Orukkamalai Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Salem

Address

Orukkamalai Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Orukkamalai, Aiveli, Salem District, Tamil Nadu 637301

Diety

Sri Varadaraja Perumal

Introduction

The Varadaraja Perumal Temple is located atop the Orukkamalai hills, near Sankagiri in Tamil Nadu. This temple has an interesting legend behind its name, “Orukkamalai,” which refers to a vow involving one coin

The Varadaraja Perumal Temple is situated on the Orukkamalai hills, about 5 kilometers from Sankagiri, which is about 40 kilometers southwest of Salem.
The temple is located along the road from Sankagiri to Konganapuram.

Puranic Significance

The Legend of “Orukkamalai”:

Approximately 1000 years ago, the area around Orukkamalai was primarily used by cowherds for grazing their cattle.
One day, a cowherd discovered natural formations of Vaishnavite symbols (Sankhu, Chakram, and Naamam) inside a cave and a naturally formed Hanuman idol on the road just outside the cave.
The cowherd shared this discovery with his friends, and they began worshipping these natural shrines daily.

The Name “Orukkamalai” Explained:

One day, a cow came to the temple area and laid down, refusing to get up.
The cowherd, in a hurry to return the cow to its owner, attempted various methods to make the cow stand up, but all his efforts were in vain.
Finally, he prayed to Lord Varadaraja Perumal, promising to offer One Paisa (a small coin) to the Lord if the cow would get up and reach its destination.
Miraculously, as soon as he made this vow, the stubborn cow got up and began walking without resistance.
However, the cowherd, caught up in his daily activities, forgot about the promised offering over the next few days.
About a week later, the same cow, which was grazing outside the temple, came and lay down in front of the temple’s sanctum sanctorum.
No amount of coaxing or discipline from the cowherd could make the cow move.
It was then that the cowherd remembered his promise to the Lord and offered the coin.
As soon as he fulfilled his vow by offering the coin, the cow got up and started walking once again.
This incident signifies the importance of fulfilling vows and promises made to the Lord.
The place came to be known as “Oru Kaasu Porukka Malai,” which means “One Coin Fulfillment Hill,” and this name was eventually abbreviated to “Orukkamalai.”

Beliefs

People pray here for various things and once their wishes are answered offer “Thirukodi”. “Kodi” is the term used for new clothes in Tamil and Thirukodi is a new dhoti that is used a wick to burn oil in a huge lamp that is placed on an ancient lamp post outside the cave. Several Thirukodis are lit in a day depending on the number of offerings made. For every thirukodi, there is a pooja and offering of food. These are considered as an incarnation of Hanuman and any offering of food that is made to the Lord is shared with these monkeys.