Sri Adhi Narayana Perumal Temple, Pulicat

Address

Sri Adhi Narayana Perumal Temple SH 104, Pulicat Ponneri Taluk, Thiruvallur district Tamil Nadu 601205

Diety

Adi Narayana Perumal

Introduction

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. 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 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. Presiding Deity is called as Adi Narayana Perumal. He is flanked by Sridevi and Bhudevi.

Puranic Significance

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.