Vanniyars of
Udayarpalayam created a Perumal Temple near Ariyalur in the early 18th Century AD that now attracts lakhs of
devotees during Brahmotsavam and Puratasi
Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal is
the Kula Deivam for people from 10nearby villages
Located
6kms East of Ariyalur is the 18th Century AD over 250years old
Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal temple, one that was built by the Padaiyaachi
Vanniyars of Sithalavadi Village in Udayarpalayam.
The story
Gopalan
Padaiyaachi moved to Kadugur village and built several small houses in the
place that was until then an uninhabited forest area thus converting it into a
vibrant commercial location. Pleased with his efforts, the villagers named this
place as ‘Gopalan Kudikadu’.
The
story goes that once his son Mangaan took out a herd of cows and found one of
the cows missing on his return. Despite extensive search, he failed to locate
the pregnant cow, an event that left him dejected back home.
A few
days later, he heard an invisible voice directing him to a particular place
here in Kallankuruchi where he found the cow with her new born. Pleased with
this, he brought home the mother and the new born. A day later he heard the
invisible voice again, this time expressing disappointment at not having
thanked him for helping locate his lost cow.
When
Mangaan Padaiyaachi went back to that place, he found a sacred pillar with the
cow’s milk on it and immediately that it was Lord Vishnu who had himself come
and helped him the previous day. Mangaan performed abhisheka and erected the sacred
pillar with an anjaneya idol at the bottom of sacred pillar. It was an accepted
practice in olden days to erect the pillar as the deity when people were short
of funds to install an idol.
Kula Deivam - Varadaraja Perumal
From the
grains generated, Mangaan Padaiyaachi built the temple here at Kallankuruchi
with the sacred pillar as the moolavar deity. While originally, poojas were
conducted only on a weekly basis, later the Utsava deity of South Facing Kaliyuga
Varadaraja Perumal with Sri Bhoo Devi was installed and a pooja process as per
Vaikanasa Agama was created and Bhattars were appointed to perform daily poojas
which is now followed diligently at this temple.
Interestingly,
only the Vanniyars perform pooja inside the Moolavar Sannidhi, while the
Vaishnavite Bhattars perform pooja at the Utsava Sannidhi.
Kaliyuga
Varadaraja Perumal is the Kula Deivam for people from 10nearby villages.
Festivals
Brahmotsavam
– Rama Navami - Procession during Brahmotsavam is on Silver Vahanas.
Raksha
Bandhan
There
are two chariots here at this temple- one for the utsava deity and one for
Anjaneya. Chariot Festival too attracts huge number of devotees.
During
Puratasi Saturdays, devotees throng in lakhs starting from mid night
Every
morning, sharp at 7am, there is a milk abhishekam for the Moolavar – the sacred
pillar. Every Saturday, there is a Thirumanjanam for the Utsava deity
Varadaraja Perumal.
Quick Facts
Moolavar:
Sacred Pillar East Facing
Utsavar : Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal South Facing
Time :
7am-1230pm and 3pm-9pm
On Saturday, the temple is open from 630am
to 9pm without a break
Contact : Srinivasa Bhattar @ 94435 15842
How to reach
Kallankuruchi
is 6kms East of Ariyalur Railway station and about 4kms from the bus stand.
Regular town buses ply to the temple starting at 4am in the morning. Auto to
the temple from Ariyalur bus stand will cost Rs. 150.
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