Thirukachi Nambi Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Poonamalle

     Thirukachi Nambi Varadaraja Perumal Temple,  Poonamalle.

      This temple is situated at Poonamalle 23 kms away from  Madras and is more than a 1000 year old temple and believed to have been built during the period of  Paranthaka Chola in 10th century.  Thirukachi Nambi was a great Acharya of Vaishnavite tradition  and was the  Guru of Ramanuja. He was born  in 1009 AD at Poonamalle  to Viraraghava  and Kamalamba in an orthodox  Vaishya family. He was named  Gajendra  Dasar and from  his  childhood  he was an ardent  devotee of Varadaraja  Perumal at Kanchipuram. He used to daily do Pushpa Kaikariyam to  Perumal  from his Nandavanam  and also did  Thiru Alavatta Kaikariyam (Circular fan with peacock feathers  )  He was privileged to talk to  Perumal  during such Kaikariyams.  It is believed that   Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam,  Venkateswara of Thirupathi and Varadaraja of Kanchipuram  gave darshan to him at this place  in Poonamalle.
          The  beautiful  temple situated a little away from the trunk road near Bus stand is facing west with a  tall Rajagopuram. The  moolavar Varadaraja Perumal is facing west and  there is a shrine for  Thirukachi  Nambi adjacent to  moolavar sannidhi. Garuda is facing Perumal and there are  shrines for Ranganatha in reclining pose and Kannan  facing  Perumal.  Thayar  here is called  Pushpavalli and has a separate  shrine facing East.  The  pillars  of Thayar  sannidhi  are exquisitely  carved with  Yalis giving the antiquity of the temple. In the outer  prakara Alavandar guru of Thirukachi  Nambi  is having a separate shrine as well as Srinivasa Perumal  and Andal. The  Kalyana  Mandapam on the  outer prakara looks recent going by the pillars and architecture and may not be more than  300 years old.  The  place is mentioned as " Puliyur Kotta  Poondanmalle Neduchezia Vinnagaram " in the  Chola era Kalvettu as mentioned in temple sthala varalaru. The annual Brahmotsavam is held in Vaikasi  masam   and in Masi  masam the  Thirunakshatram of Thirukachi Nambi is celebrated.  Temple is well maintained and last Samprokshanam was done is 2016.