Sri Thiruvaleeswarar Temple, Padi

Moolavar: Sri Valithaya Nathar,Sri Valleeswarar
Ambal: Sri Jagadhambal, Sri Thayammai
Place: Padi, Thiruvallur

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 21st Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu.Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).

This east facing temple has a 3-tiered main tower (Rajagopuram) and it has two corridors.Lord Vinayakar’s wedding with Kamalai and Valli took place here.

The Vimanam (roof tower) of the sanctum sanctorum has been constructed according to the Gaja Brishtam style of architecture.This temple is famous as a Parihara Sthalam for Lord Guru (planet Jupiter)
  
History of the Temple:

This ancient temple is believed to have been constructed by Chola kings. The historical name of this place is Thiruvalithayam but it is now known as Paadi.

Legend:
According to the legend, Lord Brahma's two daughters - Kamalai and Vimalai wished to marry Lord Shiva. Knowing that their wish is very difficult to be fulfilled, Lord Brahma sent them to worship Lord Shiva on the banks of river Paalaru. Lord Shiva was pleased with their penance and appeared before them. He told them that it was not possible for him to marry them as he was already married to Goddess Parvathi. He further advised them to marry Lord Vinayakar instead. Heading to Lord Shiva’s wishes, they married Lord Vinayakar in this place as soon as he returned after conquering the demon king Gajamukasuran.

(Another legend states that Lord Vinayakar’s wifes are called Siddhi and Buddhi.)

Another legend is associated with this place dates back to the time of Mahabharatha. It is believed that Sage Bharadwaj (Dhronachariyar’s father), had visited this temple. It is believed that once Sage Bharadwaj had been cursed to take the form of a bird. He visited many Shiva temples and worship the lord to seek relief from this curse. Finally, he is believed to have reached this place, created a well (Bharadwaja Theertham), worshipped Lord Shiva here and got his curse lifted. The name Thiru Valithayam comes from “Valiyan” – a black bird in Tamil and “Thiru” is a respectful prefix.  Hence, the lord here is also praised as “Sri Valithaya Nathar”.

It is believed that Lords Indra, Mahavishnu, Ram, Hanuman, Lov, Kush, Manmadan, Sugreeva, Sage Agasthiar, Sage Bharadwaj, Yama, Vayu, Agni, Sun and Moon have worshiped the lord here.

It is believed that Planet Jupiter (Brahaspathi /Guru Bhagwan) worshipped Lord Shiva here and got relieved of his sins.

Temple Timings:
From 07.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and from 04.30 PM to 08.30 PM.

Reference:

https://www.dharisanam.com/temples/sri-thiruvalleswarar-temple-at-thiruvalidayam-padi

Location:

Sri Thiruvaleeswarar Temple, Padi

Sri Agatheeswarar Temple, Pozhichalur

Moolavar:Sri Agatheeswarar
Amman: Sri Aananthavalli
Place: Pozhichalur, Chennai

Legend:
Near Chennai, behind the Chennai Air Port, at a distance of 2 K.m. from pallavaram railway Station, Pozhichalur is situated. This Temple is the only place in the North Tamil Nadu, among the Thondai Mandala Navgraha remedial place for the Saturn God which is found in Sri Aananda valli Sametha Agatheeswarar Temple. This beautiful temple is one among the Navagraha temples of Chennai or Thondai Mandalam Tamil Nadu tourism recently introduced.

Saturn God has different phases like Kanda Sani, Janma Sani, Ezharai Sani. He impacts upon the devotees during the aforesaid periods and gives them ill effects trouble and hardships. To get relief out of these sins, Sri Sani bhagavan, wanting to be relieved of his Dhosam,prayed Lord Shiva for help. Lord Shiva asked Sri Sani bagavan to come to this place and worship him. As directed. Sri Sani Bhagavan came to this place, created a holy pond called “Nallar Sani Theertham” and worshipped Lord Shiva and got relieved of his problems. where in Sani Bhagavan worships God Siva and cleanses himself the sins he had committed to others. As he was relieved of his sins, he is seen in this temple as the prime God- Next to Thirunallar- In the north Tamil Nadu, in Chennai, this is the only temple dedicated to God Sani where in devotees throng in large numbers to get them relieved of the impacts of Sani and this place offers remedy for Naadi Jothidam.

In this temple , when offerings of food is done to God Sani, the crows that are said to be his vehicles come in large numbers and eat the food given to them. During this time, those who want to get rid of the adverse impact of God Sani, gather in large numbers and feed the crows, cattle, dog and get themselves relieved from their sins.

This is an ancient temple in which there is a (swayambu- self evolved) Lingam that had come up of its own. During the 12th century when chozha kings were ruling their land: this temple was built up by our ancestors at a private land which belonged to our ancestors. When the saint Agathiya returned from Himalayas to podhigai mountain: he had stayed here for a short period of time and was offering worship to God. And hence, the deity here is known as Agatheeswarar and the goddess Aananthavalli. There is another specific aspects to this temple: Moorthi, Sthalam, Theertham, all these aspects are combined as one and its importance is well-known.

In this temple, the God is facing the east and the Goddess is facing the South. In the month of Chitirai. Only on these dates 7,8,9 when the sun rises in the east, its rays fall only on the Sivalingam, which is inside this temple and there is a entrance gate to this temple facing North. 

Reference:
http://www.pozhichalursaneeswarartemple.org/index.php

Location:
Sri Agatheeswarar Temple, Pozhichalur

Sri Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore

 

Moolavar: Sri Kapalishwarar
Amman: Sri Karpagaambal
Place: Mylapore, Chennai

It is a lovely temple with a Stately Spire or ‘Gopuram’ as it is called. There is a big tank on its West. The temple and the tank are surrounded by Broad streets on the four sides. The view of the temple and the tank is picturesque.

Mylapore is on the sea coast and the shore is away by half a mile of thickly populated residential area.

The Legend Behind The Temple:
The name Mylapore is derived from the legend that the Goddess Uma worshipped Siva in the form of a peacock (or mayil in Tamil). We can see a representation of this legend on stone in a small Shrine under a Punnai tree (Sthala Vriksha) in the Courtyard of the temple.

Mylapore's Ancient Past:

Ptolemy, the Creek Geographer (A.D. 90-168) has referred to Mylapore in his books as ‘Millarpha;,. It was apparently a weel-known sea port town with a flourishing trade. It must have also been a place of culture, as Saint, Tiruvalluvar the celebrated author of Tirukkurl, the Wordl-famous ethical treatise, lived in Mylapore nearly 2,000 years ago. The Saivite Saints of the 7th Century, Saint Sambandar and Saint Appar, have sung about the Shrine in their hymns.

St. Thomas, one of the aposties of Jesus, is reported to have visited Mylapore in the 2nd Century A.D. His tomb is in the St. Thomas basilica, a beautiful Cathedral about half a mile from the temple.
Mylapore fell into the hands of the Portuguese in A.D.1566, when the temple suffered demolition. The presne temple was rebuilt 300 years ago. There are some fragmentary inscriptions from the old temple, still found in the present Shrine and in St. Thomas Cathedral.
One enters the hall then, where Arulmigu Karpagambal is enshrined. In front of the Goddess, outside, is a Stone sculpture of a Lion, the mount of the Goddess. (Just as Nandi or the Bull is for Lord).

Daily And Special Services:
There are six daily Puja Services. Kala Santhi (morning) Uchchikala (Mid-day) Sayamkala (Evening) and Ardhajama (late Night). The evening Service will be picturesque as the Shodasa Upacharas (16 Propitiations) with waving of lights. etc. ared performed. Other special occasions are Pradhosa (13th day of new moon-full moon) Panchaparva etc

Reference:Location
http://www.mylaikapaleeswarar.tnhrce.in/index.html

Location:
Sri Kabalishwarar Temple, Mylapore