Thiruvaleesvarar Thirukovil / திருவாலீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், Nerkundram, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Thiruvaleesvarar Temple at Nerkundram was a part of Shiva Temples and Jain’s sculptures visit planned on 30^th January 2022, after lifting the Covid 19, Sunday Lockdown (CORONA LOCKDOWN).

Moolavar  : Sri Thiruvaleesvarar

Consort    : Sri Tripura Sundari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple can be approached through a lane with a Gate adjacent to Star Cricket Academy on the CMRL staff quarters Road. The temple is facing east. Balipeedam and Rishabam are on the east side of the temple. The entrance to the Ardha Mandapam is on the south side. Vara Siddhi Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar and Bairavar are in the ardha mandapam.  There are murtis in Koshtams. Chandikeswarar is outside Praharam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple complex consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam.  The sanctum sanctorum is on a padabandha adhisthana with threepatta kumuda. The bhitti starts with Vedhika. Kostas is separated by Vishnukantha pilasters with a square base and Nagabhandam/ Nagavakratham. The Pilasters are with thamarai kattu, kalasam, thadi, kudam, mandi with lotus petals, palagai and Pushpa pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam and Viyyalavari. From adhistanam to prastaram constructed with stone. There is no Vimana above the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

There are no inscriptions found on the adhisthana. As per the architecture, the temple belongs to the 16^th to 17^th Century Vijayanagara Nayaks period. The front mandapam was extended in the 20^th Century.

On the 14^th of September  1950,  an inscription records the construction of the Ardha mandapam, Ambal Shrine, and renovation of Maha mandapam by Tiruchirappalli, Shaiva Tradition S Viswanatha Pillai’s son Rao Bahadur T V Neelamega Pillai and Kumbhabhishekam was also Conducted. Further, the inscription records that he had made arrangements for the regular poojas without stopping.  In the end, he prays to Lord Shiva, that Lord Shiva shower his grace on his descendants, to carry out these endowments till the Sun and Moon exist. During that time Nerkundram was in Saidapet Vattam in Chengalpattu District.

LEGENDS

It is believed that one of the Epic Ramayana characters, the monkey-faced Vali worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Hence Lord Shiva obtained the name of Thiruvaleesvarar.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham and maha Shivaratri days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs. Since oru kala pooja is conducted, Devotees are requested to get confirmed with Gurukkal, before going to the temple.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile number 99626 22647 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 200 meters from the Bangalore – Chennai Highway. ( Koyambedu to Poonamallee ) main Road and on the way to Chennai Metro Staff Quarters.

The temple is 900 meters from Koyambedu Metro Station, 3 km from CMBT, 12 km from Poonamallee, and 11 km from Chennai Central.

Nearest Railway Station is  Koyambedu Metro Station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---