the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Koyilnet

Abodes of Shiva

 253. Arulmigu Vandaarkuzhali Ammai Sameda Aalankatteesar Temple, Thiruvalangadu

Mulavar   Vidaaranyeeswarar, Devarsingaperuman, Aalankatteesar, Nataraja Oordhvatandavamoorthy
Ambal   Bramharaalakambal, Vandaarkuzhali
Kshethram    
Direction    
Vimanam    
Theertham   Mukthi Theertham
Sthala Vruksham   Aala Maram (Banyan Tree)
Paadiyavar   Gyanasambandar, Appar , Sundarar
Travel Base   Tiruvallur
Nearest Railway Station   Thiruvalangadu
Continent   Thondai
Circle   Thiruvalangadu
District   Tiruvallur
State   Tamil Nadu

Location

It is 15 kms from Tiruvallur on Tiruvallur Arakkonam Route and 2 kms from Thiruvalangadu Railway Station.It is located within two hours drive from Chennai, and within an hours� drive from Kanchipuram.

Architecture

This is a vast and beautiful temple heralded as Ratnasabhai - one of the five Pancha Sabhais special to Nataraja featuring a sprawling well maintained temple complex with beautiful mandapams and gopurams. The five dance halls are Chidambaram, Madurai, Tiruvalankadu, Tirunelveli and Kutralam. This is the 15th of the 32 Tevara Stalams in the Tondai region of South India. There are inscriptions here which speak of grants given by Rajendra Cholan for the upkeep of the temple. Inscriptions here date all the way back to the 5th century. The towering Rajagopuram here, is visible for miles around. The towers and the walls surrounding the temple courtyards date back to the 12th and the 13th centuries. It is inferred from the inscriptions that an earlier Pallava temple was reconstructed and renovated during the Chola rule, and during the later Chola period beginning with the reign of Kulottunga Chola I, the temple campus was enlarged (1075 - 1120). Stucco images depicting the five dance halls of Shiva (Chidambaram, Madurai, Tiruvalankadu, Tirunelveli and Kutralam) are seen crowning the entrance to the inner prakaram.  Karaikkaal Ammaiyaar, one of the 63 revered Naayanmaars, was very closely associated with this shrine and her patikams form part of the 12 Tirumurais.

History

Shiva is said to have defeated Kali in a fierce dance duel by lifting his foot up on the Oordhvatandavam posture. Kali is depicted in a dance posture as well here. Karaikkal Ammayar is said to have walked on hear head to this shrine and her image is seen in the shriine to Oordhvatandavamurthy. There is yet another image of Nataraja, housed within the sanctum of Vadaranyeswarar. Legend has it that upon being requested by Naradar, to save the earthly beings from the rage of Kali, born out of her vanquishing the demons Sumban and Nisumban in the banyan forest in this region,Shiva agreed to a dance duel, and defeated Kali by raising his left foot, to adorn his ear with a earring that had slipped away during the duel - a gesture that Kali failed to imitate and admited defeat.

Festival