Vallam Sri Vedhaantheeswarar & Sri Giri Varadharaaja Perumaal

Vallam is a small village near Chengalpattu. While going from Chennai, one has to take left from Chengalpattu on the Mahabalipuram Road and Vallam is located on the 3rd Km from Chengalpattu. A small pathway from the main road leads to the village.

Vallam has a beautiful small hillock on which two wonderful rock cut temples are found. There are steps leading to the temples. According to the inscriptions found, these temples are said to have been built during the period of Mahendravarma Pallava. Inscriptions also reveal the ancient name of the place as Valla Naadu under Kalathur Kottam.

On the left hand side there is a temple for Lord Shiva called Sri Vedhaantheeswarar. Goddess here is Sri Gnaanaambigai. This is perhaps the only place where one can have dharshan of Sri Vinayagar, Sri Subramanyar, Lord Shiva, Sri Ambaal and Sri Sandigeswarar from the same place where we stand. Lord Muruga here is called as Sri Muthukumaaraswami.

Unlike other Shiva temples, here Goddess Sri Gnaanaambigai is facing the east. Sri Gnaanaambigai looks like a very new idol with clear details and is beautifully decorated with silk saree. The face has so much of Thejas and benevolence. The Dwarapaalakaas are so exquisitely sculpted in life size. The Soolam and Mazhu, which are the weapons of Lord Shiva, are carried by the Dwaarapaalakaas here. It is said that, in this temple, during Pradhosham, the Abishegams are first performed to Dwaarapaalakaas and then to Sri Vedhaantheeswarar and finally to Sri Nandhigeswarar. Now a concrete structure is built around this temple for convenience.

It is said that during the sunrise, the rays from the Sun fall directly on the Lord like a garland.

On the right hand side there is a temple for Sri Giri Varadharaaja Perumaal. Sri Perumaal is seen here with his consorts Sri Devi and Bhu Devi. Dwaarapaalakaas are found outside the sanctum.

Unusually, Sri Durgai is found in the Perumaal temple facing south instead of north as found in Shiva temples. According to the inscriptions, it is found that a lady called Kommai (கொம்மை), daughter of a Pallava King has installed Sri Durgai in this temple 1300 years back.

The temple pond is called as Sivaganga Pushkarani, the water from which is used for Abishegams to the Gods.

Pradhosham and all other Saivite and Vaishnavite festivals are done here at these temples. On usual days, priest visits the temple once a day for daily rituals. But one can have dharshan even in the absence of the priest.

Nice temple with serene ambience with excellence of Pallava architecture.

Ponpadhar Koodam Sri Chathurbuja Kothandaraamar

Ponpadhar Koodam is a small village located at about 10 kms east of Chengalpattu, just further to PV Kalathur.

Ponpadhar Koodam has a rare temple dedicated to Lord Sri Rama called Chathurbuja Kothandaraamar. The rare feature of Sri Rama here is that He is seen with four arms holding Bow, Arrow, Shanku (Conch) and Chakra in each of His arms.

It is said that, according to Vaalmeeki Ramaayana, Sri Rama gave dharshan only to 4 people in this posture with four arms. That is to His mother Kausalya during His birth, to Sri Aanjaneya when He met first, to Thrisadai in her dreams and to Mandodhari (wife of Raavana) after Raavana was killed in the battlefield.

According to the legend, there lived a sage called Sri Devaraaja Rishi who was performing penance in this village on the banks of the nearby pond. Lord Raama gave dharshan to Sri Devaraaja Rishi as Chathurbuja Kothandaraamar (with 4 arms). This place in ancient days was known as Prapada Mahaadevarajapuram.
The pond near the temple, where the Rishi was doing penance is now called as Devaraaja Pushkarini.

Sri Raama is seen here with Sri Sita Devi, Sri Lakshmana on the sides and Sri Hanuman in front of them. The deity is so beautiful and charming. Sri Aanjaneya in front of Sri Rama is seen in a very humble gesture facing Sri Rama with His palm closing the mouth in obidience. It is said that such moorthy is rare to find and is called Sri Bhavya Aanjaneyar. The Urchavar made of 5 metal is highly admirable for the sculptural brilliance. Urchavar is so beautiful with a gentle smile on His face. Urchavar also has 4 arms with respective weapons. Sri Raama is holding the arrow on His right hand with His fingers folded to hold the arrow. The Lord is wearing a golden ring in one of his fingers. The ring can be removed from the finger and replaced back without any difficulty. Such a marvelous creation to admire!Also, one can see the rays (lines) on the palms of the Lord created so naturally like a human palm. Even the edges of the grown nails are done beautifully. Sri Raama can be felt so human, standing in front of us and blessing us.

Once in 1982, Pattaabhishekam was performed to Sri Raama here. When the rituals were happening, a monkey had visited the temple sat quietly and had witnessed the whole ceremony and had left the place after the Pattaabhhishekam, without disturbing anyone. According to the native villagers, there were no monkeys present in the village before and after this incident. But no one knows how a lone monkey arrived at the temple exactly for the Pattaabhishekam ceremony. The villagers believe that it was Sri Hanuman Himself, who came and witnessed Sri Raama Pattabhishekam.

This temple is small, yet beautiful amidst a serene atmosphere with lots of paddy fields around. The road from Chengalpattu to this temple is not too good. But it’s worth to take a drive in such a bad road to see such a wonderful Sri Raama and the rare Sri Bhavya Aanjaneya.