Situated on the outskirts of Chennai, this temple is a Paadal Petra Sthalam in Padi.

At its heart, the temple houses the presiding deity Tiruvallesvarar within the sanctum, accompanied by Goddess Jagadambika. An elevated viewpoint offers a vantage to behold both deities simultaneously.

This temple finds its roots in the devotion of sage Bharadwaja, who worshipped the presiding deity in the form of a sparrow, giving rise to the temple’s name, Thiruvalithayam. Several inscriptions, dating back to the 11th century, bear testament to the contributions made by the Cholas.

Sage Bharadwaja’s worship, with the presiding deity appearing as a sparrow named Valiyan, led to the name Valithayam, signifying the one worshipped by a sparrow. Historically, Padi was associated with the storage of armory, and during medieval times, it witnessed multiple wars that impacted the temple’s structure. According to Tamil references, a resting place near a battlefield is known as Padi, which eventually lent its name to the modern location.

Devotees flock to this temple to seek blessings from Lord Tiruvallesvarar, who is revered by Ramar, Bharathwajar, Anjaneyar, Surya, Chandra, Indran, and Valiyan. Additionally, it is believed that the planet Jupiter (Guru Bhagwan) sought the Lord’s divine grace at this very site to absolve a sin, leading to the establishment of a dedicated shrine for Guru, apart from the Navagrahas.