The favourite shrine of NRIs from TamilNadu

Venkatesa Perumal Temple is located in a beautiful village called Varagur, lacated on the banks of river Kudamurutti (tributary of River Kaveri) near Thiruvaiyauru in Tanjore district.

The Moolavar (main deity) of the temple is Sri Venkatesa Perumal is seen in a seated position with Thayar Lakshmi in his lap. According to archaelogical records, this deity was originally instituted as Sri Lakshmi Narayana by the  King Paranthaka Chola also known as Veera Narayanan. The moolavar, utsavar deities are from the Chola period of architecture.

Famous Saint Composer Sri Narayana Theertha Swamigal, an ardent devotee of Lord Narayana, came to this village from Andhra Pradesh following the banks of the river Kudamurutti. Legend of the temple says that, when he stayed at a place called Nadu Cauvery, he was suffering from acute stomach ailment. That night in his dream an old brahmin appeared and asked him to follow the first living being he sees on waking up. He sudenly woke up and saw a swetha Varaham' (white pig). He followed the pig through a small village. The pig went inside the Venkatesa Perumal temple and disappeared. Narayan Theerthar realised that it was the Lord himself who came in the form of Varaham and showed him way to this temple. He realised that his stomach ache had also disappeared. Since his visit, the village came to be known as Varahapuri, which later came to be known as Varagur.

To him Srinivasa perumal appeared to be Sri Krishna with Rukmini and Bhama. He heard a heavenly voice asking him to sing in praise of sri Krishna about Krishna's leela with gopikais. Then he sung the versus of the much celebrated ‘Krishna Leela Tharangini’. Till this date Narayana Theerthar's Sri Krishna Leela Tharangini is sung and celeberated in a grand manner during the month of 'Thai' (January-February) all over the world by the devotees.

This famous temple is situated in the village agraharam (a place where usually all the brahmins of the village lives) facing east. The temple itself is small with one praharam. In front of the moolavar, we can see a carving of Sri Anjaneya in a dancing pose with his hands placing ‘Thala’ for the songs. It is beleived that he used to dance to the tunes of Sri Krishna Leela hymns.

Uriyadi festival of Varagur is very famous. The festival starts every year during the day of Gayathri Japam and Uriyadi (breaking of the pot tied atop a 40 feet bamboo pole) celeberated on the following day of Sri Krishna Jayanthi. The actual game of Uriyadi is a thrill to watch. Able bodied young men form themselves as a team, forming a human pyramid climbing atop each other to reach the pot (usually containing money and goodies) dangling at around 30 feet from the ground, loudly chanting 'Uriyadi Govindo'. Other youngsters will do all they can to deter him from reaching the top by pouring waters over the team trying to reach the top. The day after Uriyadi is celeberated as Sri Rukmini Kalyanam and ends with Sri Hanumanth Jayanthi.

The festival is celeberated for 10 days and with Veda Parayanams by celeberated Sanskrit scholars, bhajans from various artists that goes past midnight. People of Varagur, wherever they are in the world, assemble here to celebrate this festival. Many NRIs from Varagur coincide their vacation dates to attend this festival.

It is believed that, one will find a good job immediately if he prays in this temple sincerely and promises to offer the first month salary to the Lord here.