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

The visit to this Sri Visaleeshwarar Temple at Valakanampundi 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 as Valakanampundi, it is about 500 meters of Ramakrishna Rajapet Junction.

Moolavar  : Sri Visaleeswarar

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  and Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a square avudayar. Shiva and Parvati’s images are on the back side of Moolavar. In Koshtam Stucco Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Shiva, Maha Vishnu, 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.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhisthanam with three patta kumudam. The out side ground level has raised up to kumudam, hence a moat is formed around the sanctum sanctorum. Only adhisthanam 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 Tholliya Kaiyedu this temple belongs to early Chozha period. Two inscriptions on the Pillars and the badly damaged inscriptions on the flat stone slabs ( 2 nos )  are found in this temple.  

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

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 opened during morning pooja hours and the time is unpredictable.

HOW TO REACH

The Temple is about 500 meters from the RK Pet junction and 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 ---