Varadaraja Perumal Temple Golden Lizard – Story

At the famous Varadaraja Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram you can touch lizard made of gold and silver for luck. Devotees also touch it to overcome bad results of lizard falling on a person’s body. The story of golden lizard at the Kanchipuram Varadaraja Perumal temple begins with a curse by Sage Gautama.

Sage Gautama had two disciples who were brothers. One day the water they offered to the sage contained two lizards. The angry sage cursed the disciples to become lizards.

The terrified students begged for forgiveness. The sage relented and asked the brothers to perform penance at the Varadaraja Perumal Temple.

Bhagvan Vishnu as Varadaraja was pleased with the penance and blessed them with liberation. He then turned the body of the two brothers into sliver and golden lizard.

He then declared that those who visit the temple should also touch and worship the two lizards which will help in removing all sins and curing all illness.