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 Sri Harita Vaarana Perumal Temple is an important temple of Nazarethpettai in South India. Situated off the Poondamallee high road is the calm and quiet village of Nazarethpettai. It is the home to a rarely visited ancient Vishnu temple dedicated to Lord Harita Vaarana Perumal. In Tamil it is known as Pacchai Vaarana Perumal.
Nazarethpettai: Originally it is known as Purushamangalam and also as Dharmapuri Kshetram. This is because it is well-known as the birthplace of the famous Srivaishnava preceptor (Acharya), Mudaliyandan. It is also popular with the name of Daasarathi, son of Ananta Dikshitar and Nachiyaramman who was a sister of the illustrious Srivaishnava preceptor Ramanuja Acharya. He was born in the year 1027 A.D. after his parents were blessed by Lord Rama enshrined in the Eri Katha Rama temple in nearby Tiruninravur. He, along with Kurattazhvan, was a prominent disciple of Ramanuja and rendered yeoman services to his teacher. Mudaliyandan. Moreover Mudaliyandan was famous as one of the seventy-four Simhasanadipatis (spiritual heads) and is believed to have lived for hundred and five years till 1132 A.D. According to tradition, he was installed the image of Ramanuja at Sriperumbudur, the latter's birthplace and for making arrangements for worship there. His son Kandadai Annan is believed to have consecrated an icon for Ramanuja in Srirangam. The small place of Nazarethpettai is a sacrosanct for it is the place where a number of holy incidents took place. Moreover Sri Harita Vaarana Perumal Temple has attached a flavor of sanctity in the place.
Legend of Sri Harita Vaarana Perumal Temple: - The legendry story associated with the temple relates to an episode from the epic Mahabharata. According to that story a green colored elephant appeared from the sacrificial fire of Yoga observed by Dharmaputra, which bestowed its blessings and Pandavas won in the Kurukshetra war. This green colored elephant is believed to be Lord Krishna, whose Harita image is enshrined in the temple.
Architecture of Sri Harita Vaarana Perumal Temple: - The architectural craftsmanship of the artists is exemplified from image of the four-armed Pacchai Vaarana Perumal, enshrined as the presiding deity of the shrine. Apart from this the structural design and the architectural trappings on the temple walls reveal the excellence of art of the contemporary artists.
Festivals of the Sri Harita Vaarana Temple : A number of festivals are performed in the temple with pomp and grandeur. Among the festivals conducted in this temple, the Brahmotsavam starting from Uttiram Nakshatram in the month of Panguni (March-April) and the Tiruavatara Utsavam of Mudaliyandan celebrated with great pomp for ten days in Chittirai (April-May) are the most important. The Pavitrotsavam is held in this shrine in the month of Aippasi (October-November). The rituals in this temple are observed according to the tenets of the Vaikhanasa Agama.
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