Sri Thiripurandhaga Easwarar Temple, Kuthambakkam, Thiruvallur

 

Moolavar: Sri Thiripurandhaga Easwarar
Amman: Sri Thirupurasundari Ambal

Another temple in Thiruvallur District with the same name as what we see in the Padal Petra sthalam of Koovam, Sri Thirupuranthageswarar but probably built 900 years ago.As the name itself suggest the lord who did Thiripura Samharam, Thiri meaning three, Puram meaning town and Samharam meaning destroy. The actual legend is connected to the Koovam temple only, but this is just another temple with the same name.

The Temple is present in the northeast direction of village which is so special that the direction(dikku) is called as Eesanya dikku which is owned by “Eesan" himself who is one amonng the Dikbalakas or those protecting the directions.

The temple is completely built in granite and interestingly there is no vimanam for both Ambal and Swamy or any Gopurams. There is no Byravar Sannidhi in this temple which is very unlike any other Sivan. The Navagraha can be seen within the inner sanctum itself.

You can seen snake engraved on the roof representing this as a parihara sthalam. They say Nagha Dosa gets cleared if you worship Thiripurandhaga Easwarar here.

The Temple has Maha Vilva and Nagalinga trees as its sthala vriksha and also has trees associated for all the  27 starts respectively. The details of the trees with their Indian names, English names and Botanical names given below for reference.

1. Ashwini Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Kanjiram/ Yetti/ Etti/ Kuchala
English Name: Strychnine
Botanical Name: Strychnos nux-vomica
2. Bharani Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Nelli/ Perunelli/ Aavali/ Amla/ Amalaki
English Name: Indian Gooseberry/ Amla
Botanical Name: Phyllanthus emblica/ Emblica officinalis
3. Krittika Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Athi/ Ambar/ Udumbara/ Gular
English Name: Cluster Fig/ Country Fig/ Fig
Botanical Name: Ficus glomerata/ Ficus racemosa
4. Rohini Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Naval/ Jambhali/ Perunjaval
English Name: Jamun/ Black Plum
Botanical Name: Eugenia Jaambolana/ Syzygium cuminii
5. Mrigasira Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Karingali/ Karungali/ Kher
English Name: Cutch Tree/ Milmesha/ Ebony
Botanical Name: Acacia catechu/ Diospyros ebunum
6. Ardra Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Kari /Kumbil/ Karai/ Thippilli/ Agar/ Krushnagus/ Agalichandanum/ Akil/ Sen Santhanam/ Aguru
English Name: Cashmere Tree/ Long Pepper/ Red Sandal
Botanical Name: Diospyros melanoxylon/ Ptero carpus santalinus/ Aquillaria agallocha
7. Punarvasu Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Mula/ Moongil/ Velu
English Name: Bamboo
Botanical Name: Bambusa vulgais/ Bamboosa arundinorea
8. Pushya Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Arayal/ Arasamaram/ Pimpal/ Pipal/ Aal
English Name: Sacred Fig/ Peepal/ Ficus
Botanical Name: Ficus religiosa
9. Ashlesha Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Punna /Punnai/ Nagapoo/ Naagchafa/ Nagkeshar/ Nahar
English Name: Messua Tree/ Alexandrian Laurel/ Beauty Leaf Poon
Botanical Name: Calophyllum indophyllum/ Mesua ferrea
10. Magha Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Peral/ Alamaram/ Vatt/ Bargad
English Name: Banyan Tree/ Indian Fig
Botanical Name: Ficus benghalensis
11. PurvaPhalguni Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Plasu/ Chamata/ Palas/ Khakda/ Modugu/ Murikku/ Parasu/ Polash/ Desuka Jhad/ Dhak/ Chalcha
English Name: Flame of the Forest/ Parrot Tree
Botanical Name: Butea monosperma
12. UttaraPhalguni Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Ithi/ Itti/ Arali/ Payari
English Name: Indian Laurel/ Rose Laurel/ Indian Cleaner
Botanical Name: Ficus tinctoria/ Nerium indicum/ Ficus arnottiana
13. Hasta Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Ambazham/ Marima/ Nalini/ Kaatuma/ Velam/ Chameli/ Mulla/ Mullai
English Name: Hog Plum/ Neem/ Royal Jasmine / Azadirachta indica/ Jasminum grandiflorum
Botanical Name: Spondias pinnata / Azadirachta indica/ Jasminum grandiflorum
14. Chitra Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Koovalam/ Vilvam/ Bel/ Bilvam/ Bilwa/
English Name: Beal Tree/ Bengal Quince/ Stone Apple/ Wood Apple
Botanical Name: Aegle marmelos
15. Swati / Swathi Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Maruthu/ Neermaruthu/ Marutham/ Jarul/ Arjun
English Name: Arjuna Tree / Queen’s Flower
Botanical Name: Terminalia arjuna/ Lagerstroemia speciosa
16. Vishakha Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Dadhipala/ Vayamkatha/ Vilamaram/ Kaith/ Naagkeshar/ Nahar
English Name: Governor’s Plum/ Wood Apple/ Ceylon Ironwood/ Indian rose chestnut
Botanical Name: Feronia elephantum/ Feronia limonia/ Mesua ferrea/ Limonia acidissima
17. Anuradha Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Elanji/ Magizh/ Magizham/ Maulshree/ Naagkeshar
English Name: Bullet Wood Tree
Botanical Name: Mimusops elengi/ Mesua ferrea
18. Jyeshtha Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Vetti/ Pachotti/ Kuttipala/ Prayan/ Sambar
English Name: Bodh Tree/ Stunted Jack
Botanical Name: Aporusa lindleyana/ Calammus rotang/ Connatus wightii
19. Moola Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Kunthirikkam/ Veluthakunthirikom/ Acha/ Anjan/ Mamaram/ Raal/ Sal/ Shala/ Ashvakarna/
English Name: White Dammar/ Hardwickia/ Sal Tree
Botanical Name: Boswellia serrata/ Mangiferus indicus/ Shorea robusta/ Hardwickia binate
20. PurvaShadha Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Aattupala/ Aatrupalai/ Samudrakai/ Vanchikodi/ Vet
English Name: Fish Poison Tree/ Tinospora
Botanical Name: Salix tetraspeama/ Tinos pora cardifodia/ Calamus pseudo-tenuis
21. UttaraShadha Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Plavu/ Pila/ Pala/ Sakkai Pala/ Phanas
English Name: Jack Fruit Tree/ Bread Fruit
Botanical Name: Artocarpus heterophyllus/ Autocarpus cummunis
22. Shravan Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Erukku/ Vellerukku/ Rui
English Name: Gigantic Swallow/ Swallow Wort
Botanical Name: Calotropis procera/ Calotropis gigantea
23. Dhanishtha Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Muringa/ Paarampu/ Muringai/ Vanni/ Vilaytikikar/ Shashi
English Name: Indian Gum Tree/ Indian Mesquit/ Kejari
Botanical Name: Moringa oleifera/ Prosopis cinenaria/ Prosepsis speciosa/ Prosopis julifl ora
24. Shatataraka Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Kadambu/ Kadambam/ Katampu/ Valanch
English Name: Kadam Tree/ Indian Oak
Botanical Name: Anthocephalus cadambu/ Mitragyna parvifl ora/ Neolamarckia cadamba
25. PurvaBhadrapada Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Thembavu
English Name: Saaj
Botanical Name: Terminalia Elliptica
26. UttaraBhadrapada Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Kudappana
English Name: Bajarbattu
Botanical Name: Corypha umbraculifera
27. Revati Nakshatra Tree / Plant
Indian Name: Eluppa/ Iluppai/ Moha
English Name: Butter Tree
Botanical Name: Madhuca longifolia/ Maduca indica

Time: 5:30 to 7:30 AM

             5:30 to 7:30 PM

Contact: The temple Kurukal Bharathdwaja can be reached at 9448904458

 
Location:

Sri Thiripurandhaga Easwarar Temple, Kuthambakkam, Thiruvallur

Sri Vaitheeswaran Temple, Pillaipakkam, Sriperumbudur

 

Moolavar: Sri Vaitheeswaran
Amman: Sri Thaiyalnayagi Ambal

A Pallava era temple renovated later by Paranthaka Chola II (Sundara Chola). Apparently this temple was destroyed by the invasion of Golkonda Nawabs around 550 years back and was renovated in 1977 by Sri Namachivaya Chettiar of this village.

The shivalingam is on the Padma peedam and has a round Avudayar. Very Huge shivalingam and Ambal is facing south.
This temple is called as Vada Vaitheeswaran Temple. The vimanam is Gajaprashta Style. The Dakshinamoorthy in the ghostam is very special here and called as Kala Dakshinamoorthy. He is seen with Sulaayutham (Trident) and Nagabaranam and so he is considered to relieve people from Naga Dhosham. As a special feature, Chandikeshwari also present along with Chandikeswarar. You can only see Chandikeshwari in only 4 temples in and around Tamilnadu.

As per the legend of this place,once the son of the temple’s Archagar was bitten by a snake and the Archagar put him in front of the Lord and prayed to him. The Lord then came in the form of a cow and licked the part of the boy which was bitten by the snake. He got cured and thus the Lord Vaitheeswaran’s curing power came to light. The village was then known as “Pillai Nakkiya Pakkam” (the place were kid was licked) and became Pillaipakkam in later days. Sozhavalavan Nadu was the earlier name of this village and after this incident it started to be known as Pillai Nakkiya Pakkam

The Swamy was known as Marundeeswarar after he treated the kid of the snake poison he started to be known as vaiydhyanatha Swamy. 

A very serene and beautiful place. The Temple is very peaceful and you really can feel the vibration. A must visit temple for all those in and around Chennai.

Contact: The temple priest Mr.Prakash can be reached at 9894167707.

Timing:The temple is opened by 6 am and will be opened till 8 am.

Location:
Sri Vaitheeswaran Temple, Pillaipakkam, Sriperumbudur

Sri Amirthagadeswarar Temple, Selaiyur, Chennai

 

Moolavar: Sri Amirthagadeswarar
Amman: Sri Abhirami Ambal

A 250 plus years old temple at Selayur in Chennai and is considered as the Thirukadaiyur of Chennai. (Thirukadaiyur is a famous temple town near Mayiladuthurai which is considered to be the apt place for conducting Shastiabthapoorthi (60th Birthday).

The Legend of the actual Thirukadaiyur -It is a Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam. According to legend, during samudra manthana Sri Ganesha stole the pot of Amrita and hid it in Thirukkadaiyur. Sri Ganesha also worshipped a Shiva Lingam with some Amrita and so the Shiva Lingam came to be known as Amritaghateswarar (Amrita means nectar and Ghata means pot). Thirukkadaiyur is also the place where Lord Shiva is said to have saved his devotee Markandeya from the clutches of Yama on the day of his death. 

Thirukkadaiyur is also the place where the devotee Abirami Pattar sang the Abirami Antati, a hundred praises of Mother Abirami, whereby the Divine Mother appeared before him and saved him from the clutches of death.

So the Chennai Thirukadaiyur temple faces west and has a small Gopuram.. The main shrine of Amridhagadeswarar faces the east direction.The Goddess Abhirami is found in a separate south facing shrine. Both Amirdhagadeswarar and Abhirami have separate Nandi idols placed in front of their respective shrines. Usually, we don’t find Nandi in front of Goddess in Chennai region.

In the ghostam you can see Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga. 

There are separate Sannidhis for Ganesha, Subramanya-Valli-Devasena, Ayyappa, Chandikeshwara, Balaji-Padmavathi, Garuda, Hanuman, Surya, Chandra, Navagraha, Natarajar, Bhairava, and Nalvar.

A big temple pond is found within the temple complex. The holy tree and few serpent (Naga) idols beneath that are also located within the temple. There are many images of Goddess Lakshmi on all the pillars with yendiram prathistai in the temple and the forms are-
Devi Arogya Lakshmi (ஆரோக்ய லக்ஷ்மி)
Devi Samrajya Lakshmi (சாம்ராஜய லக்ஷ்மி)
Devi Shakti Lakshmi (சக்தி லக்ஷ்மி)
Devi Sowbhagya Lakshmi (சௌயாக்ய லக்ஷ்மி)
Devi Kirti Lakshmi (கீர்த்தி லக்ஷ்மி)
Devi Veera Lakshmi (வீர லக்ஷ்மி)
Devi Vijaya Lakshmi (விஜய லக்ஷ்மி)
Devi Santhana Lakshmi (சந்தான லக்ஷ்மி)
Devi Pusti Lakshmi (புஷ்டி லக்ஷ்மி)
Devi Tusti Lakshmi (துஷ்டி லக்ஷ்மி)
Devi Medha Lakshmi (மேதா லக்ஷ்மி)
Devi Vidya Lakshmi (வித்யா லக்ஷ்மி)

Those who cant go all the way to Thirukadayur to perform their 60th birthday can visit this temple to get that their Shastiabthapoorthi completed.


Location:
Sri Amirthagadeswarar Temple, Selaiyur, Chennai

Sri Boothagireeswarar Temple, Sirudavoor, Chengalpattu

 

Moolavar:Sri Boothagireeswarar
Amman:Sri Aaranavalli Ambal

A beautiful 9th century Pallava temple which apparently has inscriptions both of 8 to 9th century as well as of 11th to 12th century which is the Chozha period. As an existing Vishnu temple in this place was built in 9th century, it is believed that this also must be built during the same time frame. There are inscriptions from Vijayanagar period as well.

The legend behind the name Bhoothgireeswarar goes like this, once lord Brahma performed a yagam at Kasi kshetram and to attend the event lord shiva has sent all his Bhootha Ganam, after attending that yagam and before returning to Kailash the Bhootha Ganam have been belived to have worshiped this Shivalingam here and hence the name Bhoothagireeswarar.

This temple is interestingly situated in the North East corner of this place called Sirudavoor. And also given that the shivalingam is white in color and absorbes all colours he is called “Palavarnanathar” which means the lord who can manifest in different colors.

The Nandhi is very unique and completely turned towards south, apparently Yama dharmaraja came from south to take the soul of a sivanadiyar and lord Siva instructed the Nandhi to look towards the direction to stop Yama from coming and accordingly Nandhi turned his neck towards the south direction.

The Vimana is of Gajabirushta style.The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum antarala, arthamandapam and open mukha mandapam. Moolavar is of swayambu, white in colour. Ambal, Shivalingam, Murugan, Chandikeswarar and Nandhi all seemed to be from 9th century.

In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Lingothbavar are seen as in most of the shiva temples, but these koshta vigraham belongs to recent years. 

Kumbhabhishekam has been just performed in 2019.

Contact:
Kumar Kurukal and his young son Akash takes care of the temple and can be reached at 7305648923

Location:
Sri Boothagireeswarar Temple,  Sirudavoor,  Chengalpattu