The Sri Karivaradaraja Perumal Temple at Chettikaradu is on the way from
Erode to Gobichettipalayam, after Chittode. The temple is on a small Karadu (a
tiny hill).
Moolavar: Sri Kari Varadaraja Perumal/ Mayavan
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a Vilakku thoon. Garudan with folded hands is in front
of the sanctum sanctorum. Sri Kari Varadharaja Perumal is in a standing posture
with abhaya and kadi hastam.
Garudan
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple is on a small hill called Kardu, with 75 steps to climb up. The temple was constructed with bricks and cement concrete, and an elevated level. The
temple is very small and consists of a sanctum sanctorum, antarala / ardha mandapam,
and an open metacolour sheet mandapam. A stucco image of Maha Vishnu in a sitting
posture is on the top of the ardha mandapam. An ekatala nagara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Maha Vishnu’s various postures are on the greeva koshtam. The
sigaram is of Nagara style with maha nasis in 4 directions.
An old brick structure is on the south side of the temple.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
It
is said that the temple has existed for more than 200 to 300 years. The brick structure
on the south side may be the original structure. The present structure may be 100
years old.
The tiles were fixed on the walls by P Subramani of Palakattur and Murukesh of Mandhakkattoor in recent years.
LEGENDS
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 show 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
No
regular poojas are conducted. Once in a while, devotees used to light the camphor
at the base, and very few devotees venture to the top.
A
grand function with annadhanam will be celebrated on the 4th Saturday
of Puratasi, from morning to night.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple sliding gate is kept open for darshan.
CONTACT
DETAILS
HOW
TO REACH
The
temple is about 500 meters from the Erode to Gobichettipalayam road, on the north
side.
The
temple is 5 km from Kavandapadi, 16 km from Chittode, 19 km from
Gobichettipalayam, and 26 km from Erode.
The
nearest Railway Station is Erode.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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