Sundararaja Perumal, Palayanallur, Tiruchirappalli

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Sundararaja Perumal	Ambal / Thayar:	Sridevi, Bhoodevi
Deity:	Perumal	Historical name:
Vriksham:		Teertham:
Agamam:		Age (years):	500-1000
Timing:	7 to 12 & 4 to 6	Parikaram:
Temple group:		–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Palayanallur	District:	Tiruchirappalli
Maps from (click):	Current location	Tiruchirappalli (15.5 km)	Perambalur (52.9 km)
	Ariyalur (62.7 km)	Thanjavur (65.2 km)

Location

Palayanallur is located about 20km from Trichy, off the road to Tiruvellarai and Thuraiyur.

Sthala puranam and temple information

The history of this temple is closely connected with the nearby Aadi Narayana Perumal temple at Gopurapatti.

Brick shrine where the Namperumal idol was kept (larger image in the gallery below).

In the early 14^th century CE, Islamic troops of Allaudin Khilji, under the command of Malik Kafur, invaded the Pandya kingdom, including areas in and around Trichy. In order to protect Perumal at the temple, Pillai Lokacharyar and his followers hid the moolavar behind a wall they constructed in the Srirangam temple, and moved the utsava murti to this temple, amongst many others (it stayed for a very long time, here). The daily pujas of Srirangam were conducted at the nearby Gopurapatti temple instead. After many years, towards the end of the 14^th century, the deities went back to Srirangam. More info on this here.

During the Lord’s stay here, the villagers of this place and nearby Gopurapatti made their offerings to Namperumal (as the Srirangam utsava murti is also referred to) at this temple, as they could not go to Srirangam. Even today, the annual harvest in the month of Chithirai (April-May) is offered first to Namperumal (now at Srirangam) from Palayanallur and Gopurapatti.

The Namperumal idol was kept in a brick shrine (larger image in the gallery below).

Other information for your visit

Nearby is the Aadi Narayana Perumal temple at Gopurapatti, associated with this temple’s history.

Tiruvellarai Pundarikaksha Perumal temple, a Divya Desam, is located about 10 km away. Close to this temple, or on the way from Trichy, are also the Gneeli Vaneswarar temple at Tiruppaigneeli (Paadal Petra Sthalam) which has been referred to above, Uttamar Koil Perumal temple, and the Bhoominathar temple at Mannachanallur. The Maatruraivaradeeswarar temple (Paadal Petra Sthalam) at Tiruvasi is a small diversion from Uttamar Koil.

Trichy is the nearest major city, and is served by an international airport. Being in roughly the geographical centre of Tamil Nadu, Trichy is well connected by trains to the rest of the state and with other destinations as well.

There are several accommodation options in Trichy across all budgets.