Sri Sundareswarar Temple, Nolambur, Chennai

 

Moolavar: Sri Sundareswarar

Amman: Sri Meenakshi

The temple faces east, with an entrance arch. Shiva with Parvati as Sundareswarar and Meenakshi Marriage along with Nandi playing Mridangam, Maha Lakshmi, Maha Vishnu, Saraswathi Vinayagar, Naradar, Brahma conducting the velvi,  stucco image is on the top of the entrance arch.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing east on the right side of the Moolavar Temple. Ambal’s various forms are in the Koshtam.

Since the temple’s layout (like Potramarai Kulam, Vibhuti Vinayagar, etc), the Construction of the Sanctum Sanctorum is followed like Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, and the legend associated with the Madurai temple is also told in this temple. Hence, some of the festivals are also conducted similarly to the Madurai temple.

Location: Sri Sundareswarar Temple, Nolambur, Chennai

Sri Karapuranathar Temple, Uthamacholapuram, Salem

 

Moolavar: Sri Karapuranathar

Amman: Periyanayagi ambal

The Karapuranathar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located in Uthamacholapuram, Salem District of Tamil Nadu. This ancient temple is known for its unique significance, historical legends, and association with the famous Tamil poetess Avvaiyar.

The Karapuranathar Temple is over 1200 years old and is situated in Uthamacholapuram, Salem District, Tamil Nadu.

It is one of the Marriage Parihara Sthalams, where prayers and rituals are conducted to seek blessings for successful marriages.

Presiding Deity:

The main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva, who is known as Karabureswarar. The term “Karabureswarar” is derived from the legend of Khara and Dushana (demon brothers) who worshiped Lord Shiva here.

Legend:

Khara and Dushana, demon brothers from the Ramayana, undertook severe penance to gain the favor of Lord Shiva. After their penance, Lord Shiva appeared before them, and Khara built this temple to commemorate the event. Hence, Lord Shiva came to be known as Karabureswarar.

Another legend tells of Gunaseelam, a young boy who was too short to place a garland around Lord Shiva’s neck. Moved by his devotion, Lord Shiva tilted His head, and the Lingam remains slanting to this day, known as Mudisaithanathar.

The famous Tamil poetess Avvaiyar played a significant role in arranging the marriage of Angavai and Sangavai, the daughters of King Pari Vallal. King Pari was a Velir king who had been a patron of poets and had two daughters who faced challenges after his death.

Avvaiyar sought the help of Lord Shiva in convincing the three crowned Tamil Kings to bless the marriage of Angavai and Sangavai to suitable grooms.

With her prayers and the miracle of a dried tree sprouting fresh leaves and fruits, Avvaiyar successfully brought the three kings to the temple to bless the marriage. The Kings are represented in the temple with symbols of their flags – the bow, the tiger, and the fish.

The Karapuranathar Temple is not only a place of worship but also a place of historical and literary importance, and it continues to be revered for its unique legends and cultural significance.

Beliefs:

Devotees seek child boon, removal of obstacle in marriage alliances, progress in education and protection from enemies. Devotees offer abishek and offer vastras to God and Goddess.

Additional Details:

The temple’s Shivalinga is slightly slanting, a unique feature attributed to the legend of a devotee’s devotion.

The temple’s main tower (Rajagopuram) was initially constructed during the Chola period but was not completed. The government of Tamil Nadu later completed the construction and conducted the consecration in 1992.

The statues of the three Tamil Kings – Chera, Chola, and Pandya – are placed at the temple entrance, as are statues of Lord Shiva in His various forms and Avvaiyar.The temple is mentioned in ancient Tamil texts and hymns of saints such as Tirugnanasambandar, Tirumoolar, and Arunagirinathar

Location: Sri Karapuranathar Temple, Uthamacholapuram, Salem

Sri Aabhathsagayeswarar Temple, Pudhupattu, Madhuranthagam, Chengalpet

 

Moolavar: Sri Aabhathsagayeswarar

Amman: Sri Anandavalli Ambal

A beautiful temple which is associated with the Treyta yugam. Down south it is said that there are only 2 shiva temples where Sri Rama did abhishekam with his own hands. One is the very well known Sri Ramanadheeswarar of Rameshwaram and the other is this Pudhupattu Aabhathsagayeswarar Temple.

The current temple structure is believed to be built during the 630 to 638 AD during the first Narasimhaverma Pallava. The architecture belongs to the old Pallava period and it’s built such a way that you first worship Ambal Anandavalli before seeing the moolavar. Also the Kanchi Kailasanathar tenple, Kinnar Nethraleswarar and this temple is said to be in the same straight line. 

Just 2 kilometres from this temple is a place called Villendhi Kuppam and during the Ramayan period there lived a Maharishi named Vibandakar. During the vanavasa time Sri Rama along with Lakshmana came to meet this Vibandaka Maharishi on their way to lanka in search of Seethadevi. It is said that the village Villendiya Kuppam came after Sri Rama visited this place and in years the same has got changed to Pillendhi Kuppam now. It’s the same village’s lake that was in later years protected by Sri Rama and has his temple as Erikatha Ramar in Madhuranthagam.

When Sri Rama met the Maharishi he requested that he wished to perform the Abhishekam of this Aabhathsagayeswarar with Ganga water. At that time Sage Agasthyar who carries Ganga water in his Kamandalam offered the water to Sri Rama to perform the Abhishekam as he had wished. This episode is being depicted in the sudhai of this temple. Also, this place is very closely associated with Ramayana’s story of Rama meeting Guhan a hunter or otherwise called Veduvan in tamil. Given that a lot of the Veduvar community lived in this place it is also called Vedanthangal and in later years silk weaving got its popularity here and the name changed to the recent Pudhupattu.

Contact: The temple contact person and numbers are Prasanna 8870350840, Shivaraman 9841061421

Location: Sri Aabhathsagayeswarar Temple, Pudhupattu, Madhuranthagam, Chengalpet

Sri Mahalingeswarar Temple, Mahalingapuram, Nungambakkam, Chennai

 

Moolavar: Sri Mahalingeswarar

Amman: Sri Brahath Sundra Kujambal

During the Chozha period, this place Nungambakkam was in Puliyur Nadu in Puliyur Kottam, and the same was mentioned in 11th Century Rajendra Chozha’s copper plate. 

The temple was built in the 20th Century. Most of the sannidhis are constructed from donations made by Nattukottai Nagarathars.

The temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Idabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Vinayagar and Murugan sannidhis are on both sides of the moolavar, equal size of moolavar sannidhi. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Guruvayurappan, Brahma, and Durgai can be seen. Also separate Sannidhi for Seetha Rama Lakshmana Samedha Anjaneya can be seen . 

In paraharam Utsavars, Arasamarathadi Vinayagar, Natarajar, Krishna, Ambal (in a separate sannidhi facing east direction), and Navagrahas. Another Anjaneyar Sannidhi can be seen facing the Ramar Sannidhi.

A very beautiful and well maintained temple in the heart of the city

Location: Sri Mahalingeswarar Temple, Mahalingapuram, Nungambakkam, Chennai

Sri Nakkareeswarar Temple, Kilambakkam, Chennai

 

Moolavar: Sri Nakkareeswarar

Amman: Sri Kalanthai Nayagi

This is one of the temples with the treasure of Rajaraja Chozha’s 3 inscription stones inscribed on granite stone slabs.

The temple faces east, only with the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is of Swayambhu on a square avudayar. Balipeedam and Rishabam / Idabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. The Vinayagar, Murugan, and Chandikeswarar shrines are without images. Ambal is in a separate shrine facing South

The present shrines/structures seem to have been built in recent years. But Moolavar is original and may belong to the Pallava period. There are two stone slabs with inscriptions containing Rajaraja Chozha-I’s period found near the shrine. The presence of these inscribed stone slabs indicates that a Pallava-period brick Shiva temple might have existed in this same spot. The inscriptions are inscribed on a separate stone since the original temple may have been made of brick during the Chozha period. During the Chozha period, this place was called Kalanthai in Nedungunra Nadu, a sub-division of Puliyur Kottam, and Lord Shiva was called Kalanthai Nakkar or Nakkar. The place and Lord Shiva retain their name even after 1000 years. 

Contact: Trustee can be reached at 9941064626. Gurukkal can be reached at 9943555962

Location: Sri Nakkareeswarar temple, Kilambakkam, Chennai