Varadaraja Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, located at Pasupathi Koil in Papanasam Taluk, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity is Varadaraja Perumal, and the goddess is Perundevi Thaayar. The temple is associated with the Kettai (Jyestha) Nakshathra and is known as the Kettai Star Temple. Periya Nambi attained salvation
Kulothunga, a Chola king, directed his subjects to sign a document declaring that Lord Shiva was the greatest. A Vaishnavite devotee refused to sign and challenged the king to ask Ramanuja to sign if he truly believed that Shiva was the Supreme Lord. Accordingly, the king ordered Ramanuja to be brought to his court. Concerned about the king’s anger and anxious about what might happen to his Acharya, Koorathazhwaan, disguised as Ramanuja, entered the court of the Chola king and, as expected, refused to sign. He was accompanied by his preceptor, Periya Nambi, and his daughter. Angered by his refusal and upon discovering his disguise, the king ordered his eyes to be plucked out.
Not wanting the king’s men to touch him, Koorathazhwaan did the unthinkable—he plucked out his own eyes using his sharp nails. The eyes of Periya Nambi, who was 105 years old, were also plucked out. Unable to see and burdened by his age, Periya Nambi struggled to make his way to Srirangam along with his daughter. Varadaraja Perumal appeared here at Pasupathi Koil and gave darshan to Periya Nambi, who attained moksha here. Later, Ramanuja is believed to have come to this place and built the temple and the shrine for Periya Nambi.
Those born under the Jyeshta Nakshatra pray here for relief from adverse planetary effects. People suffering from vision problems offer prayers to Koorathazhwar in the temple. Devotees offer white clothes (vastras), jasmine garlands, Vada, and a sweet called Adhirasam in Tamil. They also light ghee lamps and special lamps using oil prepared with three herbs known in Tamil: Mrudangam, Karisilankanni, and Sembaruti. This practice is considered particularly sacred and effective.
