हिंदीOn this day
Standing

Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple, Thirunindravur

Lakshmi stopped here and stayed, so the town is Thiru-nindra-ur, where Shri stood. Thirumangai Alvar walked past without singing, and the Lord himself went after him for a verse.

Built: Pallava temple of the 9th century (Nripatunga’s inscriptions), with Chola and Vijayanagara additionsWhere: Tamil Nadu (Tiruvallur district, west of Chennai)Deity: Bhaktavatsala Perumal (Bhaktavi), standing; Thayar Ennai Petra Thayar (Sudhavalli)13.11° N, 80.03° E
  1. c. 9th century
  2. Rajendra Chola II
Photo: Padmakishore · Public domain

01The verse that was fetched

The temple’s katha says Thirumangai Alvar passed Thirunindravur without a song. The Thayar sent Bhagwan after him. By the time he caught up the Alvar was at Thirukkadalmallai, and there he sang a verse for the Lord of Nindravur; later, at Thirukkannamangai, he sang another. So Thirunindravur has two pasurams, both sung elsewhere. The Thayar is called Ennai Petra Thayar, ‘the mother who bore me’, the name the Lord is said to have given her.

02Pallava stone

The oldest inscriptions belong to the Pallava king Nripatunga in the second half of the 9th century and call the place Ninravur. Records of Rajendra Chola II, Virarajendra and Rajaraja II follow. The standing Lord is about ten feet tall. There are shrines for Andal, Chakratalvar, the Alvars and Ramanuja, and behind the temple by the lake is a Rama shrine where Hanuman carries Rama and Lakshmana on his shoulders. The Brahmotsavam falls in Panguni.

The life of this place

  1. c. 9th centuryInscriptions of the Pallava king Nripatunga record the temple at Ninravur.
  2. Rajendra Chola IIChola records continue under Rajendra II and his successors.
Visiting

Thiruninravur station on the Chennai Central–Arakkonam suburban line is a short walk away.

Nearby

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