Sri Sundara Varadaraja Perumal Temple / சுந்தர வரதராஜப் பெருமாள் கோயில், Virugambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

ஸத்யவ்ரத க்ஷேத்ரவாஸீ ஸத்யஸ் ஸஜ்ஜனபோஷக:

ஸர்கஸ்தித்யுபஸம்ஹார காரீஸுகுணவாரிதி:

வரதாபயஹஸ்தாப்ஜ: வனமாலாவிராஜித:

ஸங்கசக்ரலஸத்பாணி: ஸரணாகதரக்ஷக:

- ஸ்ரீ வரதராஜ ஸ்தோத்திரம்.

என்னெஞ்சம் மேயான் என் சென்னியான், தானவனை-

வன்னெஞ்சம் கீண்ட மணிவண்ணன், முன்னம்சேய்-

ஊழியான் ஊழி பெயர்த்தான், உலகேத்தும்-

ஆழியான் அத்தியூரான்.

அத்தியூரான் புள்ளை ஊர்வான், அணிமணியின்-

துத்திசேர் நாகத்தின் மேல்துயில்வான், - மூத்தீ-

மறையாவான் மாகடல் நஞ்சுண்டான் தனக்கும்

இறையாவான் எங்கள் பிரான்.

… திருமங்கைஆழ்வார் பாசுரம் ( காஞ்சிபுரம் வரதராச பெருமாள் கோயில்).

The visit to this Sri Sundara Varadaraja Perumal Temple, at  Virugambakkam was a part of the “Lesser known Vishnu, Shiva, Amman Temples of Chennai Visit”, on 30^th October 2022. All these temples have a long history of Pallavas, Chozhas, and Vijayanagaras.

Moolavar  : Sri Sundara Varadaraja Perumal

Thayar     : Sri Perundevi Thayar / Sri Sundaravalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces west with an entrance gate from the west. A short Deepasthambham, balipeedam, Dwajasthambam / kodimaram and Garudan are in front of mukha mandapam. Stucco Dwarapalakas Jayan and Vijayan are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum in a glass box. Moolavar Sri Sundara Varadaraja Perumal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam and upper hands are holding Conch and Chakra. Sridevi and Bhudevi are on both sides. Utsavar is with SriDevi and Bhudevi. There are no images in Deva Kostas. Utsavars, Alwars, Chakrathalwar are in Sanctum sanctorum.

Perundevi Thayar and Andal are in Mukha mandapam. Anjaneyar and Thumbikai Alwars are in the praharam. Perumal’s 10 avatar paintings are on the compound wall.

ARCHITECTURE

The whole temple was constructed with bricks and cement concrete. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam, and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an Upa Peedam and pada bandha adhistanam. Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palagai and Pothyals. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasikudus. A 2 tier Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Maha Vishnu’s avatar images are in the greeva kostam. The sigaram is of dravida style.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the temple authorities, the original temple maybe 1000 years old. It is also believed that the temple was constructed in the 12^th Century, Chozha period, and belongs to Puliyur Kottam. Reconstructed and Ashta Bandhana maha Samprokshanam was conducted during recent years.

Maha Samprokshanam was conducted on 18^th November 2015.

LEGENDS

During ancient times this place was full of Mango trees. Hence called Amraranyam and the Temple was called Amraranya kshetram. Still, the places around the temple look like Agraharam, which reminds me that this is an old temple.

As per the sthala Puranam, the king of Snakes Karkodakan worshiped Perumal of this temple. Hence the nearby place was called Kodambakkam.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas as per Pancharatra, Special poojas and Thirumanjanam are conducted to Perumal Moolavar & Utsavar, Thayar and Alwars. Vaikunta ekadasi,  Krishna Jayanthi, Hanuman Jayanthi, Margazhi Saturdays etc,. Annual Brahmotsavam is conducted in Vaikasi month.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

Thiruvaradhanam 08.15 hrs to 09.00 hrs and 19.15 to 20.00 hrs

Ko pooja 06.45 hrs

Vishwaroopa darshan 07.00 hrs

Thirumanjanam 09.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile number +919840202679 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is on Kali Amman Koil Street ( From Arcot Road to Koyambedu ) in Virugambakkam, after Virugambakkam market.

The temple is about  2.7 KM from Vadapalani bus depot, 3.09 KM from Koyambedu bus terminus, and 11.8 KM from Chennai Central Station.

Nearest Railway station is Vadapalani Metro Station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---