kanchi history.(web)

Puranic History

After creation of the World, Brahma desired the appearence 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 d  isappeared.  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”.            The Puranic History reveals that the Lord Varadaraja appeared  amidst of Yaga  Agni ( Holy Fire)  in a most beautiful form carrying five weapons and with his consorts Sri Devi and Boodevi.