Sri Bharadwajeswarar Temple / Sri Valeeswaram, Puliyur, Kodambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

11^th March 2017.

This Shiva temple is in Puliyur,  one of the 24  kottams or divisions of Thondai Mandalam ( Puliyur kottam was in and around Chennai ) of the Chozha period. This is a Pallava Period Shiva temple. But the temple was completely modified and could not see any Pallava period old structure and inscriptions.

Moolavar    : Sri Bharadwajeswarar

Consort      : Sri Swarnambigai

Some of the important features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram on the south side ( constructed in 2015 ). Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam are on the east side. The Sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Artha mandapam and a maha mandapam. In koshtam, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Vishnu.

In the prakaram sannadhi for Alangara mandapam ( Somaskandar was kept ), Bhaktha ganapathy, Sri Valli Devasena Vedha Subramaniyar, Ramanathar, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Yaga salai, Manimandapam, Bharadwajeswarar, Vaali, Dwajarosana 4 pillar mandapam, Siva Suriyan and saptha mathas ( in a single panel ). On the compound wall 8 (ashta dikpalakas reliefs in yantra form) and stucco images of Rambai, Thilothamai, Usha, Sundari, Kanchana, Srividya, and Kamavardhini.

The Moolavar Sri Bharat Vajeswarar sannidhi entrance is small. Ambal is facing east and Natarajar &  Nalvars are in artha mandapam. Since Maharishi Bharadwajeswarar installed this Shiva Linga, Moolavar is called Sri Bharadwajeswarar.  

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple belongs to the 10th to 11th Century Chozha period. This Place Puliyur maintains its name since the Chozha period. As per the inscriptions, this place was called Jayangond Chozha mandalathu, Puliyur Kottathu Puliyur. Puliyur was the Capital of Puliyur Kottam during the Chozha period. ( Ref: சென்னை மாநகர் கல்வெட்டுக்கள், Tamil Nadu Archaeological Dept  )

The 1259(?) CE, Sri VijayakaNda Gopla Devar's 29th reign inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhi lamp by Verkadu Thillaikoothan Ponnapillai to this Jayangonda Chozha Mandalathu Puliyur kottam alias Kulothunga Valanattu Puliyur Nattu Puliyur Thiruvali Koiludaiya Nayanar, for which 2 numbers of sava moova Cows are gifted to temple Nimanthakarars ( authorities ).

Another 17th to 18th Century damaged inscription is on the floor of Vinayagar Temple. Words like Thari vida, paththu, muppathavathu etc. Couldn't get full details.  

A 13th Century Telugu Chozha, Pothappi Chozhas inscription on the north wall of the main sanctum Sanctorum is damaged and couldn't figure out any details. 

  

The temple was reconstructed at the beginning of the 21st Century. 

LEGENDS

Valli worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple and the temple is called Valeeswararm. Sri Ramar and Seetha also worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 06.30 to 10.30 Hrs  and 17.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs

CONTACT DETAILS:

Satish Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile 9946430750 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is at Puliyur, a  part of Vadapalani  

About a KM distance from Vadapalani Metro station and Power House Bus stop on Arcot Road at Vadapalani.

Town buses are available from Various parts of the city to Kodambakkam. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:    CLICK HERE

 Front arch for Ambal sannidhi

  Alangara mandapam

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---