Soundarya Varadaraja Perumal Ponnur

Vaishnavite Temples, Thiruvannamalai District

God

Soundarya Varadaraja Perumal, facing west

Goddess

Sree Devi and Bhoodevi, facing west along with the main deity

Other Deities

Garudan, Anjaneya

Soundarya Varadaraja Perumal Ponnur is an ancient temple situated in a spacious Prakaram along with an east-facing Shiva Temple. The main deity is huge at about 7 feet tall in Matsya Avatar form along with large idols of his consorts. The main deity is unique not only because of its sheer size but also because of the fact that it is made of wood from the Athi Tree (Ficus sps). The Anjaneya idol is a large one too. The sanctum sanctorum is tall befitting the size of the main idol. There is a temple tank behind in the east. The temples are entered through a gateway on the south side.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple Pond

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Soundarya Varadaraja Perumal Ponnur is an ancient temple as is evident from the large number of stone inscriptions found on the sanctum sanctorum walls. Sundarar (7th Century CE) has mentioned the adjacent Shiva temple as Thamaniapathi in his Theveram Hymns and it could be assumed that Soundarya Varadaraja Perumal Ponnur is as old as that. The details of the inscriptions are not available as of now.

Legend

Brahma is believed to have worshiped Lord Shiva here at the adjacent Thirukameswarar temple Ponnur. Thamania Pathi, as this place is called, refers to Brahma who is also called Ponnan (Thamani), and hence the name and the village is also called Ponnur. The place is also called Swarnapuri and Brahmapuri.

Directions

Soundarya Varadaraja Perumal Ponnur is 10 kilometers southwest of Vandavasi and can be reached from both Chetpet Road and Thellar, Tindivanam Roads. A Shiva temple is also in the same campus.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest for food would be Vandavasi.

Vaishnavite Temples

Soundarya Varadaraja Perumal, Ponnur