D SUNDAR
The sacred town of Kanchipuram came alive this morning with divine energy as thousands of devotees flocked to the Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple to witness the majestic Garuda Sevai.
Held on the third day of the Vaikasi Brahmotsavam, this revered event saw Lord Varadaraja taken out in procession on the mighty Garuda vahanam, amid rhythmic chants of ‘Govinda… Govinda’.
From the early hours, the temple vibrated with devotion. At around 4 am, the deity was gracefully mounted on the Garuda vahanam and carried in a grand procession. The air was thick with spirituality, as Vedic hymns filled the sky and devotees’ eyes sparkled with emotion and faith.
Special arrangements ensured smooth darshan for the massive crowd, many of whom had travelled from distant places to be part of this once-a-year spectacle.
Adding depth to the spiritual experience, Vedic scholar Sowmya Narayanan narrated a soul-stirring tale from the temple’s rich history. He spoke of Thottachariyar, a devout follower from Sholingur who once missed the Garuda Sevai and stood heartbroken by a sacred tank, praying with intense devotion. Moved by his prayer, Lord Varadaraja, in an act of divine compassion, appeared before him for a fleeting moment on the Garuda vahanam.
This miracle, still remembered with awe, gave birth to the tradition of momentarily shielding the Lord with an umbrella during the Gopura Darshanam — a symbol of the Lord’s grace extending beyond time and space, Sowmya Narayanan added, “that witnessing the Lord in this form grants moksha — just as it was granted to Karna during the Mahabharata.”
For devotees, the Garuda Sevai is not just a visual treat but a deeply spiritual moment believed to cleanse the soul and uplift the spirit. From the story of the crippled devotee who received divine darshan to the ancient chants reverberating in the temple walls, every element of the Garuda Sevai carries centuries of unshaken faith.
As the Vaikasi Brahmotsavam continues, the Kanchipuram Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple stands not just as a structure of devotion, but as a living, breathing testament to divine grace — where stories become traditions and faith takes flight on the wings of Garuda.