக்குப்பரம் ஒன்றிலதே!’

-தேசிகப் பிரபந்தம்.

The news of Athi Varadar being taken out from the temple Tank after 40 years and kept in a mandapa was spread like wildfire through various media. It was said that Athi Varadar will give darshan for 48 days, from 1^st July 2019. In those 48 days, Athi Varadar will be in the Sayana (reclining position) posture for 31 days and the balance days in the standing posture.  I was a little curious to know more about Athi Varadar.  The Athi Varadar statue was made of Athi Tree wood (Ficus racemosa), which will not decay when kept in water.

There was a heavy rush from the beginning for the darshan of Athi Varadar. The devotees from far-off places and neighbouring states also came for the darshan. In the first week, it was reported that a minimum of 1 lakh people had the darshan daily, and it touched a peak of  2 lakhs on  Saturdays and Sundays. Almost all the politicians and the President of India too visited Kanchipuram to have Athi Varadar’s Darshan.

The news about the darshan within ½ hour and 2 hours, etc, made me think seriously about Athi Varadar’s Darshan. In addition to this, it may not be possible for me for the next time (after 40 years ), darshan. Most of the people expressed the same. So I mentally prepared for the Athi Varadar’s darshan on 18^th July 2019. I didn’t know that it was a Thiruvonam Nakshatra that falls on that day (Perumal’s Nakshatra is Thiruvonam). This also attracted many people.

Started from Tambaram Bus Terminus around 04.45 hrs. On the Padappai, Oragadam route, I noticed a lot of vans and cars plying to Kanchipuram for Athi Varadar’s darshan. It was learnt that a new temporary Vehicle parking was created at Pachaiyappa’s College ground for the Vehicles coming from the East side of Kanchipuram. Due to a traffic jam, we are forced to walk a distance of 5 km to reach the temporary Vehicle parking place. From there, through Minibus reached the east side entry point around 07.30 hrs.

 

The entry from East Rajagopuram was highly unregulated, and it took almost 3 hours to join the regular barricaded “Q”. People were not allowed to enter continuously. In front of Rajagopuram, a 200-meter distance was stretched to about 3 km, through the barricade. It was around 13.30 hrs when I reached East Rajagopuram. Again, the Q passes through a temporary shed and from then allowed through the south praharam. In the shed, everybody has to breathe  the carbon dioxide which was breathed out by others. At one point, I thought of quitting the Q., but after waiting for more than 8 to 9 hours, I decided to continue in the Q., till the end. It was around 16.45 Hrs when I reached near the Athi Varadhara’s mandapam. Had the darshan of Athi Varadar for a fraction of a second after 11 hours of standing in the Q without food and water. All the Devotees are whisked away by the police personnel. I was almost completely exhausted. In the mandapa, it appeared to me that Athi Varadar was taking a rest with VIPs and Politicians dressed in white and standing around him, for more than 30 minutes and blocking the view of the General public. Later, it was learned that about 4 people died in the “Q”; the exact reason and the number were not disclosed.

ATHI VARADAR’s HISTORY.

(The details are taken from the book “Sri Athigiri Varadar’s History” written by Pulavar Perumal and published in 1978)

Sri Varadharaja Perumal came from Brahma’s yaga agni on Chithirai Hastha Nakshatra day, also called Varadhan, Varadharajan, Kari Varadhan, Manickavaradan, Arulalan, Perarulalan, etc. Alwars Mangalasasanam and Appaya Dheekshithar’s kirthanas praise Lord Varadharaja.

As per the legend, the difference of opinion over who is great between Sri Lakshmi and Sri Saraswathi ends with the decision in favour of Sri Lakshmi. So Sri Saraswathi cursed Indira, who made the decision to become an elephant (Athi).  Sri Lakshmi advised Indira to worship Sri Narasimha to get relief from the curse. Indira, in the form of an Elephant (Athi), came to Kanchipuram/ Athigiri and worshipped Sri Narasimhar. Sri Narasimha came out of Athigiri, and Indira was also relieved from the curse.

Later during the 11^th Century, Kanchipuram temples were destroyed, and properties and jewellery were looted by Muslim invaders. After 50 years, the Chozha King became friendly with the Buddhists, and Hindu temples were neglected or destroyed. Ramanujar left for the North with a Srirangam Urchavar. The Kanchipuram Sri Varadaraja Temple fell into the hands of Buddhists, and a Buddha idol was installed in place of Sri Varadar. Buddhists threw a snake at Desikar, who is not in favour of Buddhists. The snake was snatched away by Garuda. Then they sent a Devadasi called Amirtha Valli to Desikar to spoil his name. But Devadasi called him to her house and worshipped Desikar. She also requested Desikar to save Varadhar’s Sannadhi at Kanchipuram and install it back in their old positions, both Urchava Varadar, which was taken to Pataliputra and the Moolavar Athi Varadhar from the temple tank. (This indicates that Athi Varadar went into the Temple tank while Buddhists were in power after installing a Buddha’s Idol). She opens the Sudharsana Alwar’s Sannadhi and shows it to Desikar. Desikar had seen Devaraja Bhattar do poojas to Chakrathalwar and Piranathaarththi Haravaradhar. Since Sudharsana Alwar’s Sannadhi was under the control of a Devadasi, Buddhists didn’t enter.

In 1509 CE, Krishnadevaraya took control of Kanchi. Desikar went back to Kanchipuram and defeated Buddhists and assumed the title of “Panchamatha Panchanam”. The Buddha idol was removed, and a stone wall was raised. Sri Narasimhar was installed again. Krishna Devaraya also  arranged to get back the Urchavar from Pataliputra.

When a different opinion arose between Desikar and Devaraja Bhattar to take out the Athi Varadar from the temple tank and install it in the old position. Athi Varadar came into Desikar’s dream and said that he wanted to be in the Temple Tank permanently and alternatively asked to install the Pazhaya Seevaram Perumal in his place. When Desikar asked for Athi Varadar’s darshan, Athi Varadar replied that he would come out of the Temple tank once in 40 years and bless his devotees for 48 days.  The real story Sri Athi Varadar only knows.

 Athi Varadar was kept in this decorated mandapa

 Q Complex

 Q Complex

 Q Complex

 The man has held the Thulasi mala since early morning

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---