This is an ancient temple in Tiruvannamalai, small in size with one prakara.  Sri Garuda, Thumbikkai Azhwar and Sri Anjaneya grace in front of the Lord’s shrine.  Another Anjaneya is also sculpted on a pillar nearby.

People pray to Chakkarathalwar – the deity of the discus of Lord Vishnu for relief from the threats of enemies, to succeed in efforts.  They also seek boon for a child with all wisdom and spartan characters.

Lord Vishnu graces in the name of Boodhanarayana in two places, at Surulimalai in Theni district and here in this temple.  Though the Lord is a Balaka-child, He looks gigantic as one taking out the life of demon woman Bhoodana who came to breast feed the Lord with an intention to kill Him.  She failed in her pretensions.

The Lord is in a sitting form holding His conch in the right hand and showing the left as abhayahastha.  Tirumanjanam is performed each morning.  People pray to the Lord with sugar candy, sweet pudding seeking a child with all wisdom.

It should be noted that demons are nowhere but in our mind itself in the form of jealousy, anger, passion, lust etc.  Both men and women are vulnerable to such traits.  These qualities are personified as demons in our scriptures destroyed by God.  Hence, a total surrender at the feet of the Lord helps us to conquer these evils.  Here the story of Boodhana and her destruction by the Lord help to destroy the demon in our own self and cultivate noble qualities, mental and physical health.

The temple is on the Girivalam route of Lord Arunachaleswara in Tiruvannamalai.  Devotees begin the Girivalam – going around the mount- here and end the worship here.  They get the theertha from the shrine and spill it at the entrance, thus offering the benefit of worship to Lord Himself.

Lord graces darshan sitting on Sri Garuda.  On the last Saturday of Purattasi month (September-October) one bag of rice is cooked and spread before the shrine and offer it as Prasad to devotees.  As the Lord is too big in size, the quantity of rice also is big.  On Krishna Jayanthi day-birth day of Lord Krishna, special Tirumanjanam is performed and also on Ekadasi, Tiruvonam star days and full moon days.  Devotees offer Tulsi garlands to Chakkarathalwar on Wednesdays with Sweet Pudding Nivedhana.

Kamsa, maternal uncle of Lord Krishna used many tactics to kill Lord Krishna as he was destined to be killed by the Lord.  But he failed and could not go even near the child.  He deputed demon woman Boodhana for the purpose.  She came to Lord-Child Krishna in the guise of a woman of enticing beauty.  She played with the child lord and breast fed Him.  Knowing her mission, Lord also pretended as if accepting her feeding but simply squeezed her life while feeding.  Boodha is another name for demons.  Hence, He is named Boodhanarayana.  A devotee built a temple to Lord Krishna with this design.  But unfortunately, the temple disappeared in the days that followed.

After long years, Lord appeared in the dream of a devotee and told him that he was under the sand.  The devotee recovered the idol and raised this temple.