Varadharaja Perumal (Kanchipuram)

Varadharaja Perumal, meaning 'the King who bestows boons,' is the presiding deity of the Varadharaja Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the sacred abodes of Vishnu revered in the Tamil hymns of the Alvars, as recorded in the Divya Prabandham. The deity is considered a form of Vishnu and is closely associated with the Sri Vaishnava tradition. According to the Brahmanda Purana, the Varadharaja Perumal Temple is one of the most important Vishnu temples in South India, and the deity is worshipped in three forms: a standing posture (sthana), a reclining posture (sayana), and a seated posture (veera).

The iconography depicts Varadharaja Perumal with four arms holding shankha (conch), chakra (discus), gada (mace), and lotus, symbolizing his role as the preserver and protector. The temple is renowned for the Athigiri (golden lizard) on the wall, which is considered a sacred symbol; tradition holds that touching it grants liberation from sins. A principal myth associated with the deity is the story of the elephant Gajendra's rescue, as narrated in the Bhagavata Purana (Canto 8), where Vishnu as Varadharaja is said to have saved the elephant from a crocodile. Another episode from the Varaha Purana recounts how the sage Bhrigu tested the three gods and chose Vishnu as the supreme deity, leading to the establishment of the temple.

Regional worship traditions include the grand Garuda Sevai festival, where the deity is taken in procession on Garuda vahana, and the Athigiri festival, which celebrates the golden lizard. Varadharaja Perumal is also worshipped as Devaraja, the king of gods, and is believed to grant boons to devotees. In Hindu cosmology, he represents Vishnu's aspect as the bestower of grace and fulfillment of desires. The consort is Lakshmi, known here as Perundevi, and the mount is Garuda.

The temple's significance is further highlighted in the Skanda Purana, which describes Kanchipuram as a sacred city where Vishnu resides as Varadharaja.

Four-armed standing form. Holds shankha, chakra, gada, lotus. Crowned. Serene, benevolent expression.