The deity of Lord Varadaraja
A Story from South India
By Madhavananda Das and Rambhakta Das
Obtaining the mercy of a pure devotee is an absolute necessity for those who aspire for the service and association of the Supreme Lord in the spiritual world. Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami writes in madhya-līlā 22.51 of Caitanya-caritāmṛta:
mahat-kṛpā vinā kona karme ‘bhakti’ naya
kṛṣṇa-bhakti dūre rahu, saṁsāra nahe kṣaya
Unless one is favored by a pure devotee, one cannot attain the platform of devotional service. To say nothing of kṛṣṇa-bhakti, one cannot even be relieved from the bondage of material existence.There is a story in the life of the great devotee Kanchipurna that nicely illustrates this principle. Kanchipurna was one of the five disciples initiated by Srila Yamunacharya whom the members of the Śrī Sampradāya consider to be his most intimate followers. Although born in a śūdra family, Kanchipurna was famous throughout South India as a great vaiṣṇava. He resided in the city of Kanchipuram, where he daily offered the service of fanning the famous deity of Lord Vishnu known as Sri Varadaraj Swami.
The Varadaraja temple in KanchipuramKanchipurna’s simplicity and devotion endeared him to Lord Varadaraj, so much so that the two of them began having daily conversations. Some of the local people found out about this and individuals began approaching Kanchipurna, requesting him to convey questions on their behalf to the Lord. Varadaraj Swami would reply and then Kanchipurna would relate the answer back to the questioner. One day someone asked if they would go to Vaikuntha at the end of their life. Lord Varadaraj confirmed that after leaving his present body, that devotee would go to Vaikuntha.
Lord VaradarajaThe desire arose in Kanchipurna’s heart to know if he were going to go to Vaikuntha after his present life. However, he was too shy to ask about himself. The Lord knew the heart of his dear devotee, and a few days later, Varadaraj Swami asked Kanchipurna, “Is there anything that you want to ask me?”
“No, no. I have no question”, replied Kanchipurna.
The Lord then insisted, “Kanchipurna, is there nothing that you want to ask me?”
Finally, Kanchipurna revealed his heart. “My dear Lord, when will I go to Vaikuntha?”
Varadaraj Swami cast a loving glance on his devotee, and said, “Kanchipurna, you are my dear servant. I love you, but you will not go to Vaikuntha after this life. Although you have served me with great devotion, youhave never served my devotee. Unless someone serves one of my devotees they cannot enter into my abode.”
Hearing the Lord’s words, Kanchipurna stood there for amoment, and then, without saying a word, he suddenly put the fan down on the altar and left.
Kanchipurna went searching for a devotee whom he could serve.
Being famous all over South India, it was not easy fo rKanchipurna to find a devotee willing to accept his service. Although he tried and tried, no one would allow him to serve. Rather, everyone he approached said, “No! No! No! You are a great devotee. Lord Varadaraj personally talks to you! I cannot allow you to serve me. I’ll go to hell!”
Finally, Kanchipurna took off his saffron cloth. Donning some white dress, he went to the home of one of his godbrothers disguised as a cowherd man. For six months he rendered service to that devotee’s cows, always being careful to hide his face. After a short time his godbrother noted his devoted service and developed great affection for the mysterious cowherd man who was taking such good care of his cows and asking for nothing in exchange. He began addressing the cowherd as, “My boy, my boy!” However, the mysterious cowherd would neither speak nor allow anyone to get too close to him. Hence no one knew his real identity.
One day, Kanchipurna got wet. Having only one set of white cloth, he went back to his small room to change into his saffron-colored clothes. At that time his godbrother happened to see him and realized who he actually was. “Kanchipurna! It’s you! What are you doing? You will destroy me! I cannot allow you to render service to me. Rather, it is I who should serve you!”
Kanchipurna then returned to the temple of Lord Varadaraj. Seeing his dear devotee entering the temple, the Lord smiled upon him and said, “Kanchipurna, for six months you did menial service for one of my devotees. Now at the end of this life you can come to my abode.”
The darshan room outside the inner deity room in Kanchipuram. It was here that Kanchipurna did his service of fanning the LordThe Lord has reserved the right to only allow those persons entrance into his abode who have served one of his dear devotees. In antya 6.97 of his Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur quotes from the Varāha Purāṇa:
siddhir bhavati vā neti saṁśayo ‘cyuta sevinām
niḥsaṁśayas tu tad bhakti paricaryāratātmanāmOne may doubt whether the servant of the Supreme Personalityof Godhead will attain perfection, but there is absolutely no doubt that those who are attached to serving his devotees will attain perfection. [In Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada’s purport to Caitanya-bhāgavata, ādi 1.10, this is cited as being from Śāṇḍilya-smṛti.]
A similar statement is made by His Divine Grace A. C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in his purport to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.21.39:
Srila Narottam Das Thakur sings, chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra pāyeche kebā, which means that unless one serves the vaiṣṇavas and brāhmaṇas, one cannot get liberation from the material clutches.
This was excerpted from Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu issue 324. To read the entire issue click here: https://archive.org/details/Bindu324
It’s nice to highlight a mood of service, but I think you’ll find that this story is folklore. First, there is some doubt that Sri Kanchipurna was a sudra. The scholars I have discussed this with, and who have access to the older Tamil biographies on Sri Ramanuja, tell me that Kanchipurna was actually a vaisha.
Another consideration is that although a number of modern renditions of Ramanuja’s life, in which Kanchipurna played a significant role, cast him as a sudra, it is very doubtful that he would have held his position in the Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple if that were the case. It simply wasn’t the culture 1000 years ago.
Second, only sannyasins wear saffron, all other men wear white or yellow. Yellow is frequently the colour of choice for students – young boys. I can find no indication that saffron was the colour worn by unmarried men in that region at that time. We presume Kanchipurna to be unmarried, because there is no mention of a wife, but culturally, this is fairly unlikely.
Kanchipurna was certainly not a yati, or sannyasin, as Yamunacharya did not confer sannyas upon anyone. After Yamunacharya passed away, his matham was not the same potent force for a time and Sri Tiruvaranga, who took over the leadership of the matham, certainly did not initiate anyone into sannyas. He regarded himself as entirely unsuited for his leadership role. Again, if he was a yati, it is extremely doubtful that Kanchipurna would have held a regular service in that temple, given the strictures on such an ashram.
Third, when it comes to serving a devotee, Kanchipurna was one of Yamunacharya’s greatest disciples alongside personalities like Vararanga, Sailapurna, Goshtipurna, Mahapurna and Tiruvaranga. Therefore, there was little chance that this great and revered devotee didn’t at some point render his Acharya nice devotional service. Of course he is revered for his humility and also served Sri Ramanuja and many others very nicely.
There are a number of theological/philosophical concerns in this article, but I think that it’s nice if we get the history right on these matters in the first instance.
Adiyen, Ramapriya