Sri Neelamalar Kanni Ambal Sametha Sri Swarnagateshwara Swamy Temple, Thirunelvennai, Ulunderpet Taluk, Villupuram District

Sri Gurubhyo Namah! Sri Maha Ganapathaye Namah!! Sri Maatre Namah!!!

Sri Sadashiva Samarambhaam, Poorvacharya Madyamaam, Asmat Aacharya Paryantam Vande Guru Paramparam!!!

I submit this work unto the lotus feet of Sri Sri His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Bharathi Teertha Mahaswamigal, Sri Sringeri Saradha Peetam.



Presiding Deity:      Sri Swarna Gateshwarar/ Sri Vennaiyappar(Tamil)
Presiding Goddess: Sri Neelamalar Kanni



This temple is located in a small village called Thirunelvennai in Ulundurpet Taluk of Villupuram District of Tamilnadu. While travelling from Thirukovilur towards Trichy Chennai NH via asanur main road, one has to cross Eraiyur and take right and travel for 4 kms via Vadakurumbur village.


This temple is located in centre of the village, the deity is known as Sri Swarnagateshwarar. The temple doesn't feature a gopuram. In front of the temple entrance you can see Sri Nandi. No Dwajastambam is seen.As you enter the temple you can reach the main sanctum of Lord Shiva. The Linga is said to be swambhu. Above lord one can see a hanging roof made of Rudraaksha.  The lord is facing east.



After having his darshan as you circumambulate, you can see the shrines of Lord Ganesha, Lord Subramanyah, Lord Vishnu.

After having darshan of these shirnes one can reach the shrine of the Lordess Neelamalarkanni.




The legend as told to me by the priest is , Lord Shiva offered a pot full of gold to help the people here. The priest further added that this place was so rich that once to prevent a major breach on the bank of the village tank people used the rice bags cultivated to make an embankment, however not much about this temple is known today.


The  priest further added that the temple has started attracting patronage and people have  started visiting this temple from different towns.

The temple needs a good amout of upkeep and patronage.

 

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 Manonmani Ambal Sametha Sri Baktha Janeswara Swamy Temple, Thirunavalur, Ulundurpettai Taluk, Villupuram District

Sri Gurubhyo Namaha! Sri Mahaganapathaye Namaha!!

Sri Sadashiva Samarambhaam, Poorvaacharya Madyamaam, Asmat Acharya Paryantham Vande Guru Paramparam!!!

I Submit this humble work unto the feet of His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Bharathi Teertha Mahaswamigal, Dakhshinaamnaya Sri Sringeri Saradha Peetam.


Presiding Deity     : Sri Baktha Janeswarar( Sanskrit)/ SriNaavaleeswarar( Tamil)
Presiding Goddess: Sri Manonmani/ Sri Sundaranayaki
Stala Vruksham     : Jambu Fruit Tree/ Naaval Tree
Teertha                  : Gedila River
Glorified by          : Sri Sundarar


This temple is located in a Village by name Thirunaavalur/ Thirnaamanallur in Ulundurpettai Taluk of Villupuram District, Tamilnadu on the Chennai Trichy National Highway.

One Can find this temple at the entrance of the village with huge outer wall. The Temple entrance is facing east side. The temple has a 5 storied gopuram/tower. As one crosses the main entrance, one can see the dwaja stambam, Nandi's Shrine. It happened to be a Pradosham day on 24/07/2014 when i visited the temple.  The Nandi was decorated after the abhishekam.

After having darshan of Nandi one can find Sri Sundara Vinayagar, Once can  enter the main shrine after crossing the Mahamantapam, Arda Mandapam.  Sri Baktha Janeswara Swamy is gracing his devotees with his blessings.

After having darshan of Lord as you start circumambulating, one can find 63 Nayaanmars on the southern side of the praharam. Sri Valli, Sri Devasena Sametha Lord Skanda and  Yuga Lingas on the western side of the praharam, and on the northern side once can find  Saptharishi Lingas.  On the kosta on can find the shrines of Sri Dakshina Moorthy on the South and Sri Durga Devi on the North.

On the eastern side of the praharam one can find the shrine of Navagrahas with Sun facing the west. In Front of Sukra in the navagraha there is a Lingam for which Sukra has performed poojas.

After having darshan of the this temple complex one can reach the Shrine of Devi Manonmani. There is a paved footpath to reache the shrine. One can find the Stala Vruksham Jambu Fruit Tree enroute to Devi Shrine.

Devi Manonmani is having four hands with upper two hands is seen with akshamaala/ Rosary and Lotus. The Lower two hands are in Abhaya and Varada Postures.

Legends:

1. This is the birth place of Sri Sundara Moorthy Nayanar, one of the venerated Tamil Saivaite Saint lived between 7 Century AD and 9 th Century AD.

2. Sri Sukra is said to have performed poojas to lord and has obtained relief from vakra disha.

3. Sri Maha Vishnu has performed poojas to Lord here. There is a separate Shrine for Mahavishnu here. One can find Sri Sridevi, Sri Boodevi Sametha Sri Varadaraja Perumal.

4. Sri Dakshina Moorthy has worshipped lord here.

May Lord Sri Baktha Janeswara and Devi Manonmani Bless All !!!!

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