Sri Varatharaja Perumal* - Once as Sri Purusothama Emperuman temple* - Visit Thirupattur* once!

This temple also has been in Thirupattur to the west of lord Brahmahpurishwarar temple. It's very old temple which had been built in the 8 ^th century (730 - 795) of the Pallava dynasty of second Nandhi Varma Pallavan.

On those Pallava dynasty, there had been no custom of worshiping Amman and hence the presiding deity was only lord Varatharaja Perumal having no consorts, which had been later replaced in Pandyan dynasty with new presiding deities of Varatharaja Perumal with His consorts Sridevi and Boodevi.

This renovation had been done in the reign of Sadaiyavarman veerapandiyan who was the king of Pandyan dynasty. That old presiding deity of Varatharaja Perumal has been now seen in the outer corridor at south west of the temple.

This had been called once (at it's origin) as Sri Purusothama Emperuman temple. Later in the reign of Nayaks, this temple had been name changed to Sri Varatharaja Perumal temple. The entrance is seen as having no mantapam on it's top.

Next to that entrance, there lies the flag staff and beneath that the statue of Garudalwar (the holy transport of lord Vishnu) is seen facing towards the moolaver, that is lord Varatharaja Perumal. He is in standing posture with his two hands praying towards his master.

In the main shrine, that is in the sanctum, lord Varatharaja Perumal with His consorts Sridevi and Boothevi have been blessing in the standing posture as in the height of 6¹/2 feet and as in the width of 2³/4 feet. Next to the sanctum there lies the artha mantapam.

In Bagavath Geetha, lord Krishna has been praised by 18 names in which one of them is Purusothaman. In Geetha there are 18 chapters in which 700 sloghas (Mantras). In this, about 'Purusothaman' there are 20 sloghas.

In one of that 20 sloghas, there one comes like this:-

There has been a fine village surrounded by rich greens which is called as 'Thirupidavur' (now called as Thirupattur). Amidst that village there lies the 'Thirumutrathu Nayanar Sri Purusothama Embiran' to whom we could surrender ourselves.

Since lord Shiva Himself had been preached here by Purusothaman and had changed His destiny, the lord Purusothaman has been called as 'Vithi maatrum Perumal' by the devotees. Again they have been celebrating this place as the 'place of heavenly virtues'.

Another legend which depicts the conversation between lord Krishna and Saghadevan, one of the Pancha Pandavas.

When lord Krishna asked Saghadevan that in order to avoid the 'Mahabharatha war', whether could he have any idea? For that Sagathevan answered one idea that in order to stop the war, it might be the only wayto tie lord Krrishna's hands and legs together and put Him imprisoned.

Having known the secret from the speech of Saghadevan, the 'Almighty' laughed and told him that if he had the capability of having tied and imprisoned Him (Krishna), then He would have been ready for that and while having said like that, He transformed into sixteen thousands 'Thiru vuruvangal' (different appearances) which included all in one form.

On heard that, Saghadevan, having hold lord Krishna at his mind, began to say the 'Krishna Mantra':-

Ohm Namo Viswaroopaya Viswa Sithyantha Heythavae

Visweshwaraya Viswaya Govinthaya Namo Namahah:

Namo Viggnana Roopaya Paramanantha Roopinae

Krishnaya Gopi Nathaya Govinthaya Namo Namahah:

While Saghadevan had repeatedly said the above mantra, the sixteen thousand appearances began to mingle with one another and stood as the one, as lord Krishna and that also had been bound with the heart of Saghadevan as if He could have been imprisoned.

Lord Krishna told Saghadeva that he had bounded Him with the chain of abundant love and also added that he should release Him. Having answered to this, Saghadevan requested lord Krishna that he would release Him (Krishna) only after He (Krishna) had given him the promise of having to be guarded them (Pancha Pandavas) in the war of Mahabharatha.

Lord Krishna had been in no way, only to accept that. This incident had been showing us that even we could bind the god by the chain of our abundant love towards Him. This is the place, that is at Thiru Pidavur (Now Thirupattur) lord Krishna had been bound with and then got released by the abundant love of Saghadeva.towards Him.

Here in Thirupattur, lord Varatharaja Perumal has been blessing the devotees as the 'Vithi Maatrum Perumal' , since lord Shiva had been preached to change His destiny when he had been affected by the 'Brahmahghathi thosam', which had been due to the decapitation of lord Brahmah's 5 ^th head by Him, for he had incarnated as lord Kalabairava, the fierce form of lord Shiva.

So Thirupattur has been enriched with the temples of all the three Prime Gods of Hinduism say lord Brahmahpurishwarar temple {here lies Brahmah's individual shrine with the presiding deity of lord Brahmahpurishwarar (lord Shiva)}, lord Kasi Viswanathar temple (lord Shiva) and lord Varatharaja Perumal temple (lord Vishnu).

So, if we come here (Thirupattur) we could be able to worship all the three gods of creation, preservation and destruction.

So visit Thirupattur at least once in our life.

yours friendly

Selvaganapathy