Varadharaja Perumal (Devarajaswamy) temple - Kanchipuram

தீயினுள் தெறல் நீ  பூவினுள் நாற்றம் நீ
 கல்லினுள் மணியும் நீ  சொல்லினுள் வாய்மை நீ
அறத்தினுள் அன்பு நீ  மறத்தினுள் மைந்து நீ
 வேதத்து மறை நீ பூதத்து முதலும் நீ
வெஞ் சுடர் ஒளியும் நீ திங்களுள் அளியும் நீ
அனைத்தும் நீ அனைத்தின் உட்பொருளும் நீ

sings Paripaadal about the Perumal.

The Varadharaja Perumal is the iconic temple of Kanchipuram, "Kachi ekamba, Kanchi Varadapa". The temple is a little away from town, its in Chinna Kanchipuram.

Currently under renovation, we can see supporting structures throughout the temple. The main gopuram as seen from the road outside is around 100 feet wide. Its a huge temple complex housing five praharams. Due to the on going work and the super heat of summer we had to restrain from going around all the praharams.

All praharam's are surrounded by wooden structures for maintenance work. There separate sanctums for Alwars - Nammaalvaar, Manavala maamuni, Thirupaanaalvar and Periyaalvar. Once we cross all the praharams and reach the inner most one, we can see that the Lord is residing few feet above and in a small hill. Steps are available to get into the inner sanctum. On entering that we have to climb another set of steps to finally reach the Perumal and get his dharisanam.

The outer most praharam has finely carved structures. The horse with a rider in the pillar is brilliantly done. Also this small four pillared mandapam is stone craved. There would always be some devotees in the temple and we have to at least stand through a small queue to get the dharisanam of Devarajaswamy. How is a Perumal dharisanam possible with out a wait :)

Here is the view of the gopuram from inside the temple. The  adjoining mandapam has beautifully printed umbrellas for vahanams. You will see lot of tourists here from other states,

Very near to this temple office is the temple madapalli where one can get prasadams and the very famous Kanchipuram Kudalai idly. This idly gets sold in a jiffy every day. The rest of the prasadams of Perumal too are heavenly.