Kaladipet Varadaraja Perumal Temple - Chennai

Sri Kalyana Varadaraja Perumal temple at Colletpet a.k.a. Kaladipettai in Chennai is a temple, which was originated due to a British officer.

Kaladipet is North Chennai locality, which is close to the historic Tiruvottriyur. Today, Kaladipet is an area having major population of labourers and fishermen. Hence, the existence of such an old temple is unknown to the most of the people in Chennai. However, Kalyana Varadaraja Perumal Temple, located here, is quite famous in and around Tiruvottriyur. You can find hundreds of people visiting this temple during the weekends and you need to stand in long queue for hours to get the darshan of the deity.

Sri Kalyana Varadaraja Perumal temple at Colletpet, a.k.a. Kaladipettai in Chennai is not an ordinary temple. The 18th-century temple owes its origin to a British officer. It has an exciting story.

Joseph Collet was the Governor of Madras for the period 1717 - 1719 CE. Veera Raghava, a Brahmin in a high post in the British Government, became very close to Collet thanks to his sincere work and loyalty. However, Collet didn't like Veeraraghava's habit of traveling to Kanchipuram city often to visit his favorite temple of Varadaraja Perumal, as he often reported late to the office. He gave Veeraraghava some money and allowed him to collect more funds from the people to build a temple for Lord Varadaraja in his own locality. Thus, the temple of Kalyana Varadaraja Perumal came into existence in Kaladipet. In fact, the area was named after the Governor, Colletpet, and the name got transformed into Kaladipet later.

The small temple's presiding deity, the four-armed Varadaraja, is found in the standing posture. Varadaraja is flanked by his consorts on either side. The image is said to be an exact replica of Kanchipuram Varadaraja.

The temple also houses the shrines of Manavala Mamunigal, Alwars, Rama with Lakshmana and Sita, Hanuman, Chakrathalwar and Andal along with Nammalwar.

The temple's Goddess is Perundevi, found in a separate shrine in the prakara.

The temple's highlight is the Navagraha shrine, which is usually not found in Vishnu temples.

Happy travelling.

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