temple at Kanchi Perumal Koil. (web)

Temple Structure

Sri Devaraja Swamy Temple, popularly known as Sri Varadarajar Temple is situated at the eastern corner of Kancheepuram. Lofty Gopurams and lengthy walls bear testimony to the fame of the temple

East Gopuram West Gopuram             The height of East Gopuram is 125 feet; width 99 feet.  The height of West Raja Gopuram is 96 feet and width 92.5 feet. This temple consists five prakarams (Corridors).       Mada Street (Mada Vilagam),   Alwar Thiruveethi (or) Alwar pradhakshnam where Sannadhi of Alwars and Achariars are situated. Separate Shrines for Nammalvar, Manavala Mamuni, Bashyakarar, Vedanta Desikar are  in good condition.       Periyalwar, Thondaradi Podi Alwar, Thiruppan Alwar  and Thirumangai Alwar  have their own shrines. It is told that there was a Sannadhi for Mudhal Alwars.  But now it is in a dilapidated condition.       At the outside of the temple there is a separate Sannadhi for Koorath Alwar.  To the west of this Shrine is the Sannadhi of Thirukkachi Nambi.

Next Inner Corridor is called  “ Yamunai thuraivar Thirumutram “.  As the Temple’s kitchen  is  situated  in this Corridor, this is also called as “ Madaipalli Prathakshnam “.  The  entrance  which  leads  to  outer Corridor is known as Thondaradi podi.  The Shrine of Arulmigu Perun Devi Thayar is at this Corridor.

The Mirror room where Lord Perumal gives darshan during festival seasons, Abishek Mandapam, Godown for Mounts (Vahanams), Ramar Sannadhi and Thousand pillared Mandapam are situated in this Corridor.

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.

Varadaraja Perumal Kanchipuram (web)

Arulmigu Devarajaswamy Temple with its lofty towers and lengthy walls is situated at the eastern corner of Kancheepuram.              This temple is a very ancient Vainava holy place.   Not only the vaishnavites but the whole Hindu Community visits this temple regularly.

This Palatial temple was constructed at various stages, centuries ago by various kings.  A number of new structures were added and Tiruppanies done during the dynasty of Vijaya Nagara Kings between 14th and 16th century.

During the reign of Vijananagar kings such as Krishna Devarayar, Achutharayar, Sadasivarayar, Sri Rangarayar I, Sri Venkatarayar I and Venkatarayar III,  new  buildings came up in  Devarajaswamy  Temple.  They made Punniya Kodi Vimanam golden.

The hundred pillared Mandapam was also built by them.  This has become a center  of  attraction to the foreign  tourists  with  exquisite carvings and delicate works of art. The Tiruppanies done by Alam Kheer Basha of Delhi during 1645 was  inscribed  on the walls of the temple.

Following kings have done Tiruppanis to this temple Telugu Cholas A.D.1204 - 1230 -- Thammu Siddhi A.D.1290 - 1278 -- Madurandagan, Kanda Gopala Devan, Vijaya Gopala Devan ,Veera  Kanda Gopalan A.D.1229 - 1278 -- Koperun Cholan, the king of Kadavaraya A.D.1251 - 1283 -- Jathavarma Sundara Pandiyan, the Pandya king Chera Kings A.D.1312 - 1313 -- Ravi Varma Kulasekaranª A.D.1295 - 1326 -- Kakathyar Prathapathugan II A.D.1236 - 1320 -- Sambovarayar Samban alias Veera Sambarayan,Raja Narayana Sambuvarayan A.D.1291 - 1342 -- Veera Pallalar III, the Heysala king

Chola Kings A.D. 1018 - 1054 -- Rajathi Rajan I A.D. 1070 - 1120 -- Kulothungan   I A.D.1118 - 1135 --  Vikrama Cholan A.D.1146 - 1173 -- Raja Rajan II A.D.1163 - 1179 --   Rajathi Rajan II

Birds sent as messengars Nammalwar 6.1

O flock of herons feeding
Everyday on the marsh worms
Go and tell, hands clasped in awe
the sweet mouth Lord with his discus
In red paddy growing Vandur
The love which I
Fate's puppet bear him.

Dark herons with your gentle mates
Feeding around
Go to our Lord in cool Vandur
Echoing with Vedic hymns
Raised in holy sacrifices
And your hands clasping the feet
Of him who swallowed the world
Tell him my abject condition.

O birds in flocks gathered together
In search of food
Go to Vandur with its riches
Where stays the Lord.
With his twirling discus and honey mouth
Descend and bowing low
Tell him the deep distress
From which I suffer.

O simple swans in ceaseless joy
Linked each to each
Go to Vandur where the Vedic sounds
Rise unceasing to the skies,
And meet and tell the sea hued Lord
That one melts for him.

O twin swans, when you have sulked
and made up
Go to Vandur, where conches are left
On sand dunes
And see our Lord with his basil crown
And your hands clasped
Pray for yourself and also
For poor me.

I pray you lovely Koels
On the punnai trees
Go to Vandur where the fish
Flash in the mud
Go and meet the Lord
With the powerful discus
And bring me a message
To end my craze.

Lovely parrot go just once
To bring me word
To Vanvandur with its groves
And red strand
Where you will spot the dark one
With red mouth,
red hands red feet
Discus and conch.

O lovely little mina
Return to me
After seeing him at Vandur
With its sedge
Cassia makula and other cool trees
The large lotus eyed
Dark cloud hued hair heaped high
And four shoulders!

Swans gliding on blossoms go to him
In Vanvandur
where conches herald the morn and tell
That cruel wizard
Kannan the great Lord in secret
When all alone
The bitter fate that has become
My condition.

O bees honey drunk whom I beg
Believing you different
Tell him who reduced Lanka's ramparts
Now in Vandur
Noprth of the river Pampai
With its limpid waters
That there is one still alive here
And languishing!

Those who can recite this decade
To the one at Tiruvandur
Among the thousand that Satagopan
Of Kurukur composed
To honour the Lord who as a dwarf
Withhis flashing thread
Came and took the earth away
Will win the hearts of winsome women!

Chapter 10/18 B G

In Varanasi lived a brahmin who was a great devotee of Visvesvara and he used to visit the temple every day. one day Bhrgu and a host of his followers came to the temple and finding the brahmin immersed in his worship of the Lord in his heart they asked the Lord who he was. Lord Visvanath replied When i was enjoying rest on mount Kailash with Parvathi a swan came there and devoutly placed it at our feet and seated itself at our feet, after paying us respect waiting for our command. I was surprised to see a black lotus and asked the swan where from had he got that black lotus flower. The Swan informed me that he serves as a conveyance to Brahma, as I was coming here to pay my obeisance to you i was crossing the Man Sarovar where i found this black lotus, but before that i too had fainted and when i got back my consciousness i was transformed to this black colour much agitated over this i was when i heard a voice from amongst the cluster of lotuses "I was a brahmin's wife before we were rearing a parrot. one day as i was engaged in teaching the parrot my husband entered the house and i failed to notice him he got angry and cursed me to become a parrot i then was living in a hermitage of a saint who used to recite the 10th chapter of the Gita every day. Listening to this i was relieved and was born as a divine damsel. I was having a bath in the sarovar when Sage Durvasa happened to enter the sarovar not knowing what to do i transformed myself to a lotus. however the power of the sage was so great that he  knowing what i had done cursed me to become a black lotus for a 100 years. this is that very lotus i place before you. So saying he requested the Lord to bless him and permit him to go to the place where the 10th chapter of the Gita was being recited. On going there and listening to the Gita the swan was blessed and was born as a  knowledgeable Brahmin who you now see here said the Lord Siva to Brughu Maharishi.

The Yoga of Divine Glories (Vibhuti Yoga)
O! Arjuna the Lord says listen to my supreme word with a desire to do you good, I speak it to your increasing delight. " I am the source of all the Gods and of all the sages. He who knows that I am unborn, beginning less and the Lord of all the world, is wise among men and he is freed from all sins. I am the source of everything the wise know this and worship me with all heart. The wise with their minds fixed on me, and with their lives absorbed in me, enlighten each other and ever speak of me. thus they are satisfied and delighted. To those who are ever steadfast and worship me with love, I give them the yoga of discrimination by which they come to me. Out of compassion to them i dwell in their hearts and dispel their gloom of their ignorance by the shining lamp of wisdom."
Arjuna asks "O! Lord I pray tell me of all thy various divine forms by which thou exists pervading all the worlds."
The Lord then says. O! Arjuna I will tell you some of my more prominent of my divine forms, as it is not possible to exhaust them for they are limitless. I am the self seated in the heart of all beings. I am the beginning, the middle and also the end of all things. I am Visnu amongst the twelve adityas, I am the radiant sun among the luminous objects, I am marici among the forty nine Maruts, I am the Moon among the stars, Among the vedas I am Sama Veda, I am Indra among the Gods, I am the mind among the senses, I am the consciousness in all living beings, I am shankara amoung Rudras, I am Kubera among the Yaksas and raksasas, I am agni among the vasus, I am meru among the mountains, I am Brhaspati among the preceptors, I am skanda among generals, I am ocean among the lakes, I am Bhrgu among the rishis, I am Chitra ratha among the Gandharvas. I am sage kapila among the perfect sages, I am Uccaissravas among the celestial horses, I am Airavata among the elephants. I am the monarch among men. I am thunderbolt or Vajrayudha among the weapons, I am Kamadhenu among cows, I am Manmatha the god of Love, amongst Progenitors, I am Vasuki among serpents, I am Anantha among nagas, I am Varuna among the water gods, I am Aryama among Pitris. I am Yama among controllers. I am Prahalada among Raksasas, I am time among those that measure, I am Lion among the beasts, I am Garuda among the birds, I am wind among the purifiers, I am Raama among warriors, I am shark among fishes, ganga among rivers, letter A among letters, dvandva among compounds, I am everlasting and imperishable time. I am dispenser of fruits of action facing all sides, I am Brharsama among the samas, I am Gayathri among the vedic meters, I am mrigashira among the months in a year, I am spring among the seasons, gambling among the fraudulent, the glory of the glorious, victory of the virtorious, determination of the determination of the determined. the goodness of the good, Krsna among yadavas, arjuna among pandavas, vyasa among munis, usanas among men of wisdom. I am the origin of all creatures there is no being animate or inanimate moving or nonmoving that can exist without me. Arjuna there is no end to my divine glories and manifestations, This is only a brief account of the extent of my attributes.
Striving to do the best in whatever task at hand should be the motive then for all of us we are in gods home the task ascribed is by him should we then not give everything we do its very best then. 

Chapter 9/18 B G

On the banks of the river Narmada in the city of Mahismati lived a learned Brahmin Madana Sarma, he lived performing all the rites and duties enjoined by the vedas. one day he brought a goat as the sacrificial animal for the Soma yaga which he wanted to perform. The Goat on seeing the preparations for the sacrifice spoke to the Brahmin in human voice surprising the brahmin. The Goat said "O great in the learning of the Veda's you want to sacrifice me and enjoy the bliss of heaven. Is it not impermanent? The bliss obtained by true salvation is infinitely better than the pleasure of heaven. You should therefore try to obtain that great bliss. In my former birth, I was born as a brahmin and was regularly performing my Vedic duties. Once when my son was seriously ill, I offered a goat as a sacrifice to the Devi and saved my son from the  clutches of the disease. As a result of the sin commited. I had to pass through several births, and at last assumed the present form of goat. You are now about to perform the same deed which brought me sorrow. By sacrificing life for the sake of enjoying mean pleasure. All that will ultimately come out of this act is you will be born as a fierce animal fit to be sacrificed. I shall narrate to you what happened in my previous birth as a monkey, i was living on the banks of the Narmada atop a tree. once at the time of Lunar eclipse the King wanted to distribute gifts to brahmins. a few brahmins were dissuading one brahmin from receiving the gift being given saying it is a sin to receive a gift during the eclipse. But he replied to them thus what you state is true but i am engaged in the recitation of the 9th chapter of the Gita. I am not subject to any such sins. If I refuse to accept such gifts my life becomes a terrible burden to me. The goat dissuaded Madana Sarma from performing the sacrifice and turned his attention to the recitation of the 9th chapter of the Gita to attain salvation. Thus Madana Sarma gave up his efforts to perform the soma yaga and took to the recitation of the 9th chapter of the Gita. by listening to which the goat too reached heaven after its death.

The yoga of Sovereign Science and Soverign Secret. (Raja Vidya and Raja Guhya Yoga)
Lord Krishna then unfolds the most profound secret of wisdom and knowledge by understanding which one will be released from the evils of samsara. God is the sovereign secret of the sovereign science, sacred noble, righteous and imperishable. all the world and everything in it is pervaded by me in an unmanifested form. all beings exist in me but I am not rooted in any of them. At the end of a cycle all beings pass into nature and at the beginning i generate them again. Though i carry on manifold activities they do not bind me because i remain unattached. Pure and noble souls who develop a divine nature worship me with a one pointed mind knowing that i am the imperishable and the source of all beings, I am the origin and the dissolution i am the imperishable seed.
Those men who worship me alone thinking of no other and who are ever devoted to me. I bear the responsibility for all their worldly welfare and well being. Whoever offers to me devotedly with love and faith a leaf a flower a fruit or water I accept it as it is offered with devotion and a pure mind. whatsoever one does with the intention of offering to me i accept. my devotee never perishes.

Chapter 8/18 B G

The story of how they saved each other.
Bhava Sarma a brahmin lived in a city called Amardakapuram in south India. He took to bad ways and ceased to observe and discharge the duties of a brahmin. one day when drunk in his unconsciousness hurt himself and died. he is said to have been born as a palmyra tree. on the tree lived a couple who were brahmaraksasa. One day the wife dejected at living a raksasa life asked her husband if there was a way to their upliftment and salvation. To this the husband replied there sure was a way by reciting the 8th chapter of the Gita they could be uplifted but because as he was unable to give up his drinking habit he could not concentrate on the Gita and knew only half a verse which he then recited on completion of the verse the Palmyra tree dried up and fell down and next transformed into a brahmin who now regularly recited the 8th chapter of the Bhagvad Gita. this helped the brahmaraksasa and his wife to seek salvation.

The Yoga of Imperishable Brahma (Aksara Brahma Yoga)

Arjuna's doubt O! Krishna what is Brahma? What is Karma or work? What is meant by Adhyatmam, Adhibhutam and Adhidaivam? O! Madhusudana, who and how is Adhiyajna in this body? How are thou to be known at the time of death by self control?
The Lord replies " The supreme imperishable self is Brahma. This nature is Adhyatma. The force that brings beings into existence is called karma. All the perishable objects are Adhibhutam, the Purusha or Brahma is Adhidaiva, O! Arjuna I myself here in this body am adhiyajna. Whosoever at the time of leaving his body, thinks of me alone, will doubtless attain my state.
O! Arjuna, whosoever leaves this body at the time of death thinking about any object, to that alone, he goes, because of his constant thought of that being. Having closed all the gateways of the body, having confined the mind to the heart, having focused the life breadth in the head, thus engaged in constant yoga contemplation, he who leaves the body and departs uttering OM the single syllable. denoting Brahman and meditates as he departs attains the supreme state. O! Arjuna he who constantly thinks of me daily, not thinking of anything else, I am easily attainable to that yogi, ever absorbed in me. Beyond this unmanifest, there is yet another unmanifest absolute, who does not perish when all creatures perish.
O! Arjuna, the highest purusha, in whom all beings dwell and by whom all this is pervaded is attainable only by one pointed  devotion. Fire Light daytime, the bright half of the month, the six months of the northward course of the sun taking this path, those  who know brahman will attain Brahman. Smoke night the dark fortnight and the six months of the southward course of the sun taking this path, the yogi reaches the lunar light and returns. The yogi who knows the secret of these two paths will achieve greater rewards, than is achieved by the study of the vedas, the performance of sacrifices and austerities and charities, will finally reach the supreme primal state.