Sri Haritha Varana Perumal Temple is located at Nazarathpet (Agaramel), near Poonamallee on the Chennai–Bangalore Highway in Chennai. The area was historically known as Purusha Mangalam and later Dasarathi Pettai, eventually becoming Nazarathpet.
The temple is believed to be more than 1000 years old and dates back to the medieval Chola period, reflecting an ancient and continuous tradition of Vaishnavite worship. Its antiquity and sacred presence have been preserved through centuries of devotion and temple maintenance.
The presiding deity is Lord Vishnu, worshipped as Haritha Varana Perumal, also known as Pachai Varana Perumal, where the name signifies “green elephant.” The Lord appears in a seated posture facing east along with Sri Devi and Bhu Devi, giving a calm and benevolent darshan to devotees. The divine consort is Sri Amirthavalli Thayar, who has a separate shrine within the temple. The temple also houses shrines for Andal, Garuda, Lord Rama with Sita and Lakshmana, and Anjaneya, forming a traditional Vaishnavite temple structure.
The temple follows the traditional Dravidian style of architecture with a modest rajagopuram, inner prakaram, and mandapams supported by sculpted pillars. The layout includes the dwajasthambam, bali peedam, and deepasthambam aligned in front of the sanctum. The garbhagriha houses the main deity in a seated form, and the temple complex maintains a simple yet spiritually powerful atmosphere with classical design elements that reflect ancient South Indian temple construction.
The temple holds special historical importance as the birthplace of Mudaliandan, also known as Dasarathi, a close disciple and relative of Ramanuja, who was born here in the 11th century CE. The region itself was once known by names such as Purusha Mangalam and Dasarathi Pettai, reflecting its deep connection with the Sri Vaishnava tradition and its acharyas. Over time, the temple has continued to be a center of spiritual learning and devotion.
The Sthalapurana of this temple is connected to the epic Mahabharata and centers around Yudhishthira, who was known for his strict adherence to truth. During the Kurukshetra war, he spoke a half-truth, stating that Ashwathama was dead (“अश्वत्थामा हतः”), referring to an elephant, which led to the fall of Dronacharya. Though this act contributed to victory, Yudhishthira was deeply disturbed by the sin of deviating from the truth.
Seeing his distress, Narada advised him to perform a yagna at this sacred place to seek atonement. Following this guidance, Yudhishthira conducted the ritual with full sincerity and devotion. Pleased with his repentance, Lord Vishnu appeared from the sacrificial fire in the form of a green-colored elephant and granted him relief from his sin.
Because of this divine manifestation, the Lord came to be known as Haritha Varana Perumal, where Haritha means green and Varana means elephant, and the place became a sacred kshetra associated with dharma, repentance, and inner peace.
The temple celebrates several important festivals according to traditional Vaishnavite practices, including Brahmotsavam in the Tamil month of Panguni, Vaikunta Ekadashi, Rama Navami, Krishna Janmashtami, Navaratri, and Karthigai Deepam, along with special observances such as Mudaliandan Thirunakshatram, Pavithrotsavam, and Unjal Utsavam, during which the temple comes alive with rituals, processions, and devotional activities.
