OHM NAMA SIVAYA!
Sri Tripura Sundhari sametha Thirumalleeswarar TempleVijayaragavapuram Village, Pallipat, Tiruttani.
Dear Friends
Sri “Tripura Sandhari” sametha “Thirumalleeswarar” Temple is situated in Vijayaragavapuram village of Pallipat Taluk in Tiruttani near Chennai. The temple is situated on TN-AP border, 25 kms from Tiruttani on Tamil Nadu side and 14 kms from Nagari on Andhra side.
Sri Thirumalleeswarar was previously known as “Thirumoolattaanan”, a mutation from the original “Thirumoolasthaanamudaiyaar” (Thiru – Sri; Moolasthaan – Place for the presiding deity; Udaiyaar – Owner) as found in the inscriptions. Bhagwan is a Swayambu Lingam (2.5 Ft) here. His consort is “Tripura Sundhari” facing east in a standing (5 Ft tall) posture.
The temple is built as per Agama Sastras with Sanctum Sanctorum, Artha Mandapam, Maha Mandapam, Bali Peetham, Dwajasthambam, etc. Puranic scenes are depicted on the pillars. Built during the later Cholas period, the temple has also got a facelift during the Nayakkar times. Vali-Sugreeva fight is depicted on the top front portion of the Maha Mandapam. Dakshinamurthi, Vinayagar, Murugan, Vishnu Durga, Shandikeswarar and Navagrahas have separate Sannithis. Sculptures of Veerabadran and Jyeshtaa Devi are also present.
The inscriptions found on the outer wall of the Sanctum Sanctorum belong to Vikrama Chola and Kulothunga Chola III. In the inscriptions the name of the place is mentioned as Jeyameru Chaturvedi. The Cholas have donated liberally for the maintenance of the temple and conduction of daily rituals. The inscriptions found on the outer wall belong to Nayakkars. A pillar at the outer Mandapam has the figure of the Nayakkar king, who had built it.
The age of the temple is estimated to be 1000 years and a decade back it was found to be in an extremely dilapidated condition amidst plants, shrubs and bushes.
Melappoodi village is situated close Vijayaragavapuram village. Sri Rajendran Gurukkal, a retired employee of TN Electricity Board, belongs to Melappoodi village, where he serves as a hereditary priest of another temple. Inspired and aroused by a divine instruction, he has embarked on the mission of renovating this historically significant temple. He has removed all the bushes and shrubs and unwanted plant growth; cleaned the interior and surroundings; renovated the Sanctum Sanctorum and other Sannithis and interior Mandapams to a large extent. He has singlehandedly raised funds and done all these things. Thanks to the local populace and devotees from nearby places, he is now able to perform pujas once a day apart from special pujas on Pradosham and Shivratri for Bhagwan, and Paurnami and Fridays for Amman.
Now, he needs funds for renovating the outer Mandapams and the compound wall and other miscellaneous works. He must also make arrangements for the Kumbabishekam (Consecration). Sri Rajendran Gurukkal has been all alone in this for almost a decade now.
The first press report came in Tamil daily ‘Dinamalar’ on 28 November 2003 and the next one came in the same newspaper on 10 December 2004. After seeing the initiative and hard work put up by Sri Rajendran Gurukkal, the local populace has shown interest and involvement.
As you are all aware, helping the renovation of ancient temples is more sacred than helping to build a new one. Therefore, on behalf of Sri Rajendra Gurukkal, I submit this appeal to you all. Willing friends can send their contributions to:
Sri Rajendran Gurukkal,
Melappoodi Village,
Surakkaai Pettai Post,
Pallipattu Taluk,
Thiruvallur District
Pin Code: 631208.
Contact No: (M): 91-44-9445350276.
Cheques and Demand Drafts can be drawn in favour of Thirupurasundari Temple Renovation Committee, Podaturpettai.
The renovation committee has its Bank account in –
Indian Bank, Podaturpettai Branch, Thiruvallur District.
SB A/C No: 584147426
Namaskarams
