Kari Varadaraja Perumal Temple, கரிவரதராஜ பெருமாள் டெம்பிள் / Sri Kari Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Natesan Nagar, Madhavaram, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to the Sri Karivaradharaja Perumal Temple at Venugopal Nagar in  Madhavaram was a part of the Shiva, Vishnu, and Amman Temple visit at Padi, Korattur, and Madhavaram on 06^th February 2022. The Perumal of this temple was sung / mangalasasanam by the Acharyas; hence, this temple is one of the Abhimana sthalam.

Moolavar : Sri Venkata Varadharaja Perumal

Utsavar    : Sri Kari Varadharaja Perumal

Thayar     : Sri Kanakavalli Thayar 

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The Temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. A stucco image of Anjaneyar is about 21 feet high on the left side of the Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Kodimaram, and Garudan are in front of the mukha mandapam. Sanctum Sanctorum is about 3 feet above the ground level. Moolavar is in a standing posture with Abhaya and kadi hastham. There are no murtis in the koshtam.

Thayar is in a separate temple, like a sannidhi with sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and mukha mandapam. Andal is also in a separate sannidhi on the left side of the moolavar. In the praharam, Bhakta Anjaneyar, Kothandaramar, Chakkarathalwar 7 Narasimhar, Lakshmi Hayagreevar, Lakshmi Varaha, Hanuman, and Ramanujar. Utsava murtis of Perumal and Alwars are in the mukha mandapam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, the ardha mandapam, and the mukha mandapam. The adhistana is a simple pada bandha adhistana. A three-tier Nagara Vimanam called Punyakoti vimanam is over the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco images of Lakshmi Varaha, Lakshmi Hayagreevar, and Lakshmi Narasimhar are on the Vimanam koshtas and Greeva Koshtams. Pushkarani is Varadha Pushkarani, and Sthala Vruksham is the Vanni tree.

Thayar Sannidhi

HISTORY

It is believed that this temple was built along with the Sri Kailasanathar Temple of Madhavaram during the 8^th to 9^th Century by Nandivarama Pallava-II. During the Chozha period, this place was called Ekadhira (Title of Nandivarman-II) Chaturvedi Mangalam in Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu, Puzhal Kottam (From Sri Kailasanathar Temple Inscription).

Thirupani was started on 28^th October 1998 and completed on 22^nd August 1999. Thirupani was executed by Sri Bhagavath Seva Samidhi and the Chakkarapani Trust.

In 1984, Thirupani, the utsavar, was taken from the well, and Kumbhabhishekam was conducted.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Lord Shiva and Ma Parvati came to this place and did dhabas / Penance. Later, Maha Rishis like Vyasa and Sages performed penance at this place. Since Lord Shiva, Parvati, and the Maharishis performed penance, this place was called Maha Thava Puram, which was later corrupted to the present name of Madhavaram.

As per the legend, the Pallava King, with his army, marched toward Tirupati to conquer his enemies. After he won the war, this temple was built in memory of his victory. Hence, Moolavar is called Vekata Varadhar. It is believed that those who couldn’t go to the Kanchipuram Varadaraja Perumal Temple can offer their prayers at this temple. Once during abhishekam, the Bhatter offered honey to Perumal, and the same was consumed by Perumal; hence, Perumal is called “Then Unda Perumal”. 

Thayar is very powerful in this temple and a varaprasadhi. Devotees worship Thayar for removing marriage obstacles, for a Child boon, to get back the missing Child, to rectify speech problems, etc. If devotees worship Thayar for 24 Fridays continuously, they will get married and will get pregnancy confirmation within 21 days.

According to the legend, King Indradyumna was a devout follower of Lord Vishnu. Once, while deeply engrossed in prayer, he failed to notice the revered sage Durvasa visiting his court. Durvasa thought that the King didn’t gave respect and got angry. The angered sage cursed the king to be reborn as an elephant in his next life. However, realizing the king's innate innocence and devotion, the sage blessed him to retain his memory and devotion to Vishnu even in his animal form.

In a later struggle at a water body, a celestial deity being transformed into a crocodile caught the elephant (Kari) by its foot. Pushed to exhaustion, the elephant offered a single lotus flower to Lord Vishnu in absolute surrender. Rushing to his aid, Lord Vishnu vanquished the crocodile with his discus (Sudarshana Chakra) and liberated both the elephant and the cursed gandharva.

Because the Lord granted salvation (moksha) specifically to an elephant (Kari), He came to be revered as Kari Varadaraja Perumal—the king (Raja) who bestows boons (Varada) and saves the elephant.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted. Kungum Archana on Fridays, Fridays of Thai and Aadi Month Thirumanjanam, Oonjal Utsavam, Navaratri, Panguni Uthra Thirukalyanam, Tamil New Year Day; in addition to this, there will be an utsavam in every month. 

Thirumanjanam will be done on their respective nakshatra  days for Perumal - Hastam, Thayar Kanakavalli - Uthram, Andal – Pooram, Ramar - Punarpoosam, Chakkarathalwar & Narasimhar – Chithirai & Swati, Lakshmi Hayagreevar - Thiruvonam, Lakshmi Varaha - Maham, Hanuman- Moolam, Ramanujar- Thiruvathirai

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.30 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs, and on Saturdays, the closing time will be extended for another 30 minutes.

CONTACT DETAILS

Venkatesa Bhattar’s mobile number, +91 99529 11135, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This Temple is about 1 km from Sri Kailasanathar, 2.3 km from Madhavaram Mofussil Bus Stand, 5.3 km from Perambur Railway Station, 13.5 km from Koyambedu Bus Terminus, and 17.2 km from Chennai Central.

The nearest Railway Station is Perambur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---