Ilayanarvelur is a village located in Walajabad Taluk of Kanchipuram District. The Temple has been built on the Banks of River Cheyyar which is a tributary of River Palar. Sri Murugan or Sri Balasubramaniyar as He is called was a young boy who took Vajra Vel as one of His Weapon and destroyed His foes who were the Asuras. There is a belief that this Temple in Ilayanavelur had come up even before that of Sri Murugan Temple, Thiruchendur. Hence this place was called as Ilaya Velur or Ilayanar Velur which later got tranformed as Ilayanarvelur. This Temple is East facing and is made up of 5 tiered Rajagopuram with a huge Vel or Spear embedded on it. Devotees may have to climb down 4 to 5 steps to reach the level of the Temple premises. On entering there is a Neivedhya Peedam or Bali Peedam, a Dwajasthambam or Kodi Maram and a small Yaanai or Elephant Vaahanam looking towards the Moolasthanam and kept beneath a four pillared Mandapam. To the left of these is a tall four pillared Mandapam which could be used for Oonjal or other Divine Rituals. Then there is a multi pillared Mandapam with a gorgeously painted Gopuram containing the coloured Idols of Sri Murugan marrying Sri Devasena, Sri Arumugham and other Gods and Goddess. An Idol of Sri Anugraha Vinayagar is embeded on the wall close to the left side Dwara Baalaka.

On approching the Moolasthanam are huge coloured Idols of two Dwara Baalakas, one apiece on either side. Atop this entrance a coloured Idol of Sri Gajalakshmi looks dazzling. On approching the Moolasthanam there is a Noothana Urchavar Sub Shrine to the right which is South facing. Next to it is the Sub Shrine wherein the Urchavamoorthy Idols are kept. The Moolasthanam Mandapam is fully lit up with coloured portraits of Sri Murugan depicting different stories of Him. This Mandapam has gold platings on its wall. At the threshold of the Moolasthanam are two Dwara Baalaka Images whch are etched on the gold platings found there. To the left of the threshold is a small Idol of Sri Vinayagar facing East. In the Sanctum Sanctorum Sri Balasubramaniya Swamy is seen East facing and in a standing posture with a Vel and Kodi. The inner peripheral of the Temple has a Sub Shrine of a East facing Sri Santhana Vinayagar. Next to this are the Sub Shrines of Sri Urchavar and Sri Ekambaranathar. To the rear of the Moolasthanam is a West facing Nandhi Bhagwan looking towards the Shiva Lingam of Sri Perukanda Udayar. Looking South is the Idol of Sri Thirupura Sundari Ambal who is seen in a standing posture. Next is the East facing Sub Shrine which consists of the Idols and Shiva Lingams of Sri Kasi Viswanathar, Sri Arunachaleswarar, Sri Nirutha Ganapathy and Sri Maha Ganapathy. Next to this is the all important East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Velayudha Swamy. Instead of any Idol a Spear or Vajra Vel that Shiva had given is seen here and revered. The South facing Sub Shrine of Sri Chandikeshwarar and the North facing Idols of Sri Naaga Devathas are seen in the inner peripheral. Likewise another important Sub Shrine of this Temple is the East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Gajavalli Ambal which is a combination of Valli and Devasena together. Sri Gajavalli Amman's Sub Shrine is to the right of the Moolasthanam. Facing this Sub Shrine is a West facing Sannadhi in which the Idols of Sri Ganapathy and Sri Chandran are seen along with Sri Swaminatha Siddhar who attained Jeeva Samadhi here. The Temple also has a West facing Idol of Sri Suryan. The outer peripheral of the Temple has a South facing Sub Shrine of Sri Dhakshinamoorthy. The Sub Shrine of Sri Varasiddhi Vinayagar is also seen East facing in the outer peripheral. The Temple's Sri Durgai Amman's Sub Shrine is much sought after. In this Sannadhi Sri Durgai Amman is seen facing North in a standing posture. Close to this is the Sthala Viruksham of Vilva Maram. The Navagraha Sannadhi is built close to the upcoming Annadhana Koodam. The Temple's Office is also seen within the Premises. The inner walls of the Temple has colured Idols of Gaja Vaahanam all over. Likewise the outer wall has several coloured Nandhi Vaahanam on it. Close to the Rajagopuram is a small Mandapam where all the Temple Vaahanams are safely kept. The Temple's Car or Chariot is seen outside the Temple premises. The Temple's Pushkarani or Sacred Tank is known as Muruga Theertham and it is seen at the street end opposite to the Temple. It is said that an Athi Murugar is immersed within a Well found inside this Theertham.

The History of the Temple tells that Kashyapa Maharishi did penance thinking of God Shiva due to the fact that two Asuras Magaran and Malaiyan were giving undue tortures and sufferings. Pleased with the Penance of Maharishi Kaashyap, Shiva appeared before Him. The Maharishi pleaded with Shiva to vanquish Malaiyan and Magaran for the sake of the poor and downtrodden who were harrassed and killed. Shiva instead offered a Vajra Vel to Sri Balasubramaniyan who was young then by any standards. No sooner Sri Balasubramaniyam got the Vajra Vel He went on a killing spree vanquishing all enemies inclusive of Malaiyan and Magaran. The dead corpse of the two Asuras Malaiyan and Magaran fell here. This Temple came up at the place where they fell dead. The Vajra Vel offered by Shiva was said to be instrumental in killing the two Asuraas. Chithirai Thiruvizha, Brahmmothsavam, Thepposthavam, Masi Maasa Laksharchanai, Vasantha Urchavam, Pavithorithsavam, Panguni Uthiram, Purattasi Gajavalli Urchavam and Aippasi Kanda Shasti are celebrated with great fanfare.

Contact Details: Ravi Gurukkal 97896 35869 and Lakshmi Flower Shop 63858 96010

Temple Timing: 7 AM to 12 Noon and 4.30 PM to 8 PM

Distance from Walajabad to Ilayanarvelur is 19 Kms

Distance from Kanchipuram to Ilayanarvelur is 24 Kms

Distance from Sunguvarchatram to Ilayanarvelur is 36 Kms

Distance from Sriperumbudur to Ilayanarvelur is 45 Kms

Distance from Vallakkottai to Ilayanarvelur is 37 Kms

Distance from Perumbedu to Ilayanarvelur is 119 Kms

Distance from Andarkuppam to Ilayanarvelur is 95 Kms

Distance from Siruvapuri to Ilayanarvelur is 107 Kms

Distance from Minjur to Ilayanarvelur is 105 Kms

Distance from Ponneri to Ilayanarvelur is 109 Kms

Distance from Perumber Kandigai to Ilayanarvelur is 52 Kms

Distance from Nadupalani to Ilayanarvelur is 52 Kms

Distance from Acharapakkam to Ilayanarvelur is 46 Kms

Distance from Kundrathur to Ilayanarvelur is 58 Kms

Distance from Kumaran Kundram, Chrompet to Ilayanarvelur is 56 Kms

Distance from Uthukadu to Ilayanarvelur is 23 Kms

Distance from Uthiramerur to Ilayanarvelur is 18 Kms

Distance from Theerthagiri to Ilayanarvelur is 87 Kms

Distance from Thamatakodi or Thamtakodi to Elayanarvelur is 109 Kms

Distance from Ratnagiri, Kilminnal to Elayanarvelur is 84 Kms

Distance from Sadras to Elayanarvelur is 59 Kms

Distance from Cheyyur to Elayanarvelur is 66 Kms

Distance from Cheyyar to Elayanarvelur is 38 Kms

Distance from Anakavur to Elayanarvelur is 45 Kms

Distance from Mailam to Elayanarvelur is 90 Kms

Distance from Thiruvallur or Tiruvallur to Elayanarvelur is 63 Kms

Distance from Thiruttani to Elayanarvelur is 71 Kms

Distance from Thiruvalangadu to Elayanarvelur is 66 Kms

Distance from Thirupachur to Elayanarvelur is 65 Kms

Distance from Thirukkachur to Elayanarvelur is 29 Kms

Distance from Guduvancheri to Elayanarvelur is 40 Kms

Distance from Sholinganallur to Elayanarvelur is 66 Kms

Distance from Thiruporur to Elayanarvelur is 56 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Elayanarvelur is 80  Kms

Nearest Railway Station is Walajabad R.S.

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