Sri Vyagrapadeswarar Temple is located at Pulipparakkoil, which is about 2 km from the Patalam railway station, near
Chengalpattu.
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Moolavar idol (main deity) of
Shivlinga is known as Vyagrapadeswarar, and the goddess is known as Balakuchalambikai. The Utsava idol (procession idol) is that of
Nataraja. The Shivlinga is enshrined in an elephant-shaped sanctum sanctorum known as Thoonganai Madakkoil. It is said to be a Swayambu Murthy (self-manifested) and unlike other Shivlingas its top portion is small and white in color.
The temple faces east and has a mandapam with finely carved pillars. It also houses other deities in the outer portion of the sanctum sanctorum such as Lord Dakshinamurthy, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, Vishnu Durgai, Umamaheswarar and
Bhairavar. Some inscriptions are also found here. Palar River flows near the temple as Dakshina Pravahini. This is the holy water source and the Sthala Vriksham (sacred tree) is Vilvam.
