Adi Narayana Perumal Temple, Pulicat, Thiruvallur
Adi Narayana Perumal Temple is a Hindu Temple
dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Pulicat in Ponneri Taluk in Thiruvallur
District of Tamilnadu. The Temple is a marvel of
laterite blocks, and is famous for its Ramayana miniature sculptures.
History
From the
third century BCE, Pulicat was under the early Cholas, Pandyas, Sangam Cheras,
Pallavas and then under the medieval Cholas. Geographer Ptolemy’s records of
ancient ports include mentions of Podouke (now Pulicat). When it came under the
Vijayanagar Kingdom between the 14th and 17th Centuries, Pulicat was called
Anandarayan Pattinam, and Krishnadevaraya changed it to Pazhaverkadu. It was
during this time that the Adi Narayana Perumal Temple was built.
Pazhaverkadu
was also known as Pralaya Kaveri and Mallapatnam as per the 16th century
Telugu stone inscription found above the entrance of the Goddess shrine. This
temple has been built by a Telugu man called Balavandakulu. By all
accounts, the temple was popular with the villagers and till 1988 a priest used
to come from Ponneri and Laksharchanas, Navaratri puja and other pujas were
conducted regularly. The last samprokshanam was in 1979.
The Temple
The
original temple was a magnificent structure, typical of the great temples of
south India. The entrance is striking and even though the gopuram is missing,
the main entrance with the walls on either side looks like an entrance of a
fort. The Temple has been built by Balavandakulu, a Telugu, as per the Telugu
inscription found at the Thayar shrine in the complex.
The most striking feature and may be the first of
its kind seen in Tamilnadu is that the whole temple is built using Laterite only.
The roofs are made up of stone. The Vimanam are mixture
of limestone and bricks. There is a small mandapam with Garuda facing the main
shrine at the entrance; inside are exquisite Murtis of Rama, Lakshmana and
Sita. The Rama image is broken, with the bow and arrow missing.
There
was once a separate sannidhi for Rama to the right of the main sannidhi, which
has now collapsed. The mandapam leading to the temple has beautiful carvings of
dancers and the Dasavathara. On one pillar has a relief of a monkey eating
a jackfruit; above is a panel of four monkeys juxtaposed to look like a single
monkey. There are rich carvings of mermaids, man-beasts, man with several
heads.
Presiding
Deity is called as Adi Narayana Perumal. He is flanked by Sridevi and Bhudevi. The
utsavars had been removed to a newly built Varadaraja temple for safety. The
Lord in this temple is seen in standing posture, with Sankhu and chakra in his
upper hands. His lower right hand is Abhaya hasta and the lower left-hand rests
on his thigh.
Outside
the sannidhi is a small but beautiful idol, whose lower right hand is Varada
hasta and whose lower left-hand rests on the thigh. He too is flanked by
Sridevi and Bhoodevi. The Thayar and Andal Shrines are separate on either side
of the main mandapam. The bali peetam is a beautifully carved structure, with
steps leading to the top of the bali peetam from all four sides.
The
Temple is called as mini-Angkor Vat, because it has intricately carved Ramayana
scenes on its roof cross-beams, close to the ceilings, the figures not taller
than 8 inches. The miniature engravings that run across the supporting beams in
the ardha mandapa, depicting in detail, the story of Ramayana. This
is still intact. Apart from this, the smaller mandapa before the main shrine
and two small shrines on the side still remain in their original form, though
dilapidated. The temple staircase had intricate carvings, which are no longer
noticeable.
The
temple is rich in heritage and artistic value, but lacks care and maintenance.
It has only two acres of land in Thaangalperumpalam, a village that is a few
miles away but its produce is insufficient for the maintenance of the temple. There
is a Subramanya Swamy temple which is some 150 years old built by some Chettiars
in nearby area, and also a 10th century Chola period temple is located in the
nearby Koviladi island.
Connectivity
The
Church is located at about 550 meters from Pazhaverkadu Bus Stop, 1 Km from Pulicat
Bus Stand, 9 Kms from Thirupalaivanam, 10 Kms from Karungali, 20 Kms from Ponneri,
20 Kms from Ponneri Railway Station, 74 Kms from Thiruvallur, 70 Kms from
Chennai Airport and 55 Kms from Chennai. Town buses are frequently available
from Ponneri and Red Hills.
