The Visit to this Sri Vallapurieswarar temple was a part of “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, belongs 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 this Vallam are little far off and routes are not matching.
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 is facing east with an entrance arch form east. Stucco image 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 ardha mandapam. Rishabam and a balipeedam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is 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 Moolavar sannidhi facing east. Ambal Kadina Kujambigai is in three banga standing posture, while upper hands are holding pasa angusam and lower hands are in abhaya varada hastam. Third eye is on the forehead. The sannidhi is constructed such that circumambulation can be done both Shiva and Ambal Sannidhis.
Durgai and Ambal
Saptamatrikas
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a maha mandapam. The temple was constructed in 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 of Vishnu kantha pilasters with square base, naga bandham, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and poo mottu pothyal. The Kostas are of sala style. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasikudus and Viyyalavari. The eka tala Vimanam is of gajaprishta style. Stucco image of Shiva with Parvati is on lalada nasi, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the Greeva Kostas.
There is a Pallava period Kubera’s sculpture is 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 Naivedyam and another person is ringing a bell. The entrance column and a mandapam Pillar, in place of Naga bandham on the left side, is in the form of Sanga Nidhi.
Sanganithi and Padmanidhi
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple belongs to Pallava period and reconstructed as a stone temple during Chozha period and received contributions from Pandyas and Vijayanagaras.
Pandyas and Vijayanagara period inscriptions are found on the adhistanam and wall. As per the inscriptions this place was called as Jayamkonda Chozha mandalathu Venkundrakottathu Valla Nattu vallam. And Shiva was called as 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 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 ).
LEGENDS
As per the legend, the demons around this are didn’t allowed to worship Shiva of this temple, when Sugar Maharishi. Shiva with the help of Vinayagar in the form of elephant chased them away. Since Shiva gave the vallamai / strength to Sugar Maharishi, Shiva is being called as Vallapapurieswarar. It was told that the 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 Shiva is called as 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 usually kept open around 10.00 hrs. An operator / meikavalar is staying on the back side of the temple, who may help to open the gates for the darshan of Parivara sannidhis.
HOW TO REACH
Vallam is about 2.7 KM off 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.
Nearest railway Station is Tindivanam.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
Lingothbavar- Dakshinamurthy - Brahma
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Bairavar and Suriyan
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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