Sundaravarada Perumal Temple

Sundaravarada Perumal Temple
Sundaravarada Perumal Temple Location in Tamil Nadu
Name
Proper name	Sundaravarada Perumal Temple
Geography
Coordinates	12°36′53″N 79°45′18″E / 12.61472°N 79.75500°E / 12.61472; 79.75500Coordinates: 12°36′53″N 79°45′18″E / 12.61472°N 79.75500°E / 12.61472; 79.75500
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Kanchipuram
Location	Uthiramerur
Culture
Primary deity	Sundaravarada Perumal (Vishnu)
Consort	Anandavalli (Lakshmi)
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture

Sundaravarada Perumal Temple in Uthiramerur, a village in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple. Vishnu is worshipped as Sundaravarada Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Anandavalli. The temple was originally built by Pallavas, with later additions from the Cholas, Pandyas, Sambuvarayas, Vijayanagara Rayas and the Nayaks.

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a five-tiered rajagopuram, the gateway tower. The temple tank is located adjacent to the temple, outside the main entrance. Unlike other temples, the temple has three sanctums in a two tiered structure and three shrines in three cardinal directions in the lower level.

Sundaravarada Perumal is believed to have appeared for Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva, the Pandava princes in Mahabharatha, while Anandavalli for their wife Draupadi. The temple follows Vadakalai tradition of worship. Six daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Chittirai (April - May), Pavitrotsava during Adi (July - August) and Sri Jayanti in Avani (August - September) being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

As per Hindu legend, Sundara Varada Perumal temple is closely associated with Mahabharata, an epic. Bhima, the Pandava prince in Mahabharata worshipped Vishnu at this place. There are three Varadas around the main sanctum in the ground floor namely Achyuta Varada, Anirudhha Varada and Kalyana Varada, who are believed to have given relief to Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva, the other three Pandava princes. The consort presiding deity, Anandavalli is believed to have appeared for Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas. The images of the three Varadas are located around the sanctum in cardinal directions. A flight of steps lead to each of them. The temple was originally called Vellai Vishnugraham (place for the fair deity) and the presiding deity was called Vellaimurthi Embiran, Vellaimurthy Azhwar, Rajendra Chola Vinnagar Azhwar and Sokka Perumal.