The Bhaktavatsala Perumal temple of Tiruninravur is one of the well known Vishnu temples of South India. Tiruninravur is situated in Tiruvallur district in Tamil Nadu and is about thirty kilometers from Chennai. This is very popular place as it is the abode to the Bhaktavatsala Perumal temple. The temple itself is very famous because it is praised by Tirumangai Azhvar in his hymns. The Bhaktavatsala Temple enjoys a pride of place as one of the 108 Divya Desams and is held very sacred by Srivaishnavas. Many ancient inscriptions have been discovered here, which reveal that as early as the 9th century A.D. This place was known as Ninravur. The prefix Tiru had been added at a later date in order to indicate that it is a sacred place. The ancient inscriptions enhanced the traditional greatness of the temple.

Legend of the Bhaktavatsala Temple - The legendary stories depict Bhaktavatsala Perumal as the deity of the Temple, though originally goddess Lakshmi was the principal deity. Tirumangai Azhvar visited the temple to sung the hymns in praise of the temple.

Architecture of the Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple- The temple architecture and beautiful trappings on the images is the chief attraction of the Temple. The architectural carvings mainly depict the incidents from the stories of Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas and also depict the incarnations of Puranas.

Inscriptions of the Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple - The inscriptions of the temple clearly depicts that the temple was constructed during the Pallava period and probably renovated during the Cholas. The Chola inscriptions depict the achievements of the chola kings and their benevolent contributions.