Sri Soundaravalli Sametha Boomieswarer Temple / பூமீஸ்வரர் கோயில் / வாஸ்து பகவான் கோயில், குடிமல்லூர் / Gudimallur, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Soundaravalli samedha Sri Boomieswarar Temple at Gudimallur was a part of Shiva, and Vishnu Temples and Heritage sites at Thirumalaicherry, Gudimallur and Kaveripakkam. My sincere thanks to Mr Ramesh Krishnamurthy for taking me to all these places. This is one of the temples related to Boomi / land/ House construction etc.

Moolavar  : Sri Boomieswarar

Consort    : Sri Soundaravalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with a 4-tier Rajagopuram. A short deepa sthambam, balipeedam, Kodimaram, and Rishabam/idabam are in front of the temple on the east side. Moolavar is in a raised-level sanctum sanctorum. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar with Brahma & Maha Vishnu on the Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

Nalvar, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar Athiri  Maharishi, and Navagrahas are in the praharam. Ambal is in a separate Sannidhi facing south in the maha mandapam. A small balipeedam and  simham are in front of Ambal sannidhi.

In the outer praharam Dakshinamurthy, Vahana mandapam, Murugan sannidhi and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar sannidhi. 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum was built with stone from adistana to prastaram. The adhisthana is of padabandha adhisthana except devakostas. Deva kostas are a little protruding outside, as padra sala, with padma jagathy, kadaka kumuda, and pattikai. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The pilasters are Brahma Kantha pilaster with a square base and nagabandham, malaithongal, thamarikattu, kalasam, thadi kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and pushpa Pothyal.

The prastaram is with valapi, kapotam, and viyyalavari. Lotus petals are in the valapi. A 2 tier stucco vesara vimana is on the bhoomi desam. Lord Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma are in the Greeva Koshtam. The Sigaram is with 4 maha nasis and 4 alpa nasis. The antarala out side wall has the kumbha panjara.

Mandapam walls have the bas reliefs of Lord Shiva & Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Bairavar, etc. The Rajagopuram wall also has the bas reliefs of Pichadanar, dancers, Maha Vishnu, Adhikara Nandi, etc,. The Mukha mandapa pillars have bas reliefs of Pichadanar, clowns, Saints, Dancers, Machamuni / Varunan, Kalinga Nardhanar, Ambal embracing Lord Shiva, Kalinga Nardhanar, Bairavar, Donors, etc,.

The iconography of the Lingothbavar is a little unique. Usually, Brahma and Maha Vishnu are shown as Swan and Varaha on the lingothbavar or they will be shown as separate images on both sides. But here Brahma and Maha Vishnu are in standing posture with anjali hastam, in addition to Varaha at the bottom and swan at the top on the Lingothbavar itself.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple belongs to the Chozha period as a brick temple and was reconstructed during the 13th-century Pandya period as a stone temple. Vijayanagara period inscriptions are found on the adhisthana. The prahara wall was constructed in recent years. The old Chozha and Pandya period ( …?) stones with inscriptions are used for constructing the wall. The Mandapam after the Rajagopuram was constructed during the Vijayanagara Nayaks period. The sanctum walls have the Vijayanagara Period inscriptions. As per the inscriptions, this place was called "Malliyur, Valliyur" and Lord Shiva was called "Kadarangonda Choleechuramudaya Nayanar". ( Thanks to  Anbu Vanthiya Thevan )

The inscriptions Kulasekara Pandyan, Sambuvarayar, and Vijayanagaras period inscriptions record the gift of lands and gold to this temple for Poojas, naivedyam, etc. 

The earliest inscription belongs to Sadayavarman Sundara Pandyan-I,'s 10th reign year. The inscription mentions Lord Shiva as "Malliyur Udaya Kadarangonda Choleechuramudaya Nayanar". From this inscription, it is understood that this place was called Malliyur. This place was also called "Paduvur Kottathu KalavaipaRRu Karaivali Valliyur"

The Veerapandyan's 14th reign year inscription mentions Chozha King Rajathirajan-I. further details are not known since the inscription was found damaged. 

A recent period Temple authorities inscription records the land comprises of both Nanjai and punjai of  12.75.20 Hectares gifted to this temple with survey numbers and the measurement.

20^th Century inscription in English and Tamil dated 12^th December 1911, stone was found near the balipeedam records that a Dharma Chantram was gifted by the Villagers on the Coronation day of British King George-V.

Lands Gifted to this temple

LEGENDS

Since Lord Shiva’s name is Boomieswarar, this temple is associated with Housing Construction, Vasthu, etc. Hence it is believed that this temple is a Vastu parihara sthalam.

It is believed that Ashtadikpalakas Kubera, Yama, Indra, Varuna, Shiva, Agni, Vayu, and Niriti worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chathurthi, Thai Pongal, Tamil and English New Year Days, Panguni Uthiram, Annual Brahmotsavam, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile number +91 93455 07559 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

To reach Gudimallur, from Chennai 2 KM after the Kaveripakkam Toll gate turn left towards Palar Anaicut Walaja Entrance. 3 KM from Madras – Bombay trunk Road / Chennai to Arcot.

The temple is about 9.3 km from Walajahpet, 12.3 km from Kaveripakkam, 10 km from Arcot, 12 km from Ranipet,  31 km from Vellore, and 105 km from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Walajah Road Junction

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Pichadanar

Nalvar

Lingothbavar & Durgai

Lingothbavar - Maha Vishnu and Brahma

Chandikeswarar and atri Maharishi

Bhairavar and Murugan

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---