Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple / Sri Thothathrinatha Perumal Temple, Thirubuvanai, near Pondicherry, Pondicherry, India.

03^rd September 2017.

After Thiruvandar Koil’s visit, we headed towards Thirubuvanai, a Chozha-period Sri Thenkalai Varadaraja Perumal Temple.

Moolavar : Sri Thothathirinatha Varadharaja Perumal

Thayar    : Sri Varamangai.

Some of the important features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance arch. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Garudalwar are immediately after the entrance arch.

Moolavar is in a sitting posture (seems like) with Sridevi and Bhudevi. Urchavars are kept in front of the moolavar. In the prakaram sannadhis for Thayar, Andal, Chakkarathalwar, Anjaneyar, and Alwars.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of a sanctum, antarala, and an open muka mandapam. The temple was constructed like a mada temple with steps to climb. The upanam adhistanam of the sanctum is a little broad so that we can circumambulate around the sanctum to see the reliefs on the sanctum wall. The sanctum sanctorum is on pratibandha adhistanam with padma jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and prativari/ yazhivari. The Vishnu Kantha pilasters are on the bhitti. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasikudus and vyyalavari. The two-tier brick vesara vimanam is over the bhumi desam. Maha Vishnu's various forms are on the tala and greeva koshtams. 

The sanctum sanctorum walls and steps have the miniature bas-reliefs connected to the Mahabharata epic.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTION

There are more than 150 inscriptions recorded from this temple. The inscriptions belong to the Chozha and Vijayanagara periods.

As per the inscriptions, the temple was constructed by Parantaka Chozha I (907 – 955 CE). The temple was once called Veeranarayana Vinnagaram and is now called Varadharaja Perumal Temple. The Veera Narayan was the title given to Parantaka Chozha. Also, the place was called Thirubuvanai Madevi Chaturvedi Mangalam. The tank/eri in this village was called “Kokizharadi pereri” in the name of one of his wives.

The Rajendra Chozha’s reign inscription records the establishment of residential villages, like Vishnu Kesava Cherry, Madhava Chery, Govinda Chery, Vishnu Chery, Madhusudana Chery, etc.

The Chozha King Rajadhiraja’s 30^th reign year inscription records that a Vedic school was functioning with 12 teachers and 26 students. For the functioning of the school, 72 veli lands and 12000 klam paddy with tax exemption were given.

A kumudam with inscriptions kept in front of the temple might have been removed during the renovation of the temple. The temple is under the control of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).

Ref:

South Indian Inscriptions Volume -12.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple kept open from 08.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs, and from 06.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is on the way from Pondicherry to Villupuram and is about 15 km from Pondicherry.

Private and government buses are passing through this village.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 ---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---