Kancheepuram is one of the seven sacred pilgrim cities of ancient India, dating back to many millennia. It is also one of the four cities most sacred to Vaishnavas. It is connected with several great names in Indian history. It is claimed to be the birthplace of Chanakya, Poigai Alwar, Sri Vedanta Desika and Shyama Shastri. It is connected with Sri Sankara and Sri Ramanuja. In an inscription of Samudira Gupta, Vishnu Gopa of Kanchi is mentioned. It was for long the capital of Pallavas. It was visited by Hieun-Tsang, the Chinese traveler. Dharmapala, who presided then over the University of Nalanda, was from Kanchi. Worshippers of Shiva, Vishnu, Buddha and the Arhats have contributed to the glory of Kancheepuram. It is known that the ancient University of Kanchi was situated near the temple on the banks of Vegavathi. The temple of Sri Varadaraja is among the most ancient and most famous in the city.

The Garudothsavam during the annual festival, falling on vaikasi visaka every year, is a national festival attended by several tens of thousands of devotees from far and near. The sthalapuranam derives the presence of the lord here from a sacrifice performed by Brahma, the creator. The saints known as Alwars have sung of him. Sri Ramanuja was educated here and was devoted to Sri Varadaraja. His disciple, Sri Kooresa has sung Sri Varadaraja's glories, as has also Sri Vedantha Desika who was born and brought up in the city.

The temple is spacious and impressive. There are two lofty towers one is in the east, and one in the west, about 120 feet high. The main shrine is on an elephant-shaped rock known as Hastigiri. There is a lovely 100 pillared mandapam full if delicate carvings. But the temple with its tall and imposing compound walls, gopurams, sub-shrines and mandapams has suffered considerable decay and in fact, it has not received comprehensive and thorough attention since the fall of Vijayanagar empire, expecting on one occasion only about 70 years ago, when Seth Ramakumar Bangur of Calcutta was gracious enough to undertake the renovation of the vimanam of main shrine of lord Varadaraja on the hastigiri. Later in 1991 Kanchi sankara mutt. Renovated the punyakoti vimanam. The tanks, ananthasaras and pothamarai need early attention. All the prakarams have developed serious cracks. The ancient sub-shrines of the Alwars and various mandapams inclusive of 100 pillared mandapam have to be speedily repaired and renovated. The eastern tower has to be repaired.

A trust has therefore been formed to take up the work of repairing, renovating and maintaining this ancient temple in a manner worthy of its sancity, beauty and antiquity. Apart from renovation regular maintenance of the temple precincts is absolutely necessary. " EVERY CARE WILL BE TAKEN TO SEE THAT THE ORIGINAL FEATURES OF SCULPTURES, PAINTINGS, ETC. ARE RESTORED AND THAT ALL INSCRIPTIONS ARE PRESERVED INTACT AND THAT NO DISFIGURING INNOVATIONS ARE INTRODUCED .  Generous donations are urgently needed from pious devotees throughout India and shrivaishnavas from all over the world. A temple like this of all-India importance can be renovated only as result of nation-wide religious fervour and generosity. Work is on in respect of Alavandar prakaram.

CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE KINDLY SENT TO

SRI DEVARAJASWAMI CHARITABLE TRUST,
NEW NO.19, - OLD NO. 8-B, SANNADHI STREET,
LITTLE KANCHEEPURAM,
PIN CODE: 631 501,
CHENGALPATTU DISTRICT,
TAMIL NADU,
 I N D I A.