Ramagiri Vaaleeswarar Temple

I am going to introduce you to a small, ancient, and beautiful temple located at the base of a hill. This site, known as Ramagiri, remains largely unexplored. Ramagiri can be accessed from Chennai, the gateway to South India, or from the world-famous Hindu pilgrimage site of Tirupati. It lies along the Chennai-Tirupati route, and if you are traveling from Chennai, you will reach this place after passing through Uttukkottai, Surruttapalli, and Nagalapuram.

Near the temple

Ramagiri village has two temples—one dedicated to Subramanya at the top of the hill and another at its base. The hilltop Subramanya temple is relatively new, built in 1969. However, the temple at the base of the hill, known as Vaaleeswarar Temple, has many legends associated with it.

According to legend, Lord Rama wished to perform a ritual in Rameswaram, and instructed Hanuman to bring a Shiva Linga from Kasi (Varanasi). As Hanuman was returning via Ramagiri, Lord Bhairava used his power to make him tired and thirsty. Looking for water, Hanuman spotted a pond and entrusted the Shiva Linga to a boy, unaware that the boy was actually Bhairava. When Hanuman returned after quenching his thirst, he found the Shiva Linga already installed in the ground. Despite his efforts, he was unable to lift it. In frustration, he cursed the pond to turn into a hill and returned to Kasi to fetch another Shiva Linga. It is believed that this hill, created by Hanuman’s curse, is Ramagiri. Since the Shiva Linga was pulled by Hanuman’s tail, it came to be known as "Vaaleeswarar" (with "Vaal" meaning "tail" in Tamil). To this day, the Shiva Linga remains slightly tilted.

The Vaaleeswarar temple is believed to have been built in the 9th century CE. Ramagiri is a small village in Andhra Pradesh, near the Tamil Nadu border, surrounded by lush green fields. It is a tranquil location with no major buildings, shops, or houses nearby.

The first structure you encounter is a pond filled with pure water. Its source remains unknown, but water continuously flows from the mouth of a Nandi icon throughout the year. Near the Nandi, there is a small Shiva Linga icon and a shrine for Lord Ganesha. Behind the Ganesha shrine, steps lead to the hilltop Subramanya temple.

Though the original temple is attributed to the Pallavas, its present structure does not reflect Pallava architectural style. The temple lacks a Raja Gopuram (tower) and a flag post. It is divided into two main sections—the first dedicated to Bhairava and the second to Shiva as Vaaleeswarar.

While temples with Bhairava as the presiding deity are common in North India, they are rare in the South. This temple is one such exception, featuring a magnificent and towering icon of Bhairava in the sanctum. In front of the sanctum, there is an image of a dog, the vahana (mount) of Bhairava. Adjacent to the Bhairava shrine, there is a separate shrine for Goddess Kalikambal. The corridor surrounding the shrine has small niche images of Bhairava in various postures. At the entrance of the shrine, two Shiva Lingas and an unusual Siddhi Vinayaka icon with a distinct trunk shape can be found.

The other section of the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped as Vaaleeswarar. The Shiva Linga here is slightly tilted. In front of him stand a small Nandi icon and an icon of Hanuman—an unusual placement, as Hanuman is typically found in front of Rama, not Shiva. This makes the temple unique. A larger, more ornate Nandi icon is also present outside the sanctum. The entrance to the sanctum is flanked by two large Dwarapalaka icons, along with Ganesha and Chandramouleeswarar (another form of Shiva Linga).

The corridor around the Vaaleeswarar shrine features an array of beautifully sculpted icons, each with intricate details that set them apart from those in other South Indian temples. The corridor houses icons of Brahma, Vishnu, Shanmukha, Veerabhadra, Durga, Surya, Chandikeswarar, Sapta Matas, Dakshinamurti, Ayyappa, Anjaneya, and Appar. The icon of the saint Agastya is unique, as he is depicted with a head covering resembling a hat. The Ganesha icon, known as Gajamukha, showcases the Pallava sculptural style. A seated Veerabhadra icon, a rarity in South Indian temples, adds to the temple's distinctiveness. Another fascinating Ganesha near the main shrine entrance has an especially captivating appearance.

A separate shrine is dedicated to the temple’s Goddess, Maragadambigai. Her icon is grand and striking. On the wall, a small carving depicts the scene of Hanuman pulling the Shiva Linga.

This temple is a serene and spiritually enriching site, offering an ancient ambiance and a sense of tranquility.

Lord Shiva is traditionally believed to have five faces—Isaanam, Thathpurusham, Vaamadhevam, Sathyojaatham, and Agoram. Near Chennai, there are five temples, collectively known as Pancha Brahma Sthalams, each representing one of these faces. The Vaaleeswarar temple of Ramagiri symbolizes the Isaana face of Shiva.

The temple’s Bhairava is also known as Santana Prapti Bhairava. It is believed that childless couples who worship him here will be blessed with children.

Happy travelling.



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