The visit to this Sri Abaya Varadharaja Perumal Temple at Kaveripakkam was a part of Shiva, Vishnu Temples and Heritage sites at Thirumalaicherry, Gudimallur and Kaveripakkam. I Extend my sincere thanks to Mr Ramesh Krishnamurthy for taking me to all these places. This Temple is also called as kottai Perumal temple, Since this was inside a fort and the street in front of the temple is also called as Kottai Perumal Koil Theru.
Moolavar : Sri Abhaya Varadaraja PerumalConsorts : Sridevi and Bhudevi
Some of the salient features of this temple are….The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. A 16 Pillar mandapam is on the left side of the Temple. Stone image of Ramar with stucco images of Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman are in a mandapam in front of the temple ( It was told that the Ramar idol was un-earthed in 2012, during excavation for construction of Madapalli and Marriage Dining hall ). Garudan is in the Mukha mandapam. Paintings of Maha Vishnu as Lakshmi Narasimhar, Alwars, are on the Mukha mandapam walls. Thirupallithama platform is also in the Mandapam.
Stucco images of Sri Varadharaja Perumal with Sridevi and Bhudevi, Maha Vishnu’s dasavatharam images are on the top of the Mukha mandapam. Moolavar Sri Abhaya Varadharaja Perumal is in standing posture with 4 hands. Upper hands are holding Conch and Chakra and lower hands are in Abhaya hastam and kadi hastam. Sridevi and Bhudevi are on both sides. Utsavars are in front of Moolavar.
ARCHITECTUREThe temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam, Maha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a Pratibandha adhisthana with padma jagathy, Vrutha kumuda and Viyyalavari. The Bhitti starts with Vedhika. From adhisthana to prastaram constructed with stone. A stucco vimana is on the prastaram. The stucco images are in the greeva koshtam. The Sikaram is of Vesara style with 4 maha nasis and 4 alpha nasis.
The 16 Pillar mandapa was constructed during Vijayanagara period. The pillar images are in Vijayanagara style with images of Vishnu’s various avatars, Hanuman, flower motifs etc,.
The mukha Mandapam pillars are not uniform, some are square, octagonal and some are in vrutha style with pothyals are vettu and flower type. The inner prahara was constructed at a latter stage. In that a dismantled / dilapidated temple’s stones with inscriptions, Makara thorana etc,. Of which some of them are in green stone.
The Sthalapurana of Kanchipuram Sri Ekambareswarar Temple.
Since the praharam wall was constructed like a fort wall this temple might have obtained the name of Kottai perumal Koil ( Another version with Google map is given at the bottom )
These Sculptures might have been brought from some temple
16 Pillar mandapam
Thirupallithaama medai - திருபள்ளிதாம மேடை - இறைவனுக்கு சூட்டும் மாலை கட்டும் மேடை
A Green stone Jala -பச்சைக்கல் ஜன்னல்
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSThe present temple / structure belongs to 16th to 17th Century, may be reconstructed during Vijayanagara period. It is claimed that the original temple belongs to Pallava period. As per historians this place was called as Avani Chathurvedimangalam, Kavithapakkam etc,.
The Prahara wall was constructed with, a Makara thorana in which Ambal embrazing and worshiping a Shiva linga ( the sthala purana of Kanchipuram, Sri Ekambareswarar Temple ) bas-relief, Pilasters with inscriptions, Stones with 10th to 11th century inscriptions, Shiva temple sculptures like Bhuta Ganas, etc,.
The Mukha mandapa was constructed with odd pillars and walls with Chozha period inscription stones. One of the inscription records this place as Kaviripakkam. This indicates that these stones and some of the pillars are sourced from a Shiva temple, from which Shiva temple is not known. Some of the experts are of the opinion that these Makara thorana, stones with Chozha period inscriptions may belongs to Sri Konganeeswarar Shiva Temple ( original temple belongs to Chozha period considering the Dwarapalakas and Maha Vishnu sculptures ), which was reconstructed during Vijayanagara period.
It is believed that the temple belongs lands on many places under various survey numbers in and around Kaveripakkam. The lands are gifted to this temple by various donors for prayers, worship, naivedyam, nandavanam etc,. These lands are encroached by 94 Encroachers. Of that the, lands under litigation was listed under the WP No 18627 of 2012, in Madras high Court
These Sculptures might have been brought from some temple
Maha samprokshanam was conducted in 2012 after carrying out some renovations.
The Kaveripakkam inscription
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSApart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Vaikunta Ekadasi, Rama navami, Krishna Jayanthi, Kalyana Utsavam, Pavithrotsavam, Purattasi Saturday, on all days of Margazhi month etc,.
TEMPLE TIMINGSThe temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 Hrs.CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACHThis temple at Kaveripakkam is about a KM from Madras – Bombay trunk Road / Chennai to Vellore Road / Mumbai Hwy.The temple is about 10 KM from Walaja Toll gate, 11.6 KM from Walajahpet, 15 KM from Sholinghur, 17.4 KM from Arcot, 17 KM from Ranipet, 38 KM from Vellore and 95 KM from Chennai.Nearest Railway Station is Sholinghur
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
Ramar was unearthed during excavation inside the temple - the other sculptures are stucco
This panel is on the ceiling just above Garudan- As per the experts This may be a Vanika Kuzhu kalvettu (வணிகக் குழு) or a Hero Stone. 
The above map indicates that the road goes to Sholingur, rounds about this temple. Hence it may be presumed that a Fort might have been existed and the temple might have obtained the name as Kottai Perumal Koil. --- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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