The temple will be reconstructed with rough-cut granite at a cost of ₹19 crore.
| Photo Credit: Deepa H. Ramakrishnan

In about two years, idols of Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar and his wife Vasuki in Mylapore will be housed inside a new rough-cut granite temple, which will be constructed at a cost of ₹19 crore, replacing the old brick and mortar structure.

It is believed that the poet was born under an Iluppai tree (Madhuca longifolia) in Mylapore and, hence, the temple came to be in the city. Statues of the saint’s parents under an Iluppai tree inside the temple would be renovated.

Santhanakrishnan Sthapathi, who trained under the legendary Ganapathi Sthapathi, who designed the Valluvar statue at Kanniyakumari, has been entrusted with the task. “My father, Shanmugam Sthapathi, was the executive Sthapathi at Kanniyakumari. I, too, have worked there, designing elephants. This temple in Mylapore will be a single elevated structure like the one in Hampi. Designed like a chariot pulled by elephants, the temple for the poet will be fashioned as a structure that will include the sanctum sanctorum and the prakara mandapam. It will have a three-tiered vimana atop the garbhagriha. The vimana for the Vasuki shrine will be two-tiered..,” he explained.

Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments P.K. Sekarbabu said Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was keen on the temple getting built quickly. He will lay the foundation stone for the work by this month-end. A golden lotus pond, fashioned like the pottraamarai tank at the Meenakshi Amman temple in Madurai, would be built here. For, it is believed that Valluvar had presented the Thirukkural at that temple in Madurai. Statues of Avvaiyar, the Pandia King and poets of the Sangam era will be installed at the tank, he added.

The idols of Sri Ekambareswarar, Kamakshi Amman and Karumariamman will also be renovated. A mandapam with couplets from the Thirukkural will be constructed. Facilities for parking would also be created.