Sri Karunakara Perumal Temple / ஶ்ரீ கருணாகர பெருமாள் கோயில், No. 96 Payyanur Village/ Paiyanoor ( Karunguzhipallam ), Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Karunakara Perumal Temple at Payyanur on Old Mamallapuram / Mahabalipuram Road was a part of Pallava & Chozha period Shiva and Vishnu Temples and Heritage site Visits at Payyanur, Alathur and  Siruthavur  of Chengalpattu District on 17^th October 2021. This temple is on the north side banks of Bhairavar Kulam.

Moolavar  : Sri Karunakara Perumal

Thayar     : Sri Maha Lakshmi

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

This temple is facing east. Garuda thoon, Vilakkuthoon, Kodimaram, Balipeedam and Garudan are in front of the temple. Jayan and Vijayan dwarapalakas are the entrance of the ardha mandapam.  Moolavar Sri Karunakara Perumal is in standing posture with Sridevi and Bhudevi on both sides. There is no separate sannidhi for Thayar. In Koshtam Thumbikai Alwar ( Vinayagar ), Lakshmi Narasimhar, Lakshmi Narayana, Lakshmi Hayagreeva and Durgai. Anjaneyar sannidhi on the right side immediately after the entrance. 

There are two Dwarapalakas erected in the garden ( Damaged ). Stucco images of Karunakara Perumal with Sridevi and Bhoodevi, Krishna, Garudan, Hanuman and Ramar are on the top of the  Mukha mandapam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam and the recently built mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple padabandha adhisthana. The floor has been raised up to Kumudam level. The Bhitti starts with Vedhigai and Vishnukantha pilaster ( 8 faces ) with square base, naga bandham, Kalasam, Thadi, Kumbham, Lotus petals mandi, Palagai, Veera Kandam and Pushba pothyal. The prataram starts with Utharam, Valabi and Kapotham. A 3 tier vesara Vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple is believed to be constructed during Pallava period and the same was reconstructed during Vijayanagara’s  period. A Vijayanagara period inscription stone / Land donation stone is erected in-front of the Garuda’s sannidhi. As per the Chozha period inscriptions, this place Payyanur was called as Rajakesari Chaturvedi mangalam and Perumal was called as Arulala Perumal.

The Chozha King Rajaraja-III’s 17^th reign year inscription records some gift …..  to Payyanur alias Rajakesari Chaturvedi mangalam …to the   god of Arulalaperumal by the King ( Madurantaka poththappi Chozha…? ) alias Gandagopaladeva…   ( This inscription is on a stone pillar at Amman Temple called Ennaikkal and also called as Thiruvaazhikal - திருவாழிக்கல். Written as a separate post. When cattle infected with deceases, a small cup of oil is buried near this pillar. The procedure is called as akandam poduthal - அகண்டம் போடுதல். After that, it is believed that the cattle will get cured. )

Ashta Bandhana Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 11^th July 1982.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala pooja, special poojas are conducted on Saturdays in the month Purattasi, on all the days of Margazhi, Vaikunta Ekadasi, Rama navami, Hanuman Jayanthi and all important vaishnava functions.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 Hrs.

HOW TO REACH

This temple is about a KM off from the old Mahabalipuram Road. 

The temple is about 8 KM from Mahabalipuram, 9 KM from Thiruporur, 34 KM from Chengalpattu, 43 KM from Tambaram and 64 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

The miniature bas-reliefs on both sides of Durgai koshtam - Mahishasuramaridini. Durgain on the left on Simha vahana and Mahishan on the right

A donor - Karunakara Thondaiman, the Hero of the Kalingaththu parani ( if it is not correct Readers may please Correct. One of the reader of this blog says that his birth name was -- Pallavaraya Thiruvaranga Karunakara Thondaiman )

An original Pillar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---