Thiruninravur Sri Bhakthavatsala Perumal

Thiruninravur (திருநின்றவூர்) is situated in Thiruvallur District and is about 35 kms Northwest of Chennai. On the road from Chennai to Thiruvallur, one has to take right after Thirumazhisai. From there Thiruninravur is about 4 kms. Thiruninravur can also be reached by Suburban trains from Chennai to Arakkonam, after Pattabiram.

This village has a beautiful temple for Lord Vishnu, called Bhakthavatsala Perumal, situated very near to Sri Hridayaaleeswarar temple for Lord Shiva. This temple is also called Srinivasa Kshethram and is among the Dhivya Dhesams of Lord Vishnu.

It is believed that Samudraraja (Lord Varuna), who is the father of Goddess Lakshmi worshipped Lord Vishnu here. It is also said that the Perumal here is always giving dharshan (ப்ரத்யக்ஷம்) to Lord Varuna. Thiruninravur is considered as the place of Goddess as she settled here first and then Lord came here to Her place. The rarity of this temple is that the Lord Sri Bhakthavatsala Perumal is staying permanently at his in-law’s place (வீட்டோடு மாப்பிள்ளை). As Goddess settled here first, the place itself had got its name after her. In Thamizh, ‘Thiru’ means Sri Lakshmi, ‘Ninra’ means stood, ‘Vur’ means place.

The Goddess of this temple is ‘Ennai Petra Thaayaar’ (என்னைப்பெற்ற தாயார்), also called as Sri Sudhaa Valli.

According to legend, Thirumangai Aazhwaar had visited this temple and left to Thirukkadal Mallai (திருக்கடல் மல்லை - today’s Mahabalipuram)without singing a single Paasuram on the Lord. After he left, Sri Bhakthavatsala Perumal gave Dharshan to him again at Thirukkadal Mallai. It is said that Thirumangai Aazhwaar had God’s dharshan from Mahabalipuram itself, after which he had sung 2 Paasurams on the Lord, admiring the beauty and similarities of the deities in Thirukkadal Mallai, Thiruninravur and Thirukkanna Mangai.

Later days, with the divine instruction of the Lord, a Pallava King had constructed this temple and arranged for Brahmotsavam etc.

The main deity Sri Bhakthavatsala Perumal here gives dharshan in standing posture facing east. Other deities of the temple are Sri Ennai Petra Thaayaar, Sri Aandaal, Sri Chakkarathaazhwar and Sri Aadhiseshan. Paramapatha Vaasal is located on the Northern Praakaaram.

This beautiful temple looks very grand with huge praakaarams and compound walls. There is a stone Mandapam on the outer Praakaaram, meant for Urchavams, with beautiful carvings.

The temple has a nice pond nearby, called Varuna Pushkarani, which is the Theertham for this temple. A beautiful stone Mandapam in front of the sanctum has some wonderful carvings on the pillars.

There are beautiful carvings on the ceiling at the entrance of Rajagopuram also.

There are 2 stone inscriptions on the north east side of the temple, of which one dates back to 1917, where a lady from Chennai had donated her house to the temple, from which the temple shall raise funds to feed the pilgrims visiting the temple.

There is Sri Anjaneyar Shrine opposite the temple, facing west. The beautiful temple chariot is parked there adjacent to Sri Anjaneyar Shrine.

Here are few of the sculptures and carvings in the temple.

Thiruninravur is an excellent place blessed to have both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu taking abode.

Thiruninravur Sri Hridhayaaleeswarar

Thiruninravur (திருநின்றவூர்) is situated in Thiruvallur District and is about 35 kms from Chennai. On the road from Chennai to Thiruvallur, one has to turn right after Thirumazhisai. From there Thiruninravur is about 4 kms. Thiruninravur can also be reached by Suburban trains from Chennai to Arakkonam, after Pattabiram.

Thiruninravur has an ancient temple for Lord Shiva which is about 1500 years old. The main deity here is called Sri Hridhayaaleeswarar. The Goddess here is Sri Maragadhaambigai.

The story of this temple dates back to 7th century during Pallava reign. There was a Shiva devotee living in this place during 7th century called Poosalaar. He has been an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Poosalaar had an extreme ambition in his mind to build a temple for Lord Shiva at this place within his lifetime. He sought for help with many rich people who can fund him to raise a temple. But hardly anyone helped him.

Knowing that he won’t get any help, Poosalaar finally decided to build a temple for the Lord by himself, at his heart itself. As he was well read and knew all the Aagama Vidhis and nuances to build a temple, he wanted to start building the temple.

He sat under a tree called Iruppai tree in the village and started meditating. He planned each and every small detail to perfection for the construction of his own temple in his mind itself. He also marked an auspicious day to commence the holy work. The temple started growing up in his mind. It is said that Poosalaar actually took the same time (or months) which will be consumed to construct an actual temple. He built the temple step by step. He had designed everything in his mind right from Vimana, Sanctum, Temple Pond, Compound walls etc., and executed each in detail as per what he had in mind.

After everything shaped up in his mind the temple construction work came to a finish. He even had organised all the utensils required for the temple. Finally, he also fixed an auspicious date for Kumbhabishegam (consecration) of the temple. He prayed to Lord Shiva to be present for the consecration and offer His blessings.

During the same period, a king called Rajasimma Pallava was ruling this part, with his capital as Kaanchi (today’s Kanchipuram). He also was a sincere devotee of Lord Shiva and was building a huge beautiful temple for the Lord, at Kaanchi. He also named the God as Kailasanathar and the temple as Rajasimmeswaram. The king was too happy to himself to see the grandeur of the temple constructed by him.

The king also marked a date for consecration, while the finishing touches were going on at the temple. One day after visiting the progress of the temple work, he came back tiresome to bed. Lord Shiva appeared in his dream and told him that He cannot make it to the consecration of the king’s temple on the said date and asked him to change the day of consecration, as He had to be present for consecration of another temple built by Poosalaar of Thiruninravur.

The king woke up shockingly and couldn’t believe himself. He was worried that God Himself has given priority to someone else’s temple than his temple. He wanted to know about the temple which God informed him of. He immediately started with his queen, ministers and parivaar to see Poosalaar’s temple at Thiruninravur.

He came to Thiruninravur the next day and enquired with many people about a new Shiva temple built by Poosalaar. Nobody knew anything about the temple but directed the king to the place where Poosalaar was meditating under the Iruppai tree.

King went and asked Poosalaar himself about the temple. Poosalaar, on hearing the king explaining about his dream, was overwhelmed to realize the mercy shown to him by Lord Shiva. Poosalaar explained the king that he had been constructing the temple in his heart (Manasu in Thamizh) and had fixed a date for consecration.

Poosalaar made the king to look at his heart and realize the temple which he constructed. King was able to see and realize the temple made by Poosalaar.

Knowing this Rajasimma was amazed to see the devotion and sincerity of Poosalaar. The king himself took all the specifications of the temple which Poosalaar had in mind and physically constructed a temple for the Lord here. This temple is also called Manakkoil.

As Poosalaar originally built the temple for the Lord in his Hridayam, the Lord here is known as Hridhayaaleeswarar.

Though there are 2 entrances to this temple, on east and west, the Lord here faces east here. There is a grand Dhwajasthambha and Nandhi on the outer prakaaram. The sanctum is built in Gajabrishta or Thoongaanai Maadam (தூங்கானை மாடம்) shape, that is, the sanctum's shape will look like the back of the sleeping elephant.

Lord Hridhayaaleeswarar offers dharshan in the form of a Shiva Lingam. Poosalaar is seen praying the Lord.

There is an idol of Rajasimma Pallavan too inside the temple.

Sri Ganapathy and Sri Subramanyar are seen standing on either side of the entrance of the sanctum like Dwarapaalakas. Other deities like Sri Dhakshinamurthy, Naalvar, Sri Maha Vishnu, Sri Siva Subramanyar with Sri Valli and Sri Devasena, Sri Brahma, Sri Durgai, Sri Sandigeswarar, Sri Sivagama Sundari Sametha Sri Natarajar and Sri Bairavar are seen in the inner praakaarams.

Wonderful carvings are seen on the pillars of the temple, but many of them painted white, hiding their originality.

There is also a mandapam in which Vaahanam (Rishabham) for the Lord is kept for Urchavams.

Many devotees in recent years have started worshipping Lord here, for getting recovered from heart ailments, as the Lord himself is called Hridayaaleeswarar.

There is also a wonderful 'Sri Bakthavatsala Perumal' temple in Thiruninravur, close to this temple.

Two beautiful temples, worth a short drive, away from Chennai.