The visit to
this Sri Vallapurieswarar temple was a part of the “Gajaprsihta /Gajabrushta Vimana Shiva temple
at Vallam and Jain Temples at Ponnur and Ponnur Hills Visit”, on 22nd
October 2023. This is one of the Pallava period Shiva Temple with Gajaprishta/Gajabrushta Vimanam in Tiruvannamalai District in Tamil Nadu.
It is believed that the hymns sung by Thirugnanasambandar on Thiruvallam belong to this place, Vallam, and not the Thiruvalam, near Ranipet. In
Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar mentions Thirugnanasambandar’s route as Thirumalpur –
Thiruvallam (1003 of Thirugnanasambandar's Puranam) – Ilumbayankottur-Cooum and Thakkolam. In this, both the places, Thiruvalam
and Vallam, are a little far off, and the routes do not match.
எரித்தவன் முப்புரம் எரியின் மூழ்கத்
தரித்தவன் கங்கையைத் தாழ்சடைமேல்
விரித்தவன் வேதங்கள் வேறுவேறு
தெரித்தவன் உறைவிடம் திருவல்லமே.
தரித்தவன் கங்கையைத் தாழ்சடைமேல்
விரித்தவன் வேதங்கள் வேறுவேறு
தெரித்தவன் உறைவிடம் திருவல்லமே.
Moolavar : Sri Vallapurieswarar
Conort : Sri Kadina Kujambigai
Some
of the Salient features of this temple are…
The
temple faces east with an entrance arch from the east. Stucco images of Shiva
and Parvati are on the top of the entrance. Balipeedam and Rishabam are
immediately after the east side entrance. There is a 3-tier Rajagopuram on the
South side, which is not used now. Dwarapalakas,
Vinayagar, and Murugan are at the entrance of the ardha mandapam. Rishabam and a
balipeedam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is a little big on a
Square avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and
Durgai.
In
praharam, Saptamatrikas, Shiva Linga, Nagar, Maha Vishnu, Sri Valli Devasena
Arumugar, Suriyan, Navagrahas, Bairavar, and Chandikeswarar.
Ambal
is in a separate sannidhi on the back side of the Moolavar sannidhi, facing east.
Ambal Kadina Kujambigai is in a banga standing posture, while her upper hands
are holding pasa angusam and her lower hands are in abhaya varada hastam. The third eye
is on the forehead. The sannidhi is constructed such that circumambulation can
be done by both Shiva and Ambal Sannidhis.
Durgai and Ambal
Saptamatrikas
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a maha
mandapam. The temple was constructed in the Gajaprishta style from adhistanam to
sigaram. The adhistanam is of pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta
kumudam, and pattika. The bhitti starts with vedika. The pilasters are Vishnu kantha pilasters with square bases, naga bandham, kalasam, kudam, lotus
petals mandi, palakai, and poo mottu pothyal. The koshtas are of the sala style. The
prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasikudus, and viyyalavari. The eka
tala vimanam is of gajaprishta style and is over the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco image of Shiva with Parvati is on
lalada nasi, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the Greeva koshtams.
There is a Pallava-period Kubera sculpture installed at the entrance of the Temple. The bottom has the bas relief of Gurukkal carrying the naivedyam, and a person is holding an umbrella on the top of the Naivedyam, and another person is ringing a bell. The entrance column and a mandapam Pillar, in place of the Naga bandham on the left side, are in the form of Sanga Nidhi.
Sanganithi and Padmanidhi
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
The
original temple belongs to the Pallava period and was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Sambavaraiyar period, and received contributions from the Pandyas, Sambauvaraiyars, and the Vijayanagaras.
Pandyas and Vijayanagara period inscriptions are found on the adhistanam and the wall. As
per the inscriptions, this place was called Jayamkonda Chozha mandalathu Venkundrakottathu
Valla Nattu vallam. And Shiva was called Vallathu aludaiyar Thiruavagathechuramudaiya
Nayanar.
Thiribhuvana
Chakravarthi Sundara Pandyan’s 12th reign year inscription records
the endowment of burning 5 perpetual lamps by Azhipadai Thangi Villagers. The
tax was collected from all the sources to be given to the temple as irayili. (SII Volume-7, No 82).
The
Vijayanagara Period Mahamandaleswara Chaluva Narasingaiya period inscription
records the donation of lands as Thevadhanam. (SII Volume-7, No 83).
The Sumbuvaraiya king Raja Narayana Sambuvaraiyar's 1364 CE inscription mentions this place as Jayangonda Chozha Mandalathu Venkundra Kottathu Valla Nattu Purusharathitha Nallur. The inscription records that Thirumalli Nathan, alias Rajanarayana Sambuvaraiyar, gifted a land as kani jeevitham of this village to Yamala Pandithan, alias Agalangarayan Nagreeswara Thevar of Kaviripoompattinam of Chozha Nadu. The inscription also records the tax exemption given to the gift of land. (From this, it is understood that a Saiva sect called Yamala existed during that period).
Another Sambuvaraiyar period inscription records the gift of land from madapuram to this temple.
Another Vijayanagara period inscription (12th day of Vaikasi month) records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp at Vallathu Udaiyar alias Thiruvagatheeswamudaiya Nayanar Vallaiandar, by Ramaraja Udaiyar of Athipatru Vallam Ponnakkon Koyil Thiruvilangukudi as Thiruvilakku kudi, to burn the lamp.
Ref:
1. South Indian Inscriptions Volume-7.
2. Last 3 inscriptions from the 22nd Oct 2025, The Hindu Tamil Thisai, by the Thiruvannamalai Mavatta Varalatru Aayvu Naduvam.
The burning of the Perpetual lamp inscription
LEGENDS
As
per the legend, the demons around this area were not allowed to worship Shiva of
this temple, when Sugar Maharishi. Shiva, with the help of Vinayagar in the form
of an elephant, chased them away. Since Shiva gave the vallamai / strength to Sugar
Maharishi, Shiva is being called Vallapapurieswarar. It was said that some of the Village names are associated with this legend. Since Vinayagar
chased away the demons, at a place called Anaibogi, the villagers gathered and
prayed to Shiva is called Urgudi, etc.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Panguni Uthiram, Arudra Darshan, etc.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple is under oru kala poojas and is usually kept open around 10.00 hrs. An
operator / meikavalar is staying on the back side of the temple and may help
to open the gates for the darshan of Parivara sannidhis.
HOW TO REACH
Vallam
is about 2.7 km from Vandavasi to Polur Main Road, and after Ponnur Hills.
The
temple is about 17 km from Vandavasi, 19 km from Chetpet, 42 km from
Uthiramerur, 47 km from Polur, 50 km from Tindivanam, and 140 km from Chennai.
The nearest
Railway Station is Tindivanam.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Lingothbavar- Dakshinamurthy - Brahma
 |
Bairavar and Suriyan
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
Thank you, sir, for the details.
ReplyDeleteYou are Welcome Sir,...
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