Azhagu Perumal Temple / Sundara Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Vaniyambadi, Tirupattur District, Tamil Nadu.

29^th December 2019.

This visit to the Azhagu Perumal Temple was a part of the Temples and Hero Stones visit around Vaniyambadi in Tirupattur District, scheduled on 29^th December 2019. This happened to be the last heritage visit of this year 2019. This place is very much associated with Saraswati (Vani) and the Athitheeswarar Temple. As per the legend, Lord Shiva asked Saraswati to sing, hence this place is called Vaniyambadi. This Vishnu Temple is on the east banks of the river Palar. This temple was called Sundara Varadaraja Perumal during the Chozha period and got corrupted into Azhagu Perumal Temple.

 A Vimana with Rajagopuram

Moolavar  : Sri Azhagu Perumal

Thayar     : Sri Sundaravalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are...

The temple faces west with a recently built 3-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Garudan are immediately after the Rajagopuram. Moolavar Azhagu Perumal is with Sridevi and Bhudevi in a standing posture. Chakra is in a ready-to-use position. There are no images in the koshtas.

In the praharam Vinayagar, Lakshmi Narayanar, Thayar Sundaravalli, Chakrathalwar with Yoga Narasimhar, Bala Anjaneyar, and Urchava mandapam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of, sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam, and the two tala dravida vimanam (includes adhi tala) is on the sanctum sanctorum.

 Vijayanagara architecture

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION

As per the inscription found on the adhistana, this place was called Madhurantaka Chozha Chaturvedi Mangalam, and the temple was built by the 10th-century Chozha King Madhurantakan. It is to be noted that Rajaraja-I’s father was called Sundara Chozha, and Sundara means Azhagu in Tamil. 

  

The temple was reconstructed during the 15^th to 16^th century Vijayanagara period, and inscriptions are found on the sanctum walls.

 Inscriptions

 Chozha period inscription at the base..

Vijayanagara period inscription

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The temple may be on the mobile number +9193447 43439 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is about 2 km from Vaniyambadi Bus Stand and Railway Station, 18 km from Ambur, 24 km from the District Capital Tirupattur, and 267 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Vaniyambadi.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---