Kanchipuram's Lord Athi Varadar Returns to Anantha Sarovar

August 18, 2019 brings the return of the Archavatar of Mahavishnu, the Athi Varadar deity of Sri Varadharaja Perumal temple to the “Ananthasaras” temple tank. Once in every 40 years the Lord emerges from the temple tank to grace the world by His darshan, for 48 days. 38 days in the reclining posture (or sayana kolam), and the remaining 10 days upright (nindra kolam) which was completed this August 17. The Sri Varadharaja Perumal temple, also referred to as Sri Devaraja Swami temple is located in the famous temple district of Kanchipuram in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The last time this darshan occurred was in 1979, and 1939. Over one crore devotees are said to have paid a visit to the temple in the last 48 days offering prayers, garlands, and naivedyams to the Archavatar of Mahavishnu. Athi Varadar was originally worshiped by Lord Brahma in Satya-yuga, by Gajendra in Treta-yuga, by Sage Brihaspathi in Dwapara-yuga and by Ananta Shesha in Kali-yuga. Once while Brahma was performing a yagna (fire sacrifice), in Kanchipuram, the fire touched the wooden deity of Sri Athi Varadar, and Brahma was instructed him to keep the deity in the lake surrounded by the replicas of Ananta Shesha, in the temple pond. Lord Vishnu told Brahma,”You are worshiping Me constantly. You should also give an opportunity to others for worship as well”. Lord Brahma agreed to allow the Lord’s worship only for a few nano seconds which has resulted in a period of one mandalam or 48 earthly days. Viswakarma, the deity of Vedic Sacred Arts, carved out a body for Athi Varadar using a fig tree, who then agreed to stay in Kanchipuram atop the Elephant Hill. The deity will be surrounded by stone representations of Lord Anantha Shesha after being returned to the granite enclosure inside the Ananthasaras tank which is the sannidhanam of Lord Anantha Shesha.