Aala Kaala Eshwaran Temple / AlagalaEsvara Temple / Aala Kaala Eshwaran Temple, ஸ்ரீ ஆல கால ஈஸ்வரன் கோவில், பேரணி / Perani, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Aalakaala Eshwaran Shiva Temple, at Perani was a part of the Villupuram Heritage Walk organized by History Trails, on 24^th and 25^th July 2021.

Moolavar  : Sri Aalakaala Eswarar

Consort    : Sri Abirama Sundari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east without any entrance arch or Rajagopuram. An entrance to the ardha mandapam is from the South Side with Stucco Dwarapalakas, Natarajar, and Ambal on both sides of the entrance. Stucco images of Shiva with Parvati, Vinayagar, and Murugan are on the top of the entrance. Stucco's Image of Lord Shiva with Parvati’s marriage is on the top of the east side and Stucco's image of Mahishasuramardini is on the back side of the Ambal Temple. A Balipeedam, Rishabam, and a small Deepathamba are on the east side.

A Stucco image of Ambal worshiping Lord Shiva is on the top of the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is of swayambhu and taller on a Square avudayar. In koshtam Amman, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu,  Brahma, and Durga.

A Balipeedam, Nandi  Utsavars and Ambal are in the Ardha mandapam. Vinayagar and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum.

In prakaram, Saptakannis, Ayyappan, Navagrahas, Bairavar, Suriyan, Chandran, A Shiva Linga with Ambal & Nandi, and Chandikeswarar. Loose Sculptures of Chozha period Vinayagar,  3 out of 7 Saptamatrikas on a panel, Chandikeswarar, an unknown male deity sculpture, Jyeshta Devi, and broken deity sculptures are in the praharam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was built on a rocky surface.  The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala  and Ardha mandapam. The temple was reconstructed with bricks from adhistana to Vimana. The Adhisthana is of pada bandha adhisthana with three patta Kumuda.

A single tier Nagara Vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum. Unlike other Ambal temples, a Vesara vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the original temple belongs to the Pallava period and was later reconstructed during the Chozha period on a rocky surface.

An inscription is found on the boulder / rocky surface near the Nandi. This is proof that the original temple was a brick temple. The inscription of Parthivendran records the endowment of playing drum during Sribali ( ஸ்ரீபலி கொட்ட ) and for the same land was gifted to this temple.

The temple is under the HR & CE Department’s control. Maintenance work was started in 2007 and Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 2008 after completion of maintenance works.

Inscriptions on a boulder

LEGENDS

Devotees worship Lord Shiva for removing marriage obstacles and child boon, to reunite couples if separated due to various reasons. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Amavasya, Thaipoosam, Karthigai Deepam, and Maha Shivaratri days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs for oru kala pooja.

CONTACT DETAILS

The trustee Mr Devanathan of this temple may contacted on his mobile numbers +919442292744 and +91 9842622728 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This place Perani is about 2 KM from Perani Railway Station,  3 KM from Chennai Trichy National Highway, 21 KM from Tindivanam, 24 KM from Villupuram, and 147 KM from Chennai.

The nearest Railway station is Perani midway between Tindivanam and Villupuram Junctions.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Chandikeswarar and Durgai

Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai / தவ்வை

Part of the Saptamatrikas Group

Pallava period Vinayagar

Saptakannis

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---