Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

1122 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
High medieval · Hindu · India

Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu · 12.8192°, 79.7247°

Varadharaja Perumal (Vishnu)CholaDravidianDivya Desam
Sacred since
1050 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
11th-16th c. (Chola, Vijayanagara)
Chola

History & significance

One of the holiest Vaishnava temples of India and a principal Divya Desam, at Chinna Kanchipuram; renovated by the Cholas in 1053 and enlarged through Vijayanagara times, its hundred-pillared hall is celebrated as a masterpiece of Vijayanagara architecture.

Sthala katha — the legend

Vishnu is said to have blazed forth as Varadharaja from beneath the athi tree during Brahma's great sacrifice on this spot.

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Ranganathaswamy Temple
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built up 10th–17th c.; Rajagopuram 1987
Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram
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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Chola