Varadaraja Perumal Temple is the biggest and the most important God Vishnu Temple in Kanchi, the location of many Vishnu temples in Kanchipuram.Varadaraja is a name of Lord Vishnu and it literally means The Lord of Boons. This is a very sacred place for Vaishnavites and for Hindus in general. It is one amongst the 108 Divya Desams (mentioned by 12 Alwar saints) that are located all over India. There is a unique feature of this temple and that is the ‘Athi Varadar’ or manifestation of Lord Vishnu on the wood of a Fig (Athi) Tree. This is a nine feet statue of Lord Vishnu that remains in a special vault submerged inside the temple tank called the Anant Saras for 40 years. After every 40 years, Athi Varadar is meticulously taken out and kept for public darshan for 48 days. 2019 Athi Varathar came out of the Anant Saras for public Darshan, next it will be during the year 2059.
