Atthi Varadar Divvya Darshan – Once in 40 Years Darshan Event at Kancheepuram

During the last days of June 2019, a nine-feet Athi Varadhar idol was brought back from the temple tank and after completion of rituals, Athivaradhar was brought to Vasantha Mandapam right on the main entrance of the temple for public darshan. 

No regular aradhana rituals are performed to the idol, but the offerings of the devotees are accepted.  The first 24 days Athivaradhar is kept in a reclining position and the remaining 24 days in standing position.  The last time the idol was taken out on July 2,1979 and earlier on July 12, 1939.

According to legend, Goddess Saraswathi had a misunderstanding with her husband Brahma.  So Saraswathi took the form of a river called Vegavathi and tried to disturb Brahma’s Aswamedha Yagna in the Athi forest. But Vishnu emerged from the holy fire of yagna as Athivaradhar  to stop the river from interrupting the Yagna.

 Viswakarma carved  out a body for Athivaradar  using a fig tree and Varadar agreed to stay in Kanchipuram atop the Elephant Hill.

The works of Azhwars and Acharyas of Sri Vaishnavis are silent about Athivaradhar, confirming the belief that the idol must have been kept under water to save the idol from Muslims Invaders. 

There is also another theory that the idol was  damaged and hence kept under water since Agamas do not permit the worship of a damaged idol.

Idol is being kept in a nine feet tub brimming with water. The image exactly fits in the tub and lies at its bottom, with nagabasams (serpent images) fixed to the various corners of the tub serving as clamps to prevent the idol from coming out of the tub. Three days before the event, idol in the pond will be taken out by removing the nagabasams. 

After cleaning, the idol is placed for worship for 48 days and then put back inside the tub under water, with the clamps back in their place. Before placing the idol in the tank, organic preservatives are applied so that the salt content in water does not corrode the image.

When Athivaradhar emerges, he brings with him strength and prosperity, which dispels darkness — within and without. Vibes speak louder than history. Time and distance blur our mind but every forty years Athivaradar returns to restore the faith that has been under constant attacks in the society we live in. 

It is reported that Modi, Shaw and Nirmala Sitharaman are scheduled to visit Kancheepuram on 23rd July to have darshan of Athivaradhar’s reclining  posture – last day and on 24th July Varadhar’s standing posture – the starting  day.

E-Touch prays Athivaradhar for all of us for His Blessings of Wealth, Health, Long Life and Peace of Mind.

May Athivaradhar brings all round prosperity to our Mother Land so as to become Most Benevolent and Powerful Nation in the whole world.