The Temple is located in Thiruvellarai a few Kilometers away from Chennai to Trichy National Highway.  The Temple is constructed in a hillock like elevated place and Devotees could reach the Temple premises by road.  In Thiruvellarai village there is a colourful Welcome Arch leading the Devotees to this Temple.  The Presiding Deity of this Temple is Sri Pundarikakshan Perumal who is an incarnation of Maha Vishnu.  He is found together with His Consort Goddess Pankajavalli Thaayar (Sri Devi) in the Sanctum Sanctorum.  The Moolavar Pundarikaksha Perumal is also called as Senthmaraikannan.  It is also unique that within the Sanctum Sanctorum God Adhi Seshan is found in a Human form standing near the Presiding Deity.  Suryan and Chandran are found in the Sanctum Sanctorum fanning the Moolavar in order to keep Him cool.  It is also noteworthy to mention here that Garudan and Adhi Seshan are found together in the Sanctum Sanctorum.  There are 18 steps to climb and reach the Sanctum Sanctorum and these 18 steps are referred to the 18 chapters of Bhagavath Geetha.  Goddess Shenbagavalli Thaayar is found in another Shrine from where She Blesses Her Devotees.  It is said that Goddess Maha Lakshmi and Markandeya Maharishi performed a Penance from a cave located at the rear of the Temple.  There is a huge Banyan Tree just before the cave.  The Alwars have sung in praise of Pundarikaksha Perumal and this Temple is included as one among the 108 Divya Desam.  Some Devotees and scholars refer this Temple as a Noble Abode of God and call it as Uthama Kshethram.  The Temple has been built with white rocky stones and it is persumed that Thiruvellarai gets its name due to this fact.  The Temple is unique since it does not have a Rajagopuram till now.  Some say that the Temple was built by the Pallava King Nandhi Varman.  There is another story in which Ayodhya King Sibi Chakravarthy was searching for a wild boar and wanted to kill it.  Then, Sage Markandayer appeared before the King and advised him tha the wild boar was actually Maha Vishnu in disguise.  He then told the King to build the Temple here and hence the Temple came up in this place.  There are 2 entry points for the Sanctum Sanctorum.  The first entrance is used for a period of 6 months during Uthrayanam and then this is closed and the second entrance is kept open for the Devotees during the Dakshnayanam.  There are Sub Shrines for Nammalwar, Thondaradipodi Alwar, Chakkrath Alwar, Garudan, Varahar, Lakshmi Narasimhar, Andal, Perialwar, Krishnar and  Karya Siddhi Anjaneyar.   There is a Sub Shrine for Uyyakondan who happens to be the Guru of Saint Ramanujar and the Dasavatharams are kept in another Sub Shrine.  Likewise there is a Sub Shrine for Manavala Maamunigal in the outer peripheral of the Temple.  It is believed that even God Shiva came here to seek the Blessings of Sri Pundarikaksha Perumal and He got redemption after worshipped Him hence it is said that Devotees who worship this Perumal get rid of their Sins immediately.  The Chariot festival is considered important here and  during that time all the Deities are decorated and kept in the Chariot and taken round the streets.  Panguni Brahmmothsavam and Gajendra Moksham are the other two important occasions here. There are seven Theerthams or Sacred Tank linked with this Temple and out of these 6 are within the Temple premises and they are as follows:  Divya Theertham, Kanda Kshree Theertham, Chakkara Theertham, Pushkala Theertham, Padma Theertham and Varaaha Manikarnika Theertham.  The seventh Theertham is located outside the Temple and is called as Swasthika Theertham.  The Vimanam of this Temple is Imalaakkruthi Vimaanam.  Saint Ramanujachariar had stayed here for some time.  The Temple has its own Madapalli or Temple Kitchen for free distribution of Prasadams.  Free Annadhanam is given and they have built an Annadhana Koodam for this purpose.  The compound of this Temple is so huge and high and the water near it gives a moat like appearance.

Temple Phone Number: Vinod Bhattachariar - 86676 99799, Achuthan Bhattachariar - 95242 96292, 95978 57231, Kannan Bhattar Alias Govinda Narayanan - 98658 66968, 88709 16968, Purushothaman Bhattar - 90927 62000, 97885 28711,  04312 - 562243 and 93451 18817.

Temple Timing: 7 AM to 1 PM and 4 PM to 8 PM

Distance from Chennai to Thiruvellarai is 324 Kms

Courtesy: T.Ragavachari - 98411 40126