The Temple is located in Thiruvellarai a few Kilometers away from Chennai to Trichy National Highway in Mannachanallur Taluk. The Temple is constructed on 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 Sri Senthmaraikannan. It is also unique that within the Sanctum Sanctorum God Adhi Seshan is found in a Human form standing near the Presiding Deity. Sri Suryan and Sri 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. 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.

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 Sri 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 presumed 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 Sub Shrines for Sri Nammalwar, Sri Thondaradipodi Alwar, Sri Chakkrath Alwar, Sri Garudan, Sri Varahar, Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar, Sri Andal, Sri Perialwar, Sri Krishnar and  Sri Karya Siddhi Anjaneyar. There is a Sub Shrine for Sri 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 Sri 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. 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. Panguni Brahmmothsavam and Gajendra Moksham are the other two important occasions here.

Contact Details: 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 Trichy or Tiruchirappalli to Thiruvellarai is 23 Kms

Distance from Srirangam to Thiruvellarai is 16 Kms

Distance from Mannachanallur to Thiruvellarai is 7 Kms

Distance from Gunaseelam to Thiruvellarai is 24 Kms

Distance from Anbil to Thiruvellarai is 32 Kms

Distance from Koviladi to Thiruvellarai is 36 Kms

Distance from Thiruadhanoor to Thiruvellarai is 114 Kms

Distance from Thanjavur to Thiruvellarai is 76 Kms

Distance from Thirupattur to Thiruvellarai is 31 Kms

Distance from Kumbakonam to Thiruvellarai is 115 Kms

Distance from Srimushnam to Thiruvellarai is 125 Kms

Distance from Kattuparur to Thiruvellarai is 124 Kms

Distance from Mayiladuthurai to Thiruvellarai is 151 Kms

Distance from Sirkazhi or Sirkali to Thiruvellarai is 167 Kms

Distance from Salem to Thiruvellarai is 125 Kms

Distance from Rasipuram to Thiruvellarai is 98 Kms

Distance from Namakkal to Thiruvellarai is 71 Kms

Distance from Ariyakudi to Thiruvellarai is 121 Kms

Distance from Alagarkoil or Azhagar Kovil to Thiruvellarai is 124 Kms

Distance from Madurai to Thiruvellarai is 149 Kms

Distance from Thirukkoodalur to Thiruvellarai is 91 Kms

Distance from Sriperumbudur to Thiruvellarai is 304 Kms

Distance from Kanchipuram to Thiruvellarai is 274 Kms

Distance from Krishnagiri to Thiruvellarai is 234 Kms

Distance from Varattanapalli to Thiruvellarai is 241 Kms

Distance from Shoolagiri to Thiruvellarai is 262 Kms

Distance from Hosur to Thiruvellarai is 266 Kms

Distance from Coimbatore to Thiruvellarai is 213 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Thiruvellarai is 330 Kms

Nearest Railway Station is Tiruchirappalli R.S.

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