Sri Anjanatchi Ambal Sametha Sri Kacchabeswara Swamy Temple, Thirukachur, Singaperumal Koil, Kancheepuram District, Tamilnadu

Sri Gurubhyo Namah! Sri MahaGanapathaye Namah!!

SadaShiva Samaarambham, Poorvaacharya Madyamaam, Asmat Aacharya Paryantam Vande Guru Paramparam!!!

I submit this humbly unto the Lotus feet of His Holiness Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamigal, Dakshinaamnaaya Sri Saradha Peetam, Sringeri.


Presiding Deity: Sri Kacchabeswarar/ Sri Virundhu Itta Eswarar,
Presiding Goddess: Sri Anjanatchi
Teertham : Koorma Teertham


This Temple is located in a small village Thirukachur off Singaperumal Koil in Grand Southern Trunk(GST) Road. While travelling from Chennai on GST Road on has to take Right in Singapermal Koil and cross the Railway Crossing and travel further. There is sign board which directs you to the Village Thirukachur.

There are Two Shiva Temples in this Village

1. Sri Andakara Nivarani Sametha Sri Oushadagirishwarar Temple which is on top of a small hillock.
2. Sri Anjanatchi Sametha Sri Kacchabeswarar Temple ( Called as Thyagaraja Swami Temple)

As you approach the temple you can see a 16 pillared mantapam. To its right there is a large temple tank called Koorma Teertham. The temple is facing east, the entrance does not feature a gopuram. Once you enter the temple, you can see the Dwaja stambam, Bali Peetam, Sri Nandi.

                                                               

After having darshan of Sri Nandi, as you proceed toward the main sanctum you come across a 27 pillared hall. This mantap is called Nakshatra Mantap, each pillar representing the one Nakshatra.

From this mantapa you enter the inner praharam which features the main deity Sri Kacchabeswara, facing east. The Shiva Linga definitely is source of cosmic power. I had his darshan only with the light emanating from the oil lamp inside the sanctum.

Devi Sri Anjanatchi is housed in a separate shrine in the inner praharam, and she is facing south. She is holding flowers in her upper two hands and with the lower two hands she is gracing the devotees with abhaya posture and Varadha Posture.

(The Temple was pitch dark in the inner praharam as there was no power in the temple complex when i visited at 11 am, fore noon)

After having darshan of the presiding deities one as you do cicumambulation in the outer praharam, one can see Sri Ganesha Shrine located in the South West Corner.  On the other side of the west praharam North West Corner, Lord Subhramanya is seen with his consorts Sri Valli, Sri Devasena in a separate shirne.

 

 

The Main Shrine of Lord Shiva is featuring the Vimana Structure called Gaja Prusta Vimanam( Below)

Then after having darshan of Sri Subharamanya, there is a shrine for Sri Virundhu Itta Eswarar( Literally translated to God who served feast to his devotee Sri Sundara Moorthy Nayanaar)

 

Legends

 

1. Lord Mahavishnu before the Samudra Manthana(Paarkadal Kadaidal) in his Koorma Avatar Prayed to Lord Shiva here by establishing a Teertham here. Hence the Teertham is called Koorma Teertham.

2. Lord Shiva took alms from the house holds in this village for food to appease the hunger of his devotee Sri Sundara Moorthy Nayanar, hence the name Virundhu Itta Eswaran.

 

 

 

 

 



Sri Andhakaara Nivarani Sametha Sri Oushadheeshwara Swamy Temple, Thirucachur, Singaperumal Kovil, Chennai

Sri Gurubhyo Namah!! Sri Maha Ganapataye Namah !!!
SadaShiva Samarambaam, SankaraCharya Madyamam, Asmat Acharya Paryantam, Vande Guru Paramparaam!!
I pray unto the Lotus Feet of Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Maha Swamigal, Sri Dakshinamnaya Srigeri Saradha Peetam.


Presiding Deity : Sri Oushadheeswara Swamy( Sanskrit)  - Sri Marundeeswarar( Tamil)
Presiding Goddess: Sri Andhakaara Nivarani( Sanskrit) - Sri Irul Neekki Thayar( Tamil)
Theertham: Oushadha Theertham
Stala Vruksham: Jack Fruit ( Palaa Maram)


This Temple Located near Singaperumal Temple , around 3 Kms off the GST Road on the West Side, in a village called ThiruCachur. This Village has two ancient Shiva Temples.

1. Sri Oushadheeswarar Temple on a small hillock and
2. Sri Kachabeswarar Temple ( Thiagaraja Swamy Temple) in the Village

 

Sri Oushadheeswara Temple is located in a samll hillock. The main entrance of the temple is facing South, the entrance doesn't have a Raja Gopuram.

Once entered the temple you come across a mandapam which has beautiful sculptures on its Pillars.

Towards the Left of this Madapam there is a small Shrine for Sri Gnana Ganapathi Facing East.

The Main Shrine is reachable from the main south entrance and the Lord is Facing West. The Sanctum reverbarates with the vibrations emanating from the Lord.

One Can have Darshan of Sri Durga, Sri Brahma, Sri Vishnu, Sri Dakshina Moorthy, Sri Ganapathi, Sri Chandikeshwara on the kosta while doing pradakshina..

The shrine of Devi Sri Andhakaara Nivarani is next and is located to the Right of the Mandapam. As the priest performed the aarthi i was able to have darshan, and could feel the powers which could dispel any darkness.

The temple has a well designed Well which is used as theertham . The Oushada theertham.  The Well has a side entrance and has few steps to climb down and get water for abhishekam.

Then you have the Navagraha Shrine on the south east Corner of the Temple.

The Legends: ( As told to me by the priest)

1. Once Indra was suffering from some form of ailment, Aswini Devas the celestial doctors having no clue about the ailment of Indra, did penance to acquire the requesite knowledge for administering the medicine. Lord Shiva guided them to this place called Oushada Giri and advised to find the herbs from there. Having reached this place and unable to find the correct herb they prayed towards Devi Parvathi.  Devi Parvathi pleased by the prayers of Aswini Devas dispelled their ignorance and guided them to get the correct medicine. Thus Devi is Called by the name of Andhakaara Nivarani.

2. Here the belief is that the Soil/ Mud is itself medicine. By having strong belief and smearing the same one can get rid of chronic ailments.

3. The Chandikeswara is having four faces which is unique to this temple.

4. By doing Girivalam,( Circumambulation of The Hillock) on Pournami Day or Fridays one is blessed with Gods Grace.



The temple is well maintained and as any other temple with support from the devotees is getting renovated.

Sri Tripurasundari Sametha Sri Marundeeswara Swami Temple, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai

Presiding Deity: Sri Marundeeswara Swamy
Presiding Goddess: Sri Tripurasundari
Stala Vruksham: Vanni Tree
Theertham:  Originally this temple had 5 Theertham out of which one in ceased to Exist. Two are in the form of Tank/Pond, other two are in the form of well..


This temple is located in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai. This Temple is just located on the start of the East Coast Road ( ECR ) in Thiruvanmiyur.

The main entrance is located in the East side which is adorned by a 7 tiered Rajagopuram, as you cross this  entrance there another 5 tiered Gopuram. Between this two Gopuram is a Mandapam which has few beautiful paintings. Towards left there is a Theertham, and towards right there is a stage for cultural activities. As you cross the second Gopuram, you could get the darshan of Lord Vigneswara and Lord Muruga. They both are facing East.

Then you enter the Somaskanda Mandam and the God is called as Sri Thyagaraja Swami.  After worshipping the Sri Thyagaraja Swami we enter the main shrine where Lord Marundeeswara swami is Located. Lord is facing West. The Shrine is well maintained. The inner praharam has shrines of Sri Ganapathy along with the  4 Saivate saints ( Appar, Sundarar, Manickkavasagar and Thirugnanasambandar), Gajalakshmi, Sri Subramanyar, Urchava Murthies, Sri Natarajar, 108 Shiva Lingams, Kedarishwarar, Ramanatheswarar, Sundareswarar, Arunachaleswarar, The Sixty three saivate saints. The Kosta has Sri Durga, Brahma, Dakshinamurthy, Vinayagar.

After having darshan of Sri Marundeeswara Swami,  one can enter the shrine of Goddess Sri Tripurasundari. Goddess is facing south. As i entered the shrine i could feel the mothers grace in full.

Legends:

1. Sage Vasishtha's celestial cow after being cursed , did penance here to get rid of the curse.
2. Sage Valmiki, the narrator of Srimad Ramayana, did penance here, and the town is named after him, Thiru (Sri) +Vanmi(Valmik) + Oor( Place) = Thiruvanmiyur
3. Lord Shiva Shared the Secret Knowledge of the herbal medicine to Sage Agasthya hence the Name Marundeeswara.

Temple Timings:

From morning 6:00 AM to 12 PM and 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM

 

Sri Karpagambal Sametha Sri Kapaaleeshwara Swamy Temple, Mylapore, Chennai

Presiding Deity: Sri Kapaaleshwara Swamy
Presiding Goddesses: Sri Karpagambal
Stala Vriksham: Punnai Maram

This temple is located in heart of Chennai , the Mylapore.  The goddess Devi Parvati worshipped Lord Shiva in the Form of a Peahen.  Hence the place got its name Mayil(Peahen)- Puram ( Place) = Mayilapuram which later became to be known as Mylapore.

This temple complex is of prinstine beauty, the complex consist of a Temple Tank, The Temple , The Festival Mandapam.

The Temple has its main entrance on the east which has tower facade/ Gopuram. The Gopuram boasts various idols which are very beautiful. As you enter the temple from the east main entrance one can have the darshan of Lord Sri Ganesha in the form of Nardhana Vinayagar. Lord Ganesha is here in dancing form.

As you start from  Ganesha Shrine towards the main shrine, one can have darshan of Lord Annamalaiyar and Sri Unnamalai Amman. As you further walk towards the sanctum one can visit the Temple of Sri Singaravelavan,  Lord Murugan in his Six Faced Form with his consorts Sri Valli and Sri Deivanai.  Infront of Lord Singaravelavan Temple, one can find a shrine dedicated to Sri Arunagirinathar.

As you pass the Sri Nandi the Temple management has made a queue which will take you to the Shirne of Shri Karpagambal, The Presiding Goddess. The devi's name translates to the one who continuously grants boons to the devotees. There are lot of songs and strotras sung in praise of Devi Sri Karpagambal.

After having darshan of Sri Karpagambal the queue takes you to the Shiva shrine ,  Lord Kapaleeshwara. You can see Sri Durga , Sri Brahma , Lingothbavar, Dakshina moorthy, Selva vinayagar in the most a of the sanctum. The praharam of Lord Kapaleeshwara also houses Palliyarai, 63 nayanmars , bairavar, veerabhadra and few other gods. 

The Legends:

1. Sri parvathi performing penance in the form of a peahen .

2. Thiru Gnanasambandar bring back a girl to life from the ash pot . 

3. Birth place of Sri Vayilar Nayanar, who is one of the 63 nayanmars.

The temple is well connected by Road,rail, and Chennai has an international airport.

This is one of the Seven Shiva Temples of Mylapore

The temple timings :

5 am to 12 pm 

4:30 pm to 9:00 pm