Vaikasi Brahmotsavam at Varadaraja Swamy Temple, Kanchipuram… At Kanchi Varadaraja Perumal koil, the day began as early as 1.30 a.m. when irandam tirukappu took place. It was on the second day of Vaikasi Brahmhotsavam that Varadan came back to Kanchi after being hidden in some place near Tiruchi to prevent the Muslims from carrying away His archa Tirumeni. So, a second ‘kaapu’ was performed and the tradition continues. After the irandam kaapu Varadan visits sannidhis in the first and second praakarams before mounting the ‘Hamsa-vahanam’.
The temple is famous for its huge umbrella used during festive occasions. During the Bramotsavam (major festival) in Vaigasi (May/June), thousands of people throng the temple and that increases twofold during the Garuda Vahanam and the Ther Thiruvila, the chariot procession.
Hamsa or the swan is believed to separate milk and water. It represents acharyas who are known as paramahamsas who remove the unwanted and give us the essence. They show us that saranagathi is the ultimate means for mukthi. As Varadan left the vahana mandapam clad in white at 4.00 am in the morning devotees ran with Him, and followed Him as far as they could, not satisfied in drinking His Soundaryam.
In the evening at 5.30 p.m. Varadan emerged in the middle of the golden ‘Suryaprabhai’ clothed in flowing orange silk vastram. Perumal has as one Eye Suryan and the other Chandran. The sun shines by His Command and He is the Activator of all gods. Every sunrise gives everybody the energy to work and makes us active.
At sunset Varadan went in purappadu in the Surya-prabhai vahanam reminding every brahmana to do sandhyavandam without fail. Devotees present listened to the beautiful instrumental music played before the screen was opened to reveal Him in Surya Prabhai; and watched Him leave in purappadu after the famous ‘Kanchi-Kullukal’.
Varadharaja Perumal Temple, also called Hastagiri and Attiyuran, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu located in the city of Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu believed to have been visited by the 12 poet saints, or the Alvars. It is located in a suburb of Kanchipuram known as the Vishnu Kanchi that is a home for many famous Vishnu temples. One of the greatest Hindu scholars of Vaishnava Vishishtadvaita philosophy, Ramanuja, is believed to have resided in this temple.
“JAI JAI VARADA KANCHIVARADA KANMANI VARADA NAMO NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR