The
visit to this Sri Imuktheeswarar Temple at Periyapalayam was a part of
“Gajabrushta / Gajaprishta Vimana Temples Visit” in Thiruvallur District on
22nd March 2026. The temple is on the banks of the Arani River, which was known as the Brahmaranya River during ancient times.
Moolavar : Sri Imuktheeswarar
Consort : Sri Annapoornamba
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces west with a 3-tier Rajagopuram (The Rajagopuram is kept locked
since there is no access from the west side/ Arani River side. The entrance to the temple is on the east side with an arch. A stucco image of Shiva with Parvati is
on the arch. Balipeedam, dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are in front of the
temple. Moolavar is on a square avudaiyar. Nalvar and Natarajar, with Sivakami
and Manickavasagar, are in the mandapam. In the koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy,
Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.
Ambal
Annapoornamba is in a separate temple on the left side of the main temple,
facing west. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.
In
the outer praharam, Vinayagar, Ayyappan, Valli Devasena Subramaniar,
Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, Saniswaran, Anjaneyar, Navagrahas, Chandran, Suryan, madappalli,
and the office room.
Sri
Srinivasa Perumal with Sridevi and Bhudevi Temple is on the back side of the
Shiva Temple, which faces west. Anjaneyar is on the north side of Srinivasa Perumal’s
temple.
ARCHITECTURE
The
whole temple was constructed with bricks. The temple consists of the sanctum
sanctorum, antarala, and a common ardha mandapam for the Shiva and Ambal temples.
The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta
kumudam and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of
Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai and vettu potyal. The
prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. One tala dravida vimanam
is on the bhumi desam. Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the tala
and greeva koshtams.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
Believed
that the temple is more than 1000 years old and received contributions from
Pallavas, Chozhas, Vijayanagaras, etc. But the present structure may be
400 to 500 years old, and some of the structures were added in recent years.
Jeernodharana Ashta bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 28th January 1974, 24th August 2004, and 13th May 2024.
LEGENDS
It
is believed that the Sri Pallikondeeswarar Temple at Suruttapalli
(Thathpurusham), Imuktheeswarar temple at Periyapalayam (Isaanam), Sampangi
Pichaleeswarar Temple at Arani (Vamadhevam), Varamoortheeswarar Temple at
Ariyathurai (Sathyojaatham), and Sri Chinthamaneeswarar Temple at Karungali (Agoram)
are believed to be part of the group of Pancha Brahma Sthalams, consecrated by the Sage
Agasthiya for the 5 aspects of Shiva. The Arani River was called the Brahmaranya
River during ancient times.
Valmiki
Munivar did penance for Shiva and Parvati. Satisfied with his penance, Shiva
and Parvati gave darshan and blessed him. Hence, this place was called Valmiki Ashram.
As
per the legend, the pancha bhutas, Pritvi, Appu, Theyu, Vayu and Akash, came to
Mount Kailash without Nandi’s permission and entered inside at an inappropriate time. Angered, Shiva cursed them to become monkeys. When they asked Shiva how to get rid of the
curse. Shiva said that they will be relieved from the curse if they worship Shiva Lingam, worshipped by the sage Valmiki at this place. All the pancha
bhutas worshipped Shiva of this temple and got relieved from the curse. Hence, Shiva is called Imuktheeswarar.
In
another legend, the disciple of Valmiki, the king Kamaruba Desathipathi
(Chitravarman), while ruling this place, there was no rain, and the people suffered due to drought. So they prayed to Shiva, worshipped by Valmiki. Ambal, in the form of Mohini, served food to the people of his country. Hence, Ambal is
called Annapoornamba. As a token of gratitude shown to his country, the king
constructed a temple with vimana and gopuras and worshipped Shiva and Ambal of
this temple.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chaturthi, Adi
Pooram, Gokulashtami, Krishnar Jayanti, Srinivasa Perumal Thirumanjanam and
Unjal Seva in Puratasi, Karthigai Deepam, Thai month Thiruvilakku Pooja,
Panguni Ramanavami, Panguni Uthiram, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, etc.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and from 16.00 hrs to
20.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
Gurukkal
P R Kumar, a hereditary trustee, may be contacted for further details. Alternatively, the mobile numbers +919994745964 and +917339600998 may be contacted for further details.
HOW
TO REACH
The
temple is by the side of the Periyapalayam bus stand, on the main road. Buses are
available from Madhavaram and Red Hills. The temple is about 17.6 km from
Uthukottai, 21 km from Gummidipundi & Ponneri, 25 km from Red Hills, 33 km
from Thiruvallur, and 40 km from Koyambedu.
The
nearest railway stations are Gummidipundi and Ponneri.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Srinivasa Perumal Sannidhi
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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