Sri Uthara Ranganathar Temple, Pallikonda, near Vellore, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

17^th November 2018.

It was decided to visit some of the old temples & heritage sites in and around Vellore and Arcot on the previous day of the Vellore Heritage Walk organized by the History of Vellore Facebook Group, on 18^th November 2018. The temples visited on 17^th November 2018 are on the west and east sides of Vellore. We were able to cover 3 temples and three heritage sites. The first temple visit was to a Vaishnava temple at Pallikonda.

Moolavar : Sri Uthara Ranganathar

Thayar    : Sri Ranganayaki

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram on the banks of the river Palar. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Garudalwar are immediately after the Rajagopuram. Urchavars Sri Varadharajar with Sridevi and Bhoodevi are in front. Since Sri Ranganathar is in Sayana Kolam, this place was called Pallikondan. This was corrupted to the present name of Pallikonda.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. Vishnu in this temple blesses us in a reclining posture on Adhiseshan, with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. 

There is a replica of Sri Ranganathar's small shrine in the artha mandapam, called Chotta Ranganathar (small–Chotta in Hindi). Also,utsavars are kept in safe custody. In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Ramar, Kannabiran, and Andal.  Sannadhi for Alwars in muka mandapam. 

Thayar is in a separate temple, like a sannadhi, facing east on the right side of Moolavar. The temple consists of the Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. The adhistanam is of simple pada bandha adhistanam with 3 patta kumudam. A 2-tier Nagara vimanam is on the adhistanam. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple existed before the 12^th century, and who built is known. As per the 12th-century inscriptions, Vikrama Chozha (1122- 1135 CE), son of Kulothunga Chozha I, Samburayars, Vijayanagaras had contributed a lot to this temple. The Kulasekara Sambuvarayar, as per Kulothunga’s order, gave tax relief to the villages Keezhivichur, Veppur, Thagadoor, Nadalvanpattu, Arasur, Anjadai Perumanallur, and Ulagukachi.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Brahma wished to do a yajna for Vishnu at Kanchipuram. Saraswathy and Lakshmi had a debate on who is great. Brahma said that Lakshmi is great. Saraswathi got angry and went to Nandidurga Hills. The Yaga will be fulfilled only when it is done as husband and wife. So Brahma called Saraswati, but she refused to come. Brahma married Savithri and started performing the Yaga. Hearing this, she sends demons to obstruct the yaga. When the demons failed, Saraswathy took the form of the Vegavathi river (the present Palar) and flowed with a force to destroy the yaga. Vishnu, as per Brahma’s request, lay down to obstruct the flow, and the Yaga was completed. Vishnu will be in this posture at three temples, namely, Pallikonda, Thiruparkadal, and Kanchipuram, as Yathokthakari, also called “Chonna Vannam Seitha Perumal”. The three places are on the banks of the river Palar. The place Pallikonda is also called “Vadarangam”.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The following landline and mobile numbers may be contacted for further details. O4171 240234 and 9443309572, 9443989668, 9443686869

HOW TO REACH:

The Pallikonda Village is about 24 km from Vellore on the Bangalore Highway.

Buses are available from Vellore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---