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In a state of neglect...
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Renovation work at the Lord Varadaraja temple in Virugambakkam has been progressing at snail's pace due to paucity of funds. The daily poojas are also performed here with public donations...
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LORD VARADARAJA of Kanchipuram is hailed by Sri Vedanta Desika in his "Varadaraja Panchasat" as the "Kalpaka Vriksha (the divine tree which fulfils desires) on the Hasthigiri" or the elephant hill as the holy place is known. It is no wonder that temples for Lord Varadaraja have sprung up not only in Kancheepuram, but also in nearby towns and villages. One such is the temple for Lord Sundara Varadaraja Perumal, situated at Virugambakkam.
(The temple is situated on the Kaliamman Koil Street, leading to Koyambedu from Arcot Road).
Now known as Virugambakkam or just `Virugai', its original name seems to have been Vrikshapakkam (a place full of trees). The temple is said to be 1,000 years old.
According to temple records, the place was known in days of yore as ``Seerani Virugambakkam in Puliyur Kottam of Thondai Naadu''.
The temple owned vast landed property, but now the area has shrunk due to encroachments. It is believed to have been constructed by Sunguvar Brahmins, who also gifted 15 acres of land. The temple was in a dilapidated state till some devotees got together to renovate it. They pulled down the structure and are rebuilding it now. The ancient idols have been moved to a safe place.
As a first step, the `Balalayam' was set up in 1984. Though 18 years have passed since then, the renovation work had been progressing at snail's pace due to paucity of funds.
Many festivals were conducted in the temple in the past, but now even the daily poojas are performed with public donations. In spite of this, on the Garudotsavam day at Kancheepuram, the idol of Sundara Varadaraja Perumal at Virugambakkam is taken in a procession on the Garuda Vahanam, borrowed from the Vadapalani temple.
Local devotees claim that those who could not go to Kancheepuram for the ``Garuda Sevai'', would visit the Virugambakkam temple to take part in the Garuda Sevai festival there. As a first step towards restoring the temple, a renovation committee was formed and Bhoomi pooja performed in July this past year. Sri Sudarsana Homam was conducted and a small shrine for Vinayaka, built. Of the major works, the foundation for almost all shrines have been laid and the works on the construction of the Thayar and Andal shrines are progressing fast.
T.A. SRINIVASAN
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