Varadharaja

Varadharaja is a form of Vishnu revered in Hinduism as the boons-giver or grantor of wishes. The name is Sanskrit in origin, from varada, “boon,” and ja, “giver,” and the deity is worshipped as a regal manifestation of Vishnu who blesses his devotees with blessings and protection.

Among temples dedicated to this form, the Varadharaja Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, is the most prominent. It is counted among the 108 Divya Desams, holy shrines praised in the Tamil hymns of the Alvars. The temple complex is built in the Dravidian style and houses the main presiding deity, Varadharaja Perumal, often depicted with Lakshmi. The temple has undergone expansions under successive dynasties and remains an active center of worship, with daily rituals and annual processions during festivals such as Brahmotsavam and Vaikunta Ekadasi.

Other temples named for Varadharaja exist in southern India, where communities worship Vishnu as the benevolent grantor of boons. These temples reflect the broader Vaishnavite tradition that associates Varadharaja with auspicious blessings, family prosperity, and relief from troubles. In art and iconography, Varadharaja is typically shown in his standard Vishnu form, sometimes accompanied by Lakshmi, with the right hand in varada mudra offering blessings.