Sri Neelakandeswarar Temple, Gerugambakkam

  

Moolavar:Sri Neelakandeswarar
Amman:Sri Aadhi Kamakshi

Gerugambaakkam has an ancient temple for Lord Shiva, which belongs to Chozha period.
 
This temple is one of the Navagraha temples of Chennai (or Thondai Mandalam) devoted to Sri Kethu Bhagavan. There is a separate shrine for Kethu Bhagavan on the southern side of the sanctum. Special Poojas and Homams are performed to Sri Kethu Bhagavan during Raahu Kethu Peyarchi. This is also a Parihaara Sthalam for people having ill effects in their lives because of Kethu’s position in their Horoscope.

The main deity Sri Neelakandeswarar is situated in a small and beautiful sanctum. The Lord got His name Neelakandeswarar, as he swallowed the Aala Kaala Poison which evolved during the churning of the ocean, after which His neck turned blue. In Thamizh ‘Neela’ means blue and ‘Kanda’ means neck.

It is said that the Nandhi in front of the Lord is so powerful, as he absorbs the poisonous breath of the Lord after He consumed poison.

Sri Aadhi Kamakshi is present just outside the main sanctum, facing south. Sri Aadhi Kamakshi is tall and looks very beautiful. She is said to be the first among 5 forms of Kamakshi.

Navagraham is present at the north east side corner of the temple. There are carvings of image of snake on the ceiling of Navagraha shrine, which indicates that this temple is a Parihaara Sthalam.

Location:
Sri Neelakandeswarar Temple, Gerugambakkam

Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Agaram, Chengalpattu

 

Moolavar: Sri Kailasanathar
Amman: Sri Akilandeswari Ambal

A Pallava and Chozha period temple in a beautiful village of Agaram.The Original temple might have been constructed during Chozha's period and latter extended during Vijayanagara's period. The Temple is about 3 feet above the ground level with a flight of 5 steps and resembles maadakovil structure.

The temple is facing east with and entrance arch. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam and a maha mandapam. Moolavar shivalingam is big and looks majestic.

The artha mandapam was built during Vijayanagara period and are supported by 16 pillars with reliefs like Garudan, Natarajar, Hanuman playing Mridangam, etc. The adhisthana has 12th to 13th Century and 16th century inscriptions.

In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai are seen as per the agama concept of any shiva tenple. In the prakaram Ambal sannidhi facing east. In the maha mandapam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, some loose sculptures, Bhairavar can be seen . The Navagrahas are in sitting posture on their respective vahanas.

Time: 7:30 a.m, Oru kala poojai only

Contact:
The temple has oru kala pujai so the kurukal comes late, so we can reach the local person Shanmugam at 9444865674. He opens the temple when you want to have Dharshan.

A must visit temple for sure.

Location:
Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Agaram, Chengalpattu

Sri Vaidhyanathar Temple, Valathaanchery, Pondhur village, Sriperumbuthur

 

Moolavar: Sri Vaidhyanathar
Amman: Sri Azhagammai Ambal

A small beautiful temple in a remote village of Kancheepuram surrounded by farm lands and beautiful ponds.

Few decades ago the local villagers have found the shivalingam, Nandhi and goddesses Azhagammai inside a big ant hill. The Ambal vigraham was in broken condition. The villagers have talked the rest of the idols and have created a small shed temple.

Interesting fact about the shivalingam is once during a pradhosham abhishekam the lingabanam tilted few inches towards the right and by next pradhosham abhishekam got back to be straight. You can see this in a picture attached which has before and after.

Many people have gotten cured of their illness by performing abhishekam to this lord.

Contact:
The kurukal Mr.Pazhani can be reached at 9629759270.

Location:
Sri Vaidhyanathar Temple, Valathaanchery, Pondhur village, Sriperumbuthur

Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Kovalam, Kanchipuram

 

Moolavar: Sri Kailasanathar
Amman: Sri Kanakavalli Ambal

A beautiful old temple built during the 13th century. A unique temple where the Avudayar (Avudaiyar is the base of the Shiva Lingam) of the shivalingam itself has inscriptions on it. Perhaps, the only temple with inscriptions on the avudaiyar. The inscription says 'Sri Satheruman Murthiper'. 'Sat' means trade guild and this refers that the place served as a port. According to the ASI (Archeological Survey of India) the script on the inscription is Palaeography Script which again is not very common.

The base of the maha mandapam has a 3 line inscription throughout. At certain places they have been painted red recently to enable easy reading of the inscriptions. At one spot you can spot the word 'Kovalam'. Its a 13th C inscription and this place has been called Kovalam ever since then!

The ardha mandapam has some exquisite bronzes - Shiva Parvathi with Somaskandha with a cute little Nataraja on the arch with a Standing Vinayaka, Ambal etc. The Maha Mandapam has 3 shrines of 3 Vinayakas - Kubera Vinayaka, Vijaya Vinayaka & Siva Sakthi Vinayaka.

In the external Ghomatham you can see Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, Sathya Narayana etc. The mandapam that housed Navagraha was visibly very old and almost dilapidated with roots of creepers all over them. The little shikara and stupi atop the Rishaba Mandapam and the Vimanam were so eroded, thanks to the construction made of lime-sand bricks unlike the sturdy granite, with which the huge temples are usually made of!

There are are few vigrahams in the outside mandapam like perumal, one separate shivalingam and kalikambal which all have been gotten in the sea.

Timing:
This temple is opened only by 8:30 am as they don’t have a permanent kurukal yet.

Contact: The contact person Mr.Ramesh can be reached at 7299534793 and the person next to temple Mr.Devadas can be reached at 9444225634

Location:
Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Kovalam, Kanchipuram