Sri Shivanaandeeswarar Temple, Sivanvoyal, Melkondaiyur, Thiruvallur

 

Moolavar: Sri Shivanaandeeswarar 

Amman: Sri Thiripura Sundari Ambal

The name Sivan Vayil literally means the abode or entrance of Shiva. Its Sanskrit equivalent would be Shiva Dvara. True to the significance of its name, the village preserves the remains of an ancient Shiva temple, which can be seen when approaching the village from the north.

The antiquity of Sivan Vayil can be traced back to the Pallava period. According to Epigraphia Indica, Volume XXVII, the village is mentioned as Sivan Vayil in the records of the Pallava king Kampavarman, who ruled around 850 CE. This establishes the historical importance of the village and its association with the Pallava period.

The original temple belonged to the Pallava period, while the present temple is a recent reconstruction. During the reconstruction, several of the old temple pillars and stone slabs were removed and are now found lying outside the temple. The ancient Rishabam and Balipeedam, believed to belong to the Pallava/Chola period, have also been preserved on the left side of the eastern entrance. The Shiva Linga is notably large in size, reflecting the grandeur of the original shrine.

The present temple faces east. A Balipeedam and Rishabam are placed in the mukha mandapam. Above the eastern entrance are stucco representations of Lord Shiva and Parvati.

The Moolavar is a large Shiva Linga installed on a raised level inside the sanctum. Stucco Dwarapalakas guard the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum. The koshtas house the traditional forms of Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

Other deities in the temple include Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas and Bhairavar.

The Ambal Sannidhi is located separately and faces south. The Ambal is depicted in a standing posture with Abhaya and Varada Hastas, symbolising protection and benevolence. Dwarapalakis adorn the entrance to her sanctum.

Although the present structure is largely a recent reconstruction, the surviving ancient sculptures, architectural fragments, pillars and stone slabs offer glimpses into the temple’s Pallava and Chola-period past. Together with the historical reference to Sivan Vayil in the records of Kampavarman, these remnants establish the village as an important link to the early history of the region and its long-standing Shaiva tradition.

Contact: The temple Kurukal Swamynathan can be reached on 9841750781 and daily one Kala Puja is performed.

Location: Sri Shivanaandeeswarar Temple, Sivanvoyal, Melkondaiyur, Thiruvallur