Sri Prasanna Varadaraja Swamy Temple is located at Lakshmipuram, about 3 km from Kuppam Railway Station in Andhra Pradesh. This ancient Sri Vaishnava temple is traditionally believed to have a history of nearly 1,000 years and has long been associated with scholars, saints and devotees.
The presiding deity is Sri Prasanna Varadaraja Swamy, accompanied by his divine consorts Sri Perundevi Thayar and Sri Andal (Goda Devi).
The Moolavar is a beautiful black-stone idol, about six feet in height, standing with four arms holding the Shankha, Chakra, and Gadha, with the Abhaya Hasta. Unlike many temples where the consorts are worshipped in separate shrines, the Ubhaya Nachimars are also present along with the Lord in the Garbhagriha.
According to temple tradition, Lakshmipuram grew into an important Sri Vaishnava centre after Sriman Chakravarthy Varadachariar Swamy from Sri Mushnam established a temple here about 1,000 years ago. The original deity was Sri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal, and the village came to be known as Lakshmipuram.
The temple gradually expanded from a small shrine into a larger complex with a Garbhagriha, Vimana, prakarams, mandapams, Rajagopuram, and several sannidhis, including those of Perundevi Thayar, Andal, Alwars, and Acharyas.
Worship is performed according to the Pancharatra Agama tradition, and the temple follows the Nigamantha Mahadesika Sampradaya📖 Sthalapurana
The most fascinating tradition of this temple concerns the discovery of the present Moolavar.
According to the local Sthalapurana, Sri Lakshminarayachar Swamy of Lakshmipuram once had a divine dream in which he received the vision of the Lord.
Some time later, while visiting Gudipalli on a market day, he happened to pass near an old and dilapidated mandapam. Remembering the deity he had seen in his dream, he went closer to investigate.
To his astonishment, an idol was found protruding from a heap of stone debris in the ruined mandapam. He recognised it as the very deity that had appeared to him in his dream.
Considering this a divine indication, he arranged for the idol to be brought to Lakshmipuram. The deity was then ceremonially installed according to Agama Shastra traditions and came to be worshipped as Sri Prasanna Varadaraja Swamy.
The earlier Sri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal idol had become damaged and was subsequently placed in the temple Pushkarini. The newly installed Varadaraja Swamy thereafter became the principal deity of the temple.
There is another beautiful tradition connected with the Utsava Murthis. They are believed to have been consecrated at Kanchipuram and brought to Lakshmipuram, and hence the Utsava deity is traditionally known as Kanchi Varadaraja Swamy.
The temple has since continued as an important centre of Sri Vaishnava worship, drawing devotees as well as scholars and Acharyas over generations.
The temple’s principal festival is the annual Brahmotsavam, celebrated for ten days with various Vahana Sevas, including the Garuda Seva and Rathotsavam.
Other important celebrations include Vaikunta Ekadasi, Andal Kalyana Utsavam, Alwar Utsavam, Alwar Moksham, Pavitrotsavam and the special Margazhi worship with Thiruppavai. Sri Rama Navami, Ugadi, Deepavali and Panguni Uthiram are also observed.
