Moolavar: Sri Vyagrapureeswarar
Amman: Sri Balakujambal
Nestled on the southern bank of the River Palar stands the ancient Sri Balakujambal Sametha Sri Vyagrapureeswarar Temple, a remarkable Chola-era shrine that has witnessed over a thousand years of history. The temple is a living testament to the architectural brilliance, religious devotion, and royal patronage of successive dynasties. Numerous inscriptions dating from the 10th to the 18th centuries record generous endowments made by Chola rulers and later by the kings of the Vijayanagara Empire, reflecting the temple’s continued prominence through the ages.
The village derives its name Pulipurakoil from the presiding deity, Sri Vyagrapureeswarar (Vyaghra meaning tiger in Sanskrit and Puli in Tamil). The temple is also closely associated with two revered saints—Vyagrapada (Pulikkal Munivar) and Pulipani Siddhar—both of whom are believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva here.
According to temple legend, Vyagrapada, also known as Pulikkal Munivar, was blessed by Lord Shiva with tiger-like legs that enabled him to climb trees effortlessly during the early hours of dawn. His divine boon allowed him to gather fresh, untouched flowers for the Lord before honeybees could reach them, symbolizing the highest form of pure devotion. Owing to this unique blessing, he came to be known as Vyagrapada or Pulikkal Munivar.
The temple is equally significant as the sacred abode of Pulipani Siddhar, one of the celebrated Siddhas of Tamil tradition. It is believed that he rendered devoted service to Lord Shiva here and ultimately attained Jeeva Samadhi within the temple premises, making the shrine an important spiritual destination for devotees of the Siddha tradition.
Temple inscriptions reveal that the shrine existed well before the 12th century during the reign of the Cholas. Ancient records identify the region as Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Kalathur Kottathu Sri Madurantaka Chathurvedi Mangalathu Vadapidagaiyana Mathoor. At that time, the presiding deity was worshipped as Thirupulipakava Nayanar. The exact period during which the village came to be known as Pulipurakoil remains unknown.
Architecturally, the temple faces east and welcomes devotees through an elegant three-tiered Rajagopuram. Proceeding inward, one encounters the Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Nandi (Rishabham) aligned before the Mukha Mandapam. To the right of the Dwajasthambam is the sacred Jeeva Samadhi of Pulipani Siddhar, facing the sanctum of Lord Shiva.
The sanctum is crowned by a distinctive Gajaprishta Vimana, a classic apsidal (“elephant-backed”) architectural style characteristic of several early Chola temples. The koshta niches house the deities Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, and Durga, representing the temple’s rich iconographic tradition.
Within the Ardha Mandapam, Goddess Sri Balakujambal is enshrined on the western side, facing south. She stands gracefully in a serene posture, bestowing blessings through her Abhaya and Varada Hastas, symbolizing protection and benevolence. The revered Nalvar—the four great Saivite saints—are also enshrined here.
The temple further houses shrines for Nagar, Surya Bhagavan, and the celebrated Moovar—Thirunavukkarasar (Appar), Thirugnanasambandar, and Sundarar. In the outer prakaram, the sacred Jeeva Samadhi of Pulipani Siddhar occupies a place of great reverence, enhancing the temple’s spiritual significance.
Rich in history, steeped in sacred legends, and blessed by the presence of saints and Siddhas, Sri Vyagrapureeswarar Temple continues to stand as a timeless symbol of Tamil Saivite heritage and remains a cherished pilgrimage destination in the Chengalpattu region.
Contact: The kurukal Umamaheshwarar can be reached 99524 40373
