Thiruvallur is traditionally enumerated as number 77 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.
Thiruvallur is one of the twenty two Divya Desams in Thondai mandalam. It lies about forty two kilometres from Madras City and is on the main broad gauge line between Madras and Arakkonam. This place is known as Punyavrata kshetram and as Deeksharanya kshetram. It is said that long ago, Salihotra rishi did severe penance and God was pleased with his devotion, appeared betore him and asked him’ Nan vasippatharkku uriya ul evvul?’ meaning which is the place best suited for me to reside? The rishi requested God to stay at the very same place where he did penance. Hence the place is known as Thiru Evvullur and, in course of time, got corrupted as Thiruvallur.
The idol of the Lord, here, is very beautiful. The Lord is seen in a lying posture reclining on Adisesha, the divine couch (Seshasayanam). One hand is stretched out towards Lord Brahma, who has emerged from the umbilicus (Nabhi) of the Lord as if the Lord is explaining the Pranava mantram to Lord Brahma. The other hand is pointing downwards with the palm placed on the head of Salihotra maharishi as if granting him"abhayam"(blessing). The idol of the Lord is seen with His head towards the south and feet pointing towards the north. He is known, here, as Veeraraghavan. In Vishnu Sahasranama, one of the 108 names of the Lord tefers to Him as"Bheshajam bhishak"meaning a doctor
who cures the physical ills of His devotees because of which the Lord is known as Vaidya Veeraraghavan. The belief is that whoever visits this place and has a bath in the sacred tank and prays to the Lord has all his physical and mental ills cured by the Lord.
Markandeya Puranam details through stories the special significance attached to the temple, the tank and the Lord.
It is said that, once upon a time, Isranika maharaja met Markandeya maharishi and asked him as to which among the kshetras i.e. the holy places in bhooloka would help him to attain"moksha"(salvation) quickly. Markandeya maharishi related to him a conversation that took place between rishi Devabaguru and rishi Salihotra in Kritayuga. Devabaguru rishi was living on the banks of the Ganges in Badarika ashramam. One day, he requested Salihotra rishi to enlighten him about the place where he could do penance and attain moksha. Devahaguru rishi wanted the Salihotra rishi to tell him the kshetra which had a holy tapovanam (garden for penance) and a punya teertham (holy place) which could wash out even the worst of the sins. He also wanted to go to the temple where the Lord could be easily attained. Salihotra rishi asked Devabaguru rishi to go to Punyavarta kshetram. He said that at that place, there is a famous tapovanam, Veeksharanyam as also a great punya
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