Temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry #119: Irudhayaleeswarar Temple, Thiruninravur

இருதயாலீசுவரர் திருக்கோயில், திருநின்றவூர்

Irudhayaleeswarar Thiruninravur

Irudhayaleeswarar Thiruninravur

Irudhayaleeswarar Thiruninravur

Irudhayaleeswarar Thiruninravur

Irudhayaleeswarar Thiruninravur

Irudhayaleeswarar Thiruninravur

Irudhayaleeswarar Thiruninravur

Irudhayaleeswarar Thiruninravur

Irudhayaleeswarar Thiruninravur

This temple also called the Hridayaleeswarar temple is a Sivan temple just outside the western outskirts of Chennai. It is in Thiruninravur which is better known for the Bhaktavatsala Perumal temple there which is a Divya Desam. Very close to the Perumal temple, this Sivan temple is very ancient. Hridya means heart in Sanskrit. It is Tamilized as Irudhayam. This temple is the temple of the heart. The Lord in the sanctum is Irudhayaleeswarar or the Lord of the Heart. It is closely associated with Poosalar (பூசலார்), pronounced Poosalaar, one of the 63 Nayanmars of Tamil Saivism.

Poosalar was a pious but poor priest who lived in Thiruninravur in the late seventh or early eighth century. He had a fervent dream to build a great temple for Lord Sivan, but did not have the means to do so. Well-versed in the agamic traditions, he designed a temple in his mind and built it in his heart, step by step everyday. From choosing the stones to placing the idols, he took great care and over time, a beautiful temple took shape in his thoughts. Finally the temple was complete and he could picture it perfectly in his mind. He was ready to do a grand kumbabishekam or consecration for the temple in his heart. In the meantime, unbeknownst to him, the Pallava king at nearby Kanchipuram was also building a grand temple for Lord Sivan. Coincidentally, the king set the date for the Kumbabishekam of his temple for the same day as Poosalar did for the temple in his heart. A few days before the set date, Lord Sivan appeared in the king's dream. He told the king that he could not attend the kumbabishekam of his temple because he had to attend another one in Thiruninravur that Poosalar had built. The curious king went to Thiruninravur to see for himself. Not seeing any new temple, he inquired and found Poosalar. The poor man explained to the king that the temple was in his heart. Fascinated by the story and deeply impressed by Poosalar's devotion, the king ordered the building of the temple according to Poosalar's plan.

In the Periyapuranam, the 12th of the Panniru Thirumurai, and the hagiography (sacred biography) of the 63 Tamil Saivite saints or Nayanmaar, its author Sekkizhaar (சேக்கிழார்)

describes the story thus:

அன்றினார் புரம் எரித்தார்க்கு ஆலயம் எடுக்க எண்ணி

ஒன்றும் அங்கு உதவாது ஆக உணர்வினால் எடுக்கும் தன்மை

நன்று என மனத்தினாலே நல்ல ஆலயம் தான் செய்த

நின்ற ஊர்ப் பூசலார்தம் நினைவினை உரைக்கல் உற்றார்

-Periyapuranam (பெரியபுராணம்) 12.071

(In his wish to build a temple for the One who destroyed the three evil cities (Lord Sivan), but having no means to do it, but driven by an ardent desire nevertheless, deciding to build a temple in his heart, Poosalar of Thiruninravur built a temple in his thoughts. We now tell his story)

In Tamil Saivite philosophy, Lord Sivan exists everywhere and his most desirable temple is in a devotee's heart. The concept is a recurrent one in the scriptures. In Thirumoolar's Thirumanthiram, the 10th Thirumurai, he says "உள்ளம் பெருங்கோயில் ஊனுடம்பு ஆலயம்" - the heart and body are great temples. The story of Poosalar and the the temple he got built embody this concept.

The Periyapuranam calls the king involved as Kadavar Koman. Historically he is identified as the great Pallava king Narasimman II or Rajasimman and the grand temple he built in Kanchipuram as the Kailasanathar. If that is accurate, the temple must have been built in the late 7th or early 8th century. In the 1920s a wealthy industrialist by the name of P.S. Saathappa Chettiar of Coimbatore is believed to have renovated the temple and his descendents still play an active role in its maintenance. The temple is in the control of the HR and CE Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

The temple faces east with gopurams at both the east and west outer entrances. The inner roof of the temple is of 4 parts symbolizing the 4 chambers of the human heart. The Lord manifests as Hridayaleeswarar or Manavaleeswarar as a large sivalingam. There is an idol of Poosalar within the sanctum which is unusual. The vimanam is of of the Gajaprishta or Thoonganai Maadam style which is common in the Thondai Nadu. The Devi is Maragathambigai and is in a standing posture in her own shrine. There is a statuette in stone of King Rajasimman near the Navagraha shrine.

People suffering from various heart related ailments come here to be blessed and cured. Eminent cardiologists and cardiac surgeons come to this temple to receive the Lord's blessing and enhance their skills. There are many festivals throughout the year. The thalaviruthcham or temple tree is the vilvam.

Sources:

Dinamalar Temples - Hridayaleeswarar Temple Thiruninravur

Periyapuranam - Sekkizhar

Shaivam.org

The temple is located very close to or just outside the western outer edges of Chennai. It is about 36 km or 1.5 hours west of the centre of Chennai city. We visited in June 2025. We were based in Chennai.

Courtesy Google Maps