Athi Varadar 2019 - The Awakening

This is a comprehensive book on the 1300-year history of Sri Varadaraja Swamy temple in Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu and the religious excitement of the 48-day exposition in July and August 2019 of the Athi Varadar idol, made of fig wood, which had remained in water in the temple tank for the past 40 years. The book provides valuable information on the temple's origin during the Pallava period, its development during the Chola and other dynasties, its reaching the acme of its expansion during the Vijayanagara period, its shrines, mantapas, exquisite sculptures, inscriptions, murals, carvings, composers who have sung about Sri Varadaraja Swamy, Robert Clive presenting a priceless necklace to the deity and so on. Importantly, it gives an eyewitness account of the last day of the exposition on August 17, 2019 when He was restored in water. The book has a large number of photographs on the temple, the exposition and the alankars done to the Athi Varadar during the 48-day exposition