Arulmigu Varadaraja Perumal Temple
அருள்மிகு வரதராஜப் பெருமாள் திருக்கோயில்
Lord Prasanna Venkateswara Swamy · Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu
Ancient
About the temple
The historical Vaishnavite landmark of Shoolagiri; situated at the base of the spectacular three-peaked granite mountain resembling Lord Shiva’s trident (Trishula/Shoola); consecrated by Vijayanagara rulers; celebrated for the grand annual Vaikunta Ekadashi and Purattasi Saturday utsavams. Traditional belief: Immediate boon-bestowal (Varada), relief from debt and poverty, blessing of matrimonial alliances, and peace of mind.
Temple information
- Darshan timings
- 06:30 – 20:00
- Established
- 14
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
Deity
Lord Prasanna Venkateswara SwamyHanumanGaruda Alwar
- Deity form
- Majestic 5.5-foot tall standing monolithic stone icon of Lord Prasanna Varadaraja holding Shankha, Chakra, Gada, and Varada hasta
- Religious tradition
- Vedic Pancharatra Agamic Tradition & Shoolagiri Mountain Heritage
- Sanskrit name
- श्री वरदराज पेरुमाल मन्दिरम्
- Also known as
- Shoolagiri Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Trident Hill Perumal Temple, Shoolagiri Perumal Gudi
Darshan hours
- Daily
- 06:30 AM - 12:00 PM, 04:30 PM - 08:00 PM
- Break timings
- 12:00 PM - 04:30 PM
- Special days
- Vaikunta Ekadashi, Purattasi Saturdays: 04:30 AM - 10:30 PM
- Festival timings
- Open till 10:30 PM on Vaikunta Ekadashi and Purattasi Saturdays
Aarti & rituals
- Morning aarti
- 07:30 AM
- Midday aarti
- 11:45 AM
- Evening aarti
- 06:00 PM
- Night aarti
- 07:45 PM
- Special aarti days
- Saturdays, Ekadashi, Purattasi Saturdays, Vaikunta Ekadashi
- Ritual schedule
- Nitya Thiruvaradhana, Thulasi Archana, Sahasranamarchana, Garuda Seva, Mangala Harathi
- Pooja timings
- 06:30 AM - 11:45 AM, 04:30 PM - 07:45 PM
- Abhishek timings
- Thirumanjanam performed on Saturdays at 07:00 AM
- Special poojas
- Available
- Online pooja booking
- No
History & heritage
- Historical period
- Ancient
- Built by
- Vijayanagara rulers; expanded by local palayakarars and town merchant guilds
- Architect / builder
- Traditional Tamil stone sthapathis
- Construction materials
- Solid dressed dark granite, brick-lime vimana, brass flagstaff
- Historical events
- Consecrated at the strategic mountain pass between the Karnataka plateau and Tamil Nadu plains to protect traveling merchants and pilgrims
- Renovations
- Consecrated at the strategic mountain pass between the Karnataka plateau and Tamil Nadu plains to protect traveling merchants and pilgrims
- Archaeological importance
- Renovated under Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department with new entrance gopuram painting, marble flooring, and modernized queue corridors
- Legends
- Heritage monument documenting the highway sacred landscape of the Vijayanagara trade routes
- Inscriptions
- Lord Vishnu manifested as Prasanna Varadaraja (pleased boon-giver) to bless sages meditating in the shadow of the trident-shaped mountain
Architecture
- Architectural style
- Dravidian
- Architectural period
- Circa 1400 - 1550 CE
- Structure
- Walled town temple complex situated at the foot of the scenic trident hill with entrance gopuram, pillared navaranga, and Perundevi Thayar shrine
- Floors
- 1
- Gopuram
- Three-tiered entrance Rajagopuram decorated with colorful stucco sculptures of Dashavatara and Garuda legends
- Mandapa
- Pillared Navaranga hall supported by square granite pillars depicting Vaishnava themes and Alwars
- Sculptural features
- Standing stone idol of Lord Prasanna Varadaraja; standing Perundevi Thayar; carved stone Garuda facing sanctum; Hanuman shrine
- Artistic elements
- Traditional floral relief work on stone lintels, embossed silver altar frames, and brass lamps
- Construction technique
- Dry-stone granite block masonry with mortar superstructure
- Unique features
- Its dramatic scenic setting in the shadow of the spectacular trident-shaped granite mountain (Shoolagiri Trishula peak)
Festivals & events
- Festival calendar
- Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi, Chaitra Rathotsava
- Special celebration days
- Every Saturday, Shukla Ekadashi, Purattasi Saturdays
- Cultural events
- Devotional bhajans, Harikatha, and classical music during festivals
- Annual events
- Prasanna Varadaraja Perumal annual car procession and Vaikunta Ekadashi festival
- Peak crowd season
- September to October (Purattasi season) and December to January
Visitor information
- ✓ Parking
- ✓ Restrooms
- ✓ Drinking water
- ✓ Shoe keeping
- ✓ Prasadam counter
- Dress code
- Traditional
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
- Parking capacity
- 50+ vehicles
- Parking fees
- Approx. 20-50 INR
- Donation counters
- Yes
- Donation methods
- Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer
- Prasadam
- Vibhuti/Kumkum.