April 1st 2016 (Panguni Uthiradam) was the 6th day of ‘Pallava Utsavam’ at Kanchi Varadaraja Perumal koil’. At about 11.00 a.m. Prantharthihara Varadan and Sri Varadan with ubhayanachimars came to the hundred-pillar mandapam from ‘kanadi-arai’ to listen to the sixth day reading of Kanchi sthala puranam. Varadan who was worshipped by Chathurmukha Brahma in Krutha yugam was worshipped by Gajendrazhwan in Tretha yugam. Gajendran worshipped Sriman Narayana on the banks of holy rivers like Godavari and was finally directed to Satyavrathakshetram. Once when he was bathing with his wives a crocodile caught his leg and He called Perumal as ‘The Cause of all causes’ and sought protection. The Protector rushed literally dragging His vahanam Garuda and aimed His Sudarsanachakram on the crocodile. The crocodile regained its gandarva form and Gajendra was relieved. Thus Varadan is known as ‘Gajendra Varadan’. As if to remind us of this early morning Yathokthakari Perumal came on Garuda vahanam. Remembering the Gajendra episode in the morning was the norm of our elders. Kanchi is among the seven mukthikshetrams and remembering just Kanchi and Varadan in the morning will foster good.
The pallava offering took place in the afternoon and the 7 curtains opening took place at about 6.00p.m.This was followed by evening Tiruvaradanam. Even as the aradhana was on cracker bursts were heard announcing the arrival of Yathothkari Perumal. Everyone rushed to the gopuram entrance to have darshan of Yathokthakari Perumal on Hanumantha vahanam. Afterwards devotees went and received Perumal Theertham, Srisathari and prasadam at the 100 pillared mandapam. Pranatharthihara Varadan left for ‘kanadi-arai’ in ‘poo-pallaku’ and Varadaraja Perumal joined Him after Sannidhi Street purappadu.
To view the previous days Utsavam please visit:
- Pallava Utsavam At Kanchi Sri Devarajaswami Temple – Day 1
- Pallava Utsavam At Kanchi Sri Devarajaswami Temple – Day 2
- Pallava Utsavam At Kanchi Sri Devarajaswami Temple – Day 3
- Pallava Utsavam At Kanchi Sri Devarajaswami Temple – Day 4
- Pallava Utsavam At Kanchi Sri Devarajaswami Temple – Day 5
The following are the photos taken during the Utsavam:
Photos: Sri Tirumundi Krishnan, Sri Thoopullkulamanievr, Sri Krishna Durai, Write – up: Smt Vyjayanthi Rajan
