Sree Venkata Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Perumbakkam

Sri Venkata Varadaraja Perumal temple, Perumbakkam, is getting a new shrine.

Perumbakkam is a quiet village about seven km from Villupuram on the Villupuram–Thirukkovilur highway (via Mambazhapattu). It is the abode of Sri Venkata Varadaraja Perumal and His consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi. There are shrines for Perundevi Thayar, Andal, Lakshmi Narasimhar, Sudarsanar, Kalyana Anjaneyar and so on. On June 12, the 400-year old temple will get one more, that of Sri Lakshmi Hayagrivar.

The temple has had a close association with Ahobila Math ever since the 36th Jeeyar of the Math, Srinivasa Yathindra Mahadesikan, stayed in Perumbakkam for a year (1897–1898).

In a sacred Sadas, convened by the Vaishnavite scholars of this village, Gopalacharya Swamy of Pillaipakkam, an eminent scholar, was selected as the 37th Jeeyar of Ahobila Math following the passing away of the 36th Jeeyar , on December 27, 1898.

Perumbakkam as ‘Dakshina Ahobilam'

Being an ardent devotee of Sri Venkata Varadaraja Perumal, the 37th Jeeyar worshipped the Lord here as if He was none other than Sri Varadaraja Swamy of Kanchipuram and composed several slokas. He also declared the village as Dakhsina Ahobilam, which has been visited by all the heads of the Math.

As the main deity of this temple has both ‘Katika Hastham,' as in the case of Lord Venkateswara and ‘Abhaya Hastham,' as in the case of the deity in Kanchipuram, He came to be known as Sri Venkata Varadaraja Perumal. The presiding deity carries a ‘Vakshasthala Pratima' of Narasimhar (an image of the face of Lord Narasimha) on the chest. Perumbakkam, has therefore been known as Dakshina Ahobilam. The utsava murthy, in addition to the traditional Sudarsana chakram and sankham, has Sarangam, the bow. Garuda, here, stands with open wings, mentioned as another special feature. The sthala viruksham of this temple is Vilvam.

From the first day of the Tamil month of Chithirai ‘Koti Archana' is being performed for the welfare of the people. For further details contact V. Murali, Executive Trustee 98412 75095/or Sridharan Bhattachariar (Ph: 97896 95070/04146-234002.

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