Vallakottai Sri Subramaniar Temple / Vallakottai Murugan Temple, Komaleswarar Temple and Vel Temple , Vallakottai, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

 05, January 2014

This weekend I went to Vallakottai Sri Subramaniar Temple. The Vallakottai is about 51 KM west of Chennai, 32 KM east of Kanchipuram, and 10 KM south of Sriperumbudur. I went to Vallakottai via Tambaram and Oragadam an Industrial hub near Chennai. About 15 years before, I had been to this temple and had the darshan on the lamplight, since we went to the temple after sunset and there was no power. After that, my long dream of visiting this temple again came true on 05-01-2014. Visited the temple a third time as a part of Bhakthi Ula on Panguni Uthiram day ie 24th March 2024. 

 

South side entrance mandapam with 5-tier Rajagopuram 

Moolavar    : Sri Subramaniar

Consort      : Sri Valli and Sri Devasena.

Some of the important features of this temple are …..

The temple faces east with a small 3-tier Rajagopuram. The steps on the east side lead to Vajra Temple Tank. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Mayil Vahanam are on the east side.

The Moolavar in the sanctum is about 7 feet tall with a right hand in abhaya hastam. This is one of the tallest Sri Subramaniar idols in the world. He is also called Kodai Andavar with a beautiful smile on his face. Sri Valli and Devasena are on both sides.

4 tall pillared mandapam with 5 tier Rajagopuram is on the south side. In the outer praharam sannidhi for Vijaya Ganapathi, Urchava Murtis, Shanmugar, Sri Devi Karumari Thiripura Sundari Amman, Idumbam, Veerabhagu and Peacock enclosure.

The ardha mandapam entrance is fitted with Bas-reliefs on brass plates. Arunagirinathar, Pamban Swamigal, Vallalar are in the ardha mandapam. 

Arunagirinathar was advised by the Lord to Visit this temple on the way to Thiruthani from Thiruporur,  in his dream. He has sung  7 hymns in Thiruppugazh in praise of Lord Sri Subramaniar.

ஆதிமுத னாளி லென்றன் தாயுடலி லேயி ருந்து

     ஆகமல மாகி நின்று ...... புவிமீதில்

ஆசையுட னேபி றந்து நேசமுட னேவ ளர்ந்து

     ஆளழக னாகி நின்று ...... விளையாடிப்

பூதலமெ லாம லைந்து மாதருட னேக லந்து

     பூமிதனில் வேணு மென்று ...... பொருள்தேடிப்

போகமதி லேயு ழன்று பாழ்நரகெய் தாம லுன்றன்

     பூவடிகள் சேர அன்பு ...... தருவாயே

சீதைகொடு போகு மந்த ராவணனை மாள வென்ற

     தீரனரி நார ணன்றன் ...... மருகோனே.

தேவர்முநி வோர்கள் கொண்டல் மாலரிபிர் மாவு நின்று

     தேடஅரி தான வன்றன் ...... முருகோனே

கோதைமலை வாழு கின்ற நாதரிட பாக நின்ற

     கோமளிய நாதி தந்த ...... குமரேசா

கூடிவரு சூரர் தங்கள் மார்பையிரு கூறு கண்ட

     கோடைநகர் வாழ வந்த ...... பெருமாளே.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a open mukha mandapam. The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The Vimanam over the prastaram was constructed with bricks. The Vimanam consists of one tala, greevam, and Dravida sigaram.

The stucco images of the 6 abodes of Lord Sri Subramaniar are on the sanctum sanctorum / Karuvarai parapet wall. The paintings of 6 abodes of Sri Subramaniar are in the maha mandapam.

LEGENDS

This temple has a 1200 years old history. The story goes like this. King Bakirathan ruled Ilangi country with Jalankondapuram as a capital. Sri Narathar was not given respect when he visited the king. So he left the place with anger and on the way he met Asuran Koran who advised him that his Thigvijayam would be fulfilled only after defeating King Bagirathan. So Koran Conquered King Bagirathan in the battle.  The king regained his power after worshiping Lord Sri Subramaniyar of this temple as per the advice of Sri Durvasa Maharishi.

The Theertham is called Vajra tirtha.  The Indira worshiped Lord Sri Subramaniar as per the advice of his kula Guru Pragaspathi. He created this tirtha using his Vajra Ayudham and using this holy water he did abhisheka to Sri Subramaniar.

This place is also called Kodai Nagar. The story goes like this. The Asuran Vallan with a fort ruled this place and gave frequent troubles to Devars. Sri Subramaniar destroyed Asuran Vallan. As per Vallan's wish to the Lord, the place was called Vallan Kottai and later called VallaKottai.

THE TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple will be opened between 06.00 Hrs to 13.00 Hrs and in the evening from 16.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.

On Sundays and special pooja days, the temple will be kept open between 06.00 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs without closing.

CONTACT DETAILS : 

The temple can be contacted over phone numbers +918012418532 and 8012418631 and it was requested to contact these numbers for special poojas, Annadhanam, etc.,

The Tamil Archana priests are... Chandrasekara Sivachariar +919443283958, Bharanidhara Sivachariyar +91 9443903358, Guganatha Sivachariar +919444426397, Karthik Sivachariar +918072417684 and Saravanan Grukkal +91 9841468073. 

HOW TO REACH

From Tambaram 583, 583 D and 55 N to Sriperumbudur passes through this village.

From Tambaram Sanitorium new bus terminus 55 L and 55 A are plying to Vallakottai and timings are to be checked.

All buses to Kanchipuram via Oragadam and Sriperumbudur pass through this village.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:  CLICK HERE

 East side entrance from Vajra Theertham 

 Moolavar Vimanam 

East side view of the temple with Vajra Theertham.

There is also a Sri Varadharaja Perumal Sannadhi on the banks of Vajra Theetham before Sri Subramaniyar Temple.

Entrance with Dwajasthambam in front of Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple 

Moolavar vimanam 

Also had the darshan of  Sri Komaleswarar, a Shiva temple on the northeast corner of the  Vajra Theertham.

Sri Komaleswarar Temple, Vallakottai. 

Moolavar    : Sri Komaleswarar

Consort      : Sri Komalavalli

Some of the important features of this temple are……………

There is an entrance arch on the south side and Moolavar is facing east. There is no Rajagopuram and Dwajasthambam.

In the open Praharam sannidhi for Prasanna Anjeneyar, Sarva Yoga Rajaganapathy, Aiyappan, Shridi Saibaba, Vaaraki, Arthanareeswarar, Sarabeswarar, Arumugar, Shanthidurgai, Sanyasi, Kollur Moogambigai, Kowsiki, Muneeswarar, Lakshmi Kuberar, Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Raja nagars, Karumariamman, Kaalabairavar, Kuruna Vimosana Sannadhi ( to get rid of debt, deceases, and enemies – always underwater), Navargrahas ( made of single stone ), Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Durgai, Prathosa Siva Sakthi, Gayathiri, Ashtabula Durgai, Buddhar, Suryan, Vembu, Lakshmi Hayagreevar, Iyannar (Saastha), Vallalar, Ragavendar, Shankarar, Ramanujar, Mangalambigai, Parvathavardhini Samedha Sri Kailashanathar.  Many of the sannadhis are built along the compound wall.

 The temple complex view. Moolavar Vimanam is in the shape of Shiva Lingam guarded by Snake

 Sri Kailasa Nathar  Sannathi with Stucco image on the top. 

 Small Sannadhis are built around the compound wall. 

 Shantha Durgai ( Durgai is in peace ) 

  Bas relief sculptures around the sanctum sanctorum wall. 

 Stucco image of Nandhi and Shiva dancing on the Sanctum Sanctorum wall. 

In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy ( with 27 steps to symbolize the 27 Nakshatras ), Vishnu, Brahma, Durgai. and Chandikeswarar. Moolavar Vimanam with 27 steps symbolizes the 27 Nakshatras.

 

 Navagrahas with their vahanas made of a single stone. This is rare to see.

 Kuruna Vimosana Shiva Lingam underwater with three faces on east, south, and north ( Like Chandramouleeswarar at Thiruvakkarai )

Urchavar on the Rishaba Vahanam 

People advised me to go to  "Gnanavel Temple" about a KM from Sri Subramaniar Temple. I could feel the influence of the Chennai pollution while walking on the dusty road. The hill is very small, A footpath leads to this hill shrine. 

A 30-foot-tall Vinayagi, a female version of Vinayagar made of stucco receives us at the entrance. This statue can be seen from the main road.

 Vinayagi

 There are small sannadhis for Muneeswarar, and Vinayagar.

 There  are 108 Shiva Lingas  on a 4 pedestal of each 27 nos ( The used / unused grinding stones are used as Shiva Lingas. )

The main sannidhi is under a GI sheet shed. The Moolavar is in the form of Vel and Ambal looks cute with a beautiful smile on her face.

 Sakthi Ayutham as Moolavar

Ambal with a beautiful smile on her face 

It was understood that there would be a lot of crowd on Thaipoosam day.

--- OM SIVAYA NAMA ---