 Kandavarayas, Cheras, Kakatiya, Sambuvaraya, Hoysala and Vijayanagara indicating various donations to the temple and also the political situation of Kanchipuram. There is a belief that the temple was first built by the Pallava king Nandivarman II(731-796) and it was expanded during the rules of the great Chola kings Kulottunga Chola I and Vikrama Chola (1075 – 1135).
Lord Brahma was born from the Nabhikamala of Sri Hari. Brahma was given the duty of creation which he performs for a long time. After creation of the World, Brahma desired the appearance of worship Lord Narayana in all His glory to offer his prayers.
His desire was not fulfilled even after he did meditation and austerities for a long time. Then a holy voice informed him that he (Brahma) should do thousand “Aswametha Yagas” or do one “Aswametha Yaga” at a sacred place in Bharatham called “Sathya Vradha Sthala”. This means a good deed performed in Kancheepuram will yield benefits by thousand times.
Brahma called Vishwa Karma, the celestial sculpture to erect a city at Kancheepuram where he wanted to perform Yaga. Vishwa Karma built a beautiful city which was appreciated by even the celestial beings and there Brahma started performing Yaga without his wife Saraswathi. (It was customary to do yaga jointly with one’s consort).
Having heard about this yaga, Saraswathi got angry and wanted to destroy yaga salai by taking the form of a river, which was later called “Vegavathi”. Brahma was afraid and surrendered before Lord Narayana requesting the Lord to save him from this imminent danger. Lord Narayana lied down across the flowing river.
As Saraswathi did not have strength to cross Lord Narayana, she entered the earth and disappeared.
Later Saraswathi got compromised and Brahma performed ‘Aswametha Yaga’. At the end of the Aswametha yaga, the brightest and most beautiful Lord Varadarajar appeared along with his consorts Sridevi and Boodevi in Punniakodi vimanam which came out of Yaga Agni (Holy Fire).
Lord Varadaraja asked Brahma what he wanted. Brahma begged the Lord that the Lord Devarajaswamy should remain in the same from at this sacred place permanently and to give darshan to the pleasure of all living beings in the world.
Lord Varadarajar, the bestower of boons conceded to Brahma’s request. Since then the Lord Varadaraja has been giving darshan to the devotees at this holy place called “Hastha giri”. ‘Hastham’ means elephant and “giri “means hill.
Lord Varadaraja was worshipped by Brahma in “Kritha Yuga”; by Gajendran (Sacred elephant suffered from a crocodile) in “Treta yuga”; by the Deva Guru (Teacher of Devas) Brahaspathi in Dwapara yuga ; and by Adiseshan in this “Kali Yuga”.
It is quoted in puranas that, a Hole was formed by the Horn of Varaha swami when lifting the earth from ocean during Varaha avatara. This hole is present in Kanchi Varadharaja swami temple, on above which the main shrine stands. This hole is mentioned as a gate way to pathala loka.
After raising above to the bholoka, varaha swami shakes his body (similar to that of a varaha) by which the sweat and water from his body drops out to form the Anantha Srovara.
This Anatha Sarovara later in kaliyuga will be the place for Athi Varadha which is the wooden image of Varadarajaswamy preserved within a silver box from which water is pumped out every 40 years. It is kept back in the silver casket and immersed in the water. It is believed that there is a heavy downpour after the idol is immersed to fill the tank.
Athi Varadharaja is one among the 4 Brahma Kararchita Varadaja moorthies, carved out of Athi Tree by Vishwakarma in Kritha Yuga. This moorthi was the main deity (Moola Moorthi) in the Grabhagraha, i.e inside PunyaKooti Vimana, until early 16th century.
Due to Muslim Invasions, to preserve the valuable moorthies, the Athi Varada was immersed inside Pushkaranai(Anatha Saravora) inside the temple premises secretively, such that only one family knew the exact place.
For nearly 40 long years, the temple had no moorthies in the grabhagraha and no pooja was being performed in the temple. The two brothers in Dhatacharya lineage,who were the Dharamakartha of the temple at that time and under whose authority the hiding of moorthy took place, passed away. Their two sons, after more than 40 years, tried vigorously to bring the moorthies back to the temple, to start the pooja again. With the help of a Madwa, the Utsava moorthies were brought back from Udayar Palayam forest and found their place inside the temple.
Unable to find the Athi Varadha, the authorities decided to place a Vigraha made of stone from the nearby place called PazayaSeevaram (30 kms approx. from the temple). This moorthi is called Devaraja Swami and it is known to be Athri Rishi Kararchita moorthy. This moorthy resembled Athi Varadharaja and was present in a mountain called Padma Giri in Pazayaseevarm, where 3 rivers (Payasvini, Vegavathi and BahuNadhi) met forming a Triveni Sangama.
This moorthy, called Devaraja, was brought to Kanchipuram and installed as moolamoorthi inside punyakoti vimana and the regular pooja started.
Around 1709 due to some reasons (which are unknown till the date) the Pushkarani was emptied and the Athi Varadharaja was seen lying inside. Then Authorities decided that this moorthi has to be taken out every 40 years for pooja for 48 days and again to be immersed in the kalyani for another 40 years and so on.
This decision was based on the fact that, Kaliyuga pooja for Varadharaj is done by sesha devuru and Anatha sarovara has sesha devaru. The Next Athi Varadha Raising is happening in this year July 1, 2019 to Aug 18, 2019.
Another significant thing about the temple is beautiful engraved lizards and plated with gold, over the chamber. The history goes as; two sons of Sage Brighu were the disciples of Sage Gautama. They did not notice that two lizards had fallen into the water they brought for their mentor’s puja. Gautama cursed them to be changed as lizards.
When they sought a relief, the Rishi said it lies in Kancheepuram. After a long journey around the world, they reached Kanchipuram and begged Lord Perumal for salvation. Perumal said that their soul would reach Him while their mortal coil would remain in lizard forms. He also said that Sun and Moon would be witnesses to this boon.
Devotees also pray to the golden and silver lizards in the temple for relief from any untoward happening due to the fall of real lizards on their body.
Thirukkachi Nambigal used to bring flowers everyday for lord and he did Aalavatta Kaingariyam, waving to produce breeze with the help of hand fan. It is believed that Vardharaja used to converse with him, while he was doing that seva.
The temple is famous for its huge umbrella used during festive occasions.
During the bhramotsavam (major festival) in Vaigasi (May/June), thousands of people throng the temple and that increases at least by a two-fold during the Garuda Vahanam and the Ther Thiruvizha(Chriot festival) procession.
People pray to Perumal for achieving excellence in education and family welfare and prosperity. Lord Sudarshana Azhwar removes the obstacles in wedding proposals of the devotees.
Bring on the beer: Oktoberfest 2012 in Las Vegas, Hofbräuhaus is an important name when it comes to Oktoberfest in Las Vegas, considering their connection to the original Hofbräuhaus in Germany. For the ninth year in a row, the Bavarian restaurant is hosting celebrity keg tappings every weekend through Oct. 27 – which is a bit longer than the official Oktoberfest season, but all the more chances to party like they do in Bavaria. The tappings kicked off this past weekend with legendary magicians Siegfried and Roy and will continue with “Pawn Stars” Corey Harrison, comedian Carrot Top, PBR cowboy Luke Snyder, “America’s Got Talent” winner