The visit to this Sri Thirukameswarar Temple at Villianur, in Puducherry, was part of “Shiva, Vishnu and Buddhist Temples Visit in Puducherry,
Nagapattinam, Sivagangai, Pudukottai, Thanjavur and Tiruchirappalli
Districts”, from 8th to 10th April 2026. This temple is on the banks
of the Sankaraparani River.
Moolavar : Sri Kameswarar
Consort : Sri Kokilambigai
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with an entrance mandapam. Stucco images of Vinayagar,
Chandikeswarar Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Saraswati and Sri Valli
Devasena Subramaniar are on the top of the mukha mandapam. The 5-tier Rajagopuram
is after the east side entrance mandapam. Vinayagar and Murugan sannidhis are
on either side of the east side of the Rajagopuram. Nandi, with his consort, is on the left
side of the Rajagopuram passage. Balipeedam, Dwajasthamabm and Rishabam are
on the east side of the Rajagopuram.
Dwarapalakas
with simhas are on either side of the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar
is on a round avudaiyar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu,
Brahma and Durgai.
Ambal
is in a separate temple with koshta murtis of Ambal’s various forms. Dwarapalakis
are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal is in a standing posture
with abhaya varada hastam.
In the praharam, Nalvar, Santhana Kuravars, 63var, Utsavars, Vinayagars, Sri Valli
Devasena Subramaniar, Pancha Lingas, Sahasrara Lingam, Sri Valli Devasena Muthukumara
Swamy, Chandikeswarar, Natarajar, Kokilambigai, Palliyarai, Esanya Lingam,
Nagars, Chandran, Suryan, Maha Saraswati, Vinayagar, Valli Devasena
Subramaniar, Maha Lakshmi, and Aiyyappan. In the outer praharam, Natya
mandapam, Navagrahas, and Bairavar.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to Prastaram, and the vimanam
above the bhumi desam was constructed with bricks. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam, and mukha mandapam.
The sanctum sanctorum has a jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The
bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahma kantha pilasters with
kalasam, kudam, mandi, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with
lotus petals and kapotam with nasi kudus. The vesara vimanam is of two tiers
with greevam and vesara sigaram. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha
Vishnu and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams.
The
maha mandapam pillars are with horse riders
The
south side Rajagopuram is of 7 tiers with beautiful sculptures, which include
Shiva Leelas, Veerabhadra, Alingna Murti, Gajasamhara Murti, Bikshadanar, etc.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
The
temple belongs to the 11th century, the Chozha period. There
are about 44 inscriptions recorded from this temple. These inscriptions
belong to Kulothunga Chozha, Pandyas, Sambuvarayars and French rule (1080 CE to
1880 CE)
As per
the inscriptions, this place was called Jayangonda Chozha Mandalathu Mathur Nattu
OzhukaraipaRRu Villiyanallur, Videl Vidugu Chaturvedimangalam (From
Thiruvaamathur Temple inscriptions), Thiruneetruchozha Nallur, Thirukami
Nallur, Kulothunga Chozha Nallur. Shiva was called Valliyanallur
Thirukamechuramudaiya Nayanar and Valliyanallur Nayanar.
The
Vijayanagara King Veeraprataba Devaraya Maharayar’s inscription records the
endowment of burning a lamp at Chandeswarar Sannidhi, for which a land was
gifted as Thirunamaththukani.
Thiribhuvana
Chakravarthikal Konerimaikondan Kulothunga Chozha’s 13th reign-year
inscription records the gift of land and 2500 kalam paddy for the Flowering Garden
/ nandavanam, Thirumadaivilakam, and Thirukulam/ temple tank.
During the Kopperunjingan period (1249 CE), the accounts were verified by the Government
officials.
In the Vijayanagara King Achutha Devaraya period, 1542 CE, after the Kaikolars left
the village, the Thalaiyaris were investigated, and the problem was solved. Herders,
who rear the cattle, are taxed based on the tail, called the Tail Tax.
In the Vijayanagara King Kumarakampanna period, 1370 CE, one of his General
Saluvamangu Deva Maharajana’s inscriptions on the south wall records the gift
of 12 ma of land in Olukalarai.
Two
inscriptions of Vijayanagara Ariyana Udayar I’s reign, year 1379 CE, on the south wall of palliyarai, record the gift of 10 ma of land, and another
inscription records the gift of 500 kuli lands to this temple by Vaniyan Malai
Pillai alias Thennatteriyan of Ulanthai for burning a perpetual lamp.
During the Vijayanagara King Ariyena Udayar’s period, 1318 CE, an inscription on the east wall
of the maha mandapa records the donations made for the celebration of the Theerthavari festival on Panguni Thirunal day. The donations are collected as
taxes on cattle, viz., ½ money for a cow, ¾ money for the she buffalo, ¼ money for
the he buffalo, and ½ money for sheep.
During the Vijayanagara king Savana Maharaja’s period, 1378 CE and 1399, two inscriptions
on the east wall of the maha mandapam record the gift of dry and wet land
taxes, fish pond tax, Chekku tax and 60 panams, to celebrate the Adi festival.
The
Vijayanagara King Virupaksha II’s period, 1472 CE, inscription on the north wall
of the ardha mandapam records the gift of lands at Chozhanallur alias Vannarakkallai by Kattari Saluvanaresinga Udayar, Mahamandaleswara of Thondai Mandalam.
The
rest of the inscriptions belong to Achuthadevaraya, the younger brother of
Krishna Devaraya (1532 CE and 1536 CE), Achyutaraya, on the northern side of
the second prahara eastern entry, Sadasivaraya’s 9th reign year 1542
CE on the east wall of maha mandapa, Sriranga I’s 4th reign year
1575 CE on the north wall of maha mandapa, and Venkata II’s reign inscription on the east wall of the east gopura inner sides of Vinayagar shrine.
The
Vijayanagar period inscriptions, after Sri Ranga III, returned to Tirupati, are
without the King’s name, which includes both Tamil and Telugu. One such inscription
on the north wall of the maha mandapam, without the king’s name, records donations
made by one Padmanabha for sriseva (During Muslim’s invasion).
Ref
1. South
Indian Inscriptions Volume – 7, Sl. Nos 815 and 816.
2. வரலாற்றில் வில்லியனூர், புலவர் ந வெங்கடேசன்.
3. புதுச்சேரி மாவட்ட ஊரும் பேரும், கி. இளங்கோவன்
4. An
article “Glimpses of Villiyanur of Puducherry from the light of epigraphical
sources”, by G Gomthy, Asst Professor of History, Kunthavai Nachiar, Govt. Arts
college for women, Thanjavur.
Thirupani
for the temple chariot was carried out at Rs 421304.00.
An
1880 CE French period inscription records the strengthening and maintenance of old
buildings and Gopuram, during the French administration DE, De M Leyonce Laugier, officer De Legion Dhonneur ET De Linstruction Publique, Gouverneur Civil De L’s
Francaise.
Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 05th February 1987.
LEGENDS
It is
believed that Shiva is being worshipped by the Siddhars even to this day.
Devotees worship Shiva to get rid of marriage obstacles, chronic diseases, Poorva Janma
doshas, debts, and Sathru fear. Worshipping Shiva of this temple will get wealth,
child boon, increase life, blessings of pithru, blessings from Shiva and
Siddhars.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha
Shivaratri, Ashtami, Sankadahara Chaturthi, pournami, Amavasya, Pongal,
Thaipoosam, Skanda Sashti, etc.
Every
pournami day from 15.00 hrs to 22.00 hrs, a 12 km procession will be conducted
from the temple tank, Sankaraparani River Haarati.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The landline number +914132666396 may be contacted
for further details.
HOW TO
REACH
This
place, Villianur, is a part of Puducherry, 8.6 km from the bus stand, 9.2 km from the Puducherry Railway Station, 21.7 km from Cuddalore, and 30 km from Viluppuram.
The
nearest Railway Station is Puducherry.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM
SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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