Varadharaja Perumal Koil is located in the village of Pasupathi near Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, India. It is commonly referred to as the Jyeshta Temple because the energy of this shrine resonates with that of Jyestha star. An incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Sri Varadharaja Perumal resides at this sacred vortex. Varad means boon and Raja means king. Thus, Sri Varadaraja Perumal is the royal one who offers blessings to the world from this temple.
Just as Lord Vishnu manifests among the stars in the heavens, he also manifests among those who visit Pasupathi Koil. The twenty-seven nakshatra goddesses visit this temple each day and perform a marriage festival to Sri Varadaraja Perumal. Also at this sacred energy vortex, Sri Periya Nambi Swamigal meditated on Lord Vishnu with full devotion and contemplation. On Jyestha nakshatra day, Lord Vishnu appeared before him in the form of Sri Varadaraja Perumal and offered Divine Grace. The samadhi (still meditation) of Sri Periya Nambigal is located adjacent to the main shrine at Pasupathi Koil. It is auspicious to light a lamp containing three oils and receive darshan at the samadhi of Sri Periya Nambigal on Jyestha star day.
Those people born under Jyestha nakshatra should visit Pasupathi Koil with their family. It is favorable to visit the temple when Jyestha star falls on a Tuesday, combining the power of Mars and Jyestha. Siddhas and other divine beings give darshan on this day. These blessings have the ability to remove past life karmas, increase the effects of virtuous action and protect a person’s family. Those born under other stars will also benefit from a visit to this temple. They may offer archana and abhishekam to Sri Varadharaja Perumal and receive the darshan of siddhas who manifest in the light.
The Sthala Purana of this temple deals with the time when Sri Ramanujar had a great popularity. During those periods, there were a lot of quarrel among the Shaivaites and the Vaishnavites based on the issue who was more powerful among Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. It was the reign of a Chola king and he was a Shaivaite. He was jealous of the growing popularity of Sri Ramanujar.
So he ordered his men to capture Ramanujar. At that time, Sri Ramanujar, His Guru Peria Nambigal and His disciple Koorathazhwar were staying in Srirangam. When the King’s men came to arrest Sri Ramanujar, they could not identify Ramanujar.
His disciple Koorathazhwar showed up in White Clothes as His Guru and he offered Himself to be arrested. The guru Peria Nambigal and his daughter Tiruthazhai accompanied Koorathazhwar.
When they reached the Chola King’s Palace, the King demanded them to give in writing that His religion Shaivam is greater than Vaishnavam.
When Peria Nambigal and Koorathazhwar refused to do so, the King ordered his men to take off their eyes. Koorathazhwar did not want the king’s men to touch him. So he removed his eyes himself using his sharp nails.
Then the King’s men removed the eyes of Periya Nambi. At that time, he was 105 years old.
Then the other disciples and Tiruthazhai took them to Srirangam. On their way to Srirangam, when they reached the place Pasupathikovil, Periya Nambi struggled to move further because of this age and blindness. Hence,
Lord Varadaraja Perumal gave darshan to Periya Nambi and he attained Moksha here. It is said that Sri Ramanujar came to this temple later and built a separate shrine for Periya Nambi.
The Lord here is known as Varadaraja Perumal meaning the God who gives us the Boon.The Goddess Perundevi graces Her devotees from a separate shrine. People who are born on Kettai Nakshathira are strongly advised to visit this temple at least once in a year on their birth star days.
The main significance is that Periya Nambi who attained moksha here was born on Kettai Nakshathira. So his birth star day is celebrated in a grand manner in this temple.
Kettai Starers pray to him for the betterment of their life by offering white clothes and Jasmine flower garlands. They also light ghee lamps in the shrine of Periya Nambi praying for happy and prosperous life.
Apart from ghee, they light the lamps with special oil. This oil is made with three herbals namely Maruthani, Karisalankanni, and Sembaruthi.
It is to be noted that these herbals are considered more sacred and are available in the temple itself. Nivedhanas like Vada and Adirasam are offered by the devotees to the Lord during the poojas.
It is also believed that people who are suffering from the ailments related eyes and vision offer their prayers to Koorathazhwar.