The Divya Kshetram - TIRUKKACHCHI - (Hastigiri) is located in Vishnu Kanchi – Kanchipuram. This is one of the celebrated Vaishnava Divya Desams. The first prakaram of the temple is on the Hastigiri hill. In Vishnu Kanchi, there are other shrines, Ashtabhujakaram, Thirutanka, TiruveLukkai, and TiruveGkaa. In Shiva Kanchi, there are Tiru Oorakam, Tiru Neeragam, Tiruppaatakam, Nilathingal Tundam, Tirukkaragam, Tirukkaarvaanam, Tirukkalvanur, ThuppaLavaNNam, and Parameswara Vinnagaram shrines.
The presiding deity is Varadaraja Perumal,
also known as Devarajan, in a standing posture. Perundevi Thayar is housed in a
separate temple within the complex. The sacred water is Vegavathi Theertham and
the Vimanam Punyakoti Vimanam.
The legend has it that Brahma
worshipped Lord Vishnu in this kshetram in Kritayuga, Gajendra in Tretayuga,
Bruhaspathi in Dwaparayuga, and Adisesha in Kali yuga. It is also believed that
Airavatam, Indra’s elephant, in the form of a hill, bears the image of Lord
Vishnu. The original image of Varadaraja Perumal (Attigiri Varadan) made from
Attimaram (fig), is kept inside the pushkarini in the temple and brought out
once in 40 years for worship for 10 days.
The annual Brahmotsavam is celebrated
in the Tamil month of Vaikasi, and the Garuda Sevai and Rathotsavam draw thousands of pilgrims. Adhyayana Utsavam is celebrated during Margazhi.
This temple has a rich collection
of architecture in several mandapams, and particular mention is to be made of
the stone chains in the hundred-pillar mandapam. This temple occupies an area
of 20 acres with several mandapams and was patronized by the Chola and
Vijayanagara kings.
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