Sri Visaleeshwarar Temple / ஸ்ரீவிசாலீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Valakanampudi / Valakanampundi / Vilakkanampoondi / விளக்கணாம் பூண்டி, Ramakrishna Rajapet, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Visaleeshwarar Temple at Valakanampundi / Vilakkanampoondi near Sholinghur was a part of Gajaprishta Vimana Temples Visit- Part 4, on 28^th May 2023. This temple is midway between my next destination Pulivalam and Arungulam. Even though this place is called Valakanampundi, it is about 500 meters from Ramakrishna Rajapet Junction.

Moolavar  : Sri Visaleeshwarar

Consort    : Sri Vadamalli Ambal

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

The temple is facing east with a balipeedam, Dwajasthambam / Kodimaram, Rishabam. Vinayagar, and Murugan Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a square avudayar. Shiva and Parvati’s images ( Somaskandar ) are on the back side of Moolavar, similar to Pallava Temples. In Koshtam Stucco Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Shiva, Maha Vishnu, and Durgai. Durgai, Saptamatrikas, and Jyeshta Devi sculptures are in the Ardha mandapam.

In Praharam, Ambal, Nagars, Bairavar, and two Hero Stones. Ambal is in a separate temple with sanctum sanctorum and metacolour Sheet mukha mandapam. Ambal is in standing posture with Abhaya varada hastam. 

Saptamatrikas

Saptamatrikas

Saptamatrikas

Duragai and Saptamatrikas

Chamundi

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with three patta kumudam. The outside ground level has raised up to kumudam, hence a moat is formed around the sanctum sanctorum. Only adhistanam was built with stone. The Sanctum Sanctorum and Vimanam are built with bricks and lime mortar is applied on the walls.

A two tala dravida brick Vimanam is above the sanctum sanctorum. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the Tala and greeva koshtams.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per Tiruvallur Mavatta Tholliyal Kaiyedu, this temple belongs to the early Chozha period. 9th Century Chozha period, two inscriptions found on the Pillars, and the badly damaged 13th-century Telugu Chozha Vijayakanda Gopalan's inscriptions on flat stone slabs ( 2 nos )  are found in this temple. The temple was called Vijalaya Choliswarar Temple, which has been corrupted to the present name of Visaleeswarar Temple. 

Now the temple is under the control of the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department.

Telugu Chozha Vijayakanda Gopalan's inscription

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, etc,.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open during morning pooja hours and the time is unpredictable.

HOW TO REACH

The Temple is about 500 meters from the RK Pet junction 7.2 KM from Sholinghur, 20 KM from Tiruttani, 35 KM from Arakkonam, and 109 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Tiruttani

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Hero Stones 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---