Sundara Varadar Kaveripakkam

Vaishnavite Temples – Vellore District

God

Varadaraja Perumal, facing east

Goddess

Sundaravalli Thaayar, facing east

Other Deities

Garuda, Azhagiya Rama with Lakshmana, Seetha and Anjaneya, Aandal, Madapalli Nachiyar, Chakrathazhwar, Azhwars

Sundara Varadar Kaveripakkam temple is a small and ancient east facing temple with a 3 tier Rajagopuram at the entrance in the east. The main deity here is in a standing posture and is 6 feet tall. The Garuda here is in a position with one leg ready to fly. He is called Ashtanga Garuda as there are 8 Nagas on him – two as earrings, two as bracelets in the wrists, two in the shoulders, one in the waist and one as a garland. A unique idol of Madapalli Nachiyar, goddess of the temple kitchens, is seen here at Sundara Varadar Kaveripakkam. A small temple tank is north of the temple. The processional deity is called Sundara Varadar and the temple is named after him and Azhagiya Ramar, who is seen in a separate shrine with Lakshmana, Seetha and Anjaneya.

Holy Water – Kshira Pushkarini

Holy Tree – No information

History

Sundara Varadar Kaveripakkam has stone inscriptions belonging the Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagar Dynasties. The earliest one is from the 9th Century CE during the reign of Nripatungavarman amd Kampavarman. Sundara Varadar Kaveripakkam is referred to as Vikrama Chola Chaturvedimangalam, Vijayagandagopala Chaturvedimangalam and Avaninarayana Chaturvedimangalam in the Chola inscriptions.

Legend

No information

Directions

Take a right at Kaveripakkam junction in the Chennai – Bangalore highway and proceed down to reach Sundara Varadar Kaveripakkam which is on the main road itself.

Stay and Food

Kaveripakkam has some small snack shops in the junction. You have the famous Murugan Idli Shop a few kilometers away on the highway.

Vaishnavite Temples

Sundara Varadar, Kaveripakkam