40kms North West of Madras off the Calcutta National Highway N0.5 is the 1000 year old Adi Kesava Perumal temple in Vada Madurai, Periya Palayam. While largely unknown, the Vada Madurai temple has inscriptions dating back to the period of the Great Chozha King- Rajendra I and Rajendra Chozha II as well as several sculptures relating to the Ramayana.
Ancient Rama Idol
One of the highlights of the temple is the ancient 1000 year old image of Rama and Baratha made in copper. Inscriptions indicate that Rajendra I (Gangai Konda Chozhan) donated 50acres of land for betel leaves & nuts cultivation to be dedicated to Lord Rama as a wedding gift to the Lord. One finds the entire story of Ramayana in beautiful little artistic sculptures inside the Mandapam.
3 Tier Garuda
The 3 Tier Garuda Sannidhi found at the Vada Madurai is a special feature.
Raja Simha Stones at the temple entrance
While there are not many inscriptions relating to the Pallava connection to the temple, at the entrance one finds 5 RajaSimha stone Sculptures welcoming the devotees.
Artistic Sculptures
Some of the interesting ones are the fight between Rama/Lakshmana and Lava-Kucha, Rama and the 10 headed Ravana depicting the very end of the battle in Lanka.
No Gopuram
The entrance does not have the typical temple tower indicative of a Vishnu temple and is only a ‘Mottai Gopuram’
Festivals
Rama Navami Kalyana Utsavam
Sri Jayanthi
Ekadesi
Puratasi Saturday are special here
Quick Facts
Moolavar: Adi Kesava Perumal, East Facing Standing Posture with Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi
Goddess : Adi Lakshmi Thaayar (Separate Sannidhi)
Utsavar: Ancient Rama alongside Baratha (New idols of Lakshmana and Sita are more recent additions)
Temple Time : 630am-12noon and 5pm-8pm
Priest : R. Balaji Bhattar @ 97887 81862
Address: Adi Kesava Perumal Koil, Vada Madurai Village
Othukottai Taluk, Tiruvallur District 601 102
How to Reach
Vada Madurai is 40kms North West of Madras.
One can take the Madras-Madhavaram-Red Hills Road (Nellore-Calcutta NH 5), drive about 27kms and take a left towards Periyapalayam (13kms).
1km before Periyapalayam take a left (Vengal-Tiruvallur Road) to reach Vada Madurai (1km from this junction)
One can also reach Vada Madurai via Thiru Ninravur ( 21kms from the Divya Desam)
4 comments:
Dear Mr. Prabhu,
This blog is very useful to all vaishnavites. I shall be very happy if you will provide a facility to download the informations about the temples in PDF format, so that we can print it and take it along with us when we visit the temples. This facility is available in anudinam.com
Thank you
Muralidharan aiyangar
Very true. I agree with what Sri Muralidharan Aiyengar has said.
very informative about the Indian temples.
Hello Mr.prabhu....I would like to know whether I can put mottai for my girl kid here since I am pregnant and I'm unable to go till thirupathi. Otherwise please let me know which Vishnu temple in and around Chennai take mudi kaanikkai
They will accept this in Thirumalai Vaiyavoor Venkatesa Perumal temple - about 75kms from Madras. Link below:
http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2011/01/thirumalai-vaiyavoor-prasanna-venkatesa.html
or
Oppiliappan temple might be the easiest...
They have a good process.
You can take the Uzhavan Express from Madras at 11.30pm
and can take the return trip from Kumbakonam at 11am the next morning
and be back in the city by 6pm i.e if you are able to take a
sleeper class train journey.
Post a Comment