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

Sri Vrudhikeshwarar Temple, Unamancheri, Tambaram

 

 

 

Moolavar:Sri Vrudhikeshwarar
Amman: Sri Vridhambikai

A beautiful temple built during the period of Krishnadeva Raya of Vijayanagara empire 16th century located in Unamancheri a small village located near Tambaram.

As per the legend, a physically challenged king visited the Ramar temple of this village which is hardly at a distance of about 200-300 meters from the Vrudhikeshwarar temple, and, he got rid of his limp with the blessing of the deity. Hence, the village is called as Unamancheri (the Tamil word Unam refers to limp here).

The Shiva temple is facing east and has a huge lingam in the sanctum by the name Sri.Vrudhikeshwarar Ambal Sri Vridhambikai is facing south and both sanctums are in the inner prakaram connected by a maha mandapam. The pillars in the maha mandapam have many interesting sculptures. At the entrance of this entrance, the murthies of Ganesh and Subramanya along with Valli-Devasena are found. The entry to the tenple is from the south side. Nandi mandap and bali peedam are towards the east and there is no Dhwajasthambam found here. Signifying that no major Brahmotsavam happens in this place.

On the ghostam you can see Nardana Ganapati, Dakshinamurit, Vishnu, Brahma and Vishnu  Durgai. All these murthies seems to installed in later years as  they do not seem to belong to the original period. Lord Bhairav and Navagrahas along with their respective vaahans are also found in this temple.

You can see the fish and snake symbol on the roof representing that this is parihara sthalam and the fish representing that Pandya rulers have constructed this much before the Vijayanagar empire.

Now coming to the Ramar temple which was built by by Achyuta Raya, the brother of the famous Krishnadeva Raya of Vijayanagar Kingdom, Although it is not rare, it is not common to find all the four brothers together in a single shrine. Rama is found in the form of Kothanda Rama. Rama has Sita on his right side and his brother Lakshman on his left side. Bharat and Shatrughna are found in either corners with their hands folded and placed towards their chest (namaskar posture).

In the sanctum, Hanuman is also found. He is found at a corner and faces towards Ram.

A must visit ancient temples in Unamancheri which truly shows that Shaivam and Vaishnavam coexisted in the same era.

Contact: The temple manager Lakshmanan can be reached at 9444813816 and Kurukal Naganathan can be reached at 8608784974.

The temple is opened by 7 am.

Location:
Sri Vrudhikeshwarar Temple, Unamancheri, Tambaram

Sri Iraiaayiramudayar Swami Temple, Amoor, Thiruporur

 

Moolavar: Sri Iraiaayiramudayar swami
Amman: Sri Tripurasundari Ambal

A beautiful old temple surrounded by lush green farm lands. It is said that there were 1000 cows in this area and hence the Swamy’s name has come up as Iraiayiram Udayar.

The shivalingam banam is white in color which is very unique. The Avudayar is square representing that siddhars have worshipped and lived here years ago. 

The sthala vriksham is sarakondrai tree. There is no Navagraha Sannidhi here which shows the ancientness of the temple. There is also a vigraham of Jeshta Devi at the

backside of moolavar.It is said that the byravar here has been growing continuously.A must visit temple and apt for meditation and other spiritual endeavours.

The temple is opened by 6:30 am. Inform the contact person before visiting the temple.

Contact: The temple contact is Sri Pandiyan can be reached at 8248381610 and Srikumar is the trustee and can be reached at 9840594050.

Location:
Sri Iraiaayiramudayar swami Temple, Amoor, Thiruporur, Chengalpattu