Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple / Sri Kasi Viswanathar Aalayam / ஸ்ரீ காசி விஸ்வநாதர் ஆலயம் / Waqlajapet, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple at Walajapet was a part of Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta Vimana Shiva Temple and Kanchanagiri Temples Visit around Walajapet, on 15^th October 2023. Thanks to Ramesh Krishnamurthy, who took me to these Temples. This Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple is on the main road in Walajapet, which is easily accessible from bus stand. 

Moolavar  : Sri Kasi Viswanathar

Consort    : Sri Visalakshi

Some of the Salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Entrance to the temple is on the South side after the Rajagopuram. Stucco image of Shiva & Parvati as rishabaroodar, Vinayagar and Murugan are on the south side entrance to the ardha mandapam.  Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, Rishabam, Vinayagar and Pazhani Andavar are on the east side entrance. Dwarapalakas, Rishabam and balipeedam are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum.  Moolavar is little tall on a round avudayar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

In the inner praharam, Vinayagar, Nayanmars, Nalvar, Chandran, Suriyan, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Shiva Lingam and Parvathavardhini

In the outer praharam, Utsava Mandapam ( Navaratri Kozhu function was in progress during our Visit ), Ardhanareeswarar  and Nagars.

Ambal Visalakshi is in the ardha mandapam facing east with dwarapalakis. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. A 3 tier Stucco vesara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.

The Rajagopuram was built completely from base with brick and lime mortar. It has some rare stucco images of Bhairava, Veerabhadra with Daksha, Nandhi, Maha Vishnu’s various avatars on the east and west sides ), Ravana Anugraha moorthy, Dakshinamurthy, etc,.  

 Bairavar with Nandi

 Veerabhadra with Dakshan

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple may belongs to 15^th to 16^th Century and the sanctum sanctorum might have been reconstructed during 19^th to 20^th Century. No old inscriptions are found to prove its antiquity.

As per one of the small inscription tablet installed at the entrance of  Rajagopuram, the Temple is being maintained by Ayira Vaisya ( Beri Chettiars ) Community of Walajapet, for the past 300 years. But when the temple was constructed is not known. During 1936 CE Mr M Manickam Chettiar was the managing Trustee of this temple.

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 02^nd September 1949, 09^rd September 1979, 17^th April 2005 and 30^th August 2018.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Sankatahara Chaturthi, Kiruthigai, Pournami, Somavaram, Sukravaram, Theipirai Ashtami, Pradosham, 1^st day of the month, Navaratri, Aippasi month Annabhishekam, Maha Shivaratri, Arudra Darshan, etc,.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs and 18.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Trustees may be contacted on the following mobile numbers +919894756747, +919751196675 and +9194435422956  for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This Temple is on the   Madras- Bombay Trunk Road.

The Temple is about 4 KM from Ranipet Railway Station, 5 KM from Chennasamudram Toll Plaza, 5.7 KM from Arcot,  5.6 KM from Ranipet, 29 KM from Vellore and 109 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Ranipet.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

 Utsava mandapam / Vasantha mandapam / Kozhu mandapam

Nagars with Vinayagar and Murugan

 South Side entrance

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Agastheeswarar Temple / KSAT04-Sree Agatheeswarar 4th Shadaranya temple / KSAT04-ஸ்ரீஅகத்தீசுவரர் 4வது ஷடாரண்யத் தலம்/ வன்னிமேடு/ Vannivedu, Walajah, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at Vannivedu, Walaja was a part of Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta Vimana Shiva Temple and Kanchanagiri Temples Visit, on 15^th October 2023. Thanks to Ramesh Krishnamurthy, who took me to these places.

 Devotees worshipping Vinayagar

It is believed that this is one of the Thevara vaippu sthalam  and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Shiva of Agastheeswarar, in General.

நாடகமா டிடநந்தி கேச்சுரமா காளேச்

        சுரநாகேச் சுரநாக ளேச்சுரநன் கான

கோடீச் சுரங் கொண்டீச் சுரந்திண் டீச் சுரங்

        குக்குடேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரங்கூறுங்கால்

ஆடகேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரமய னீச்சுர

        மத்தீக்சுரஞ் சித்தீக்சுர மந்தண் கானல்

ஈடுதிரை யிராமேசசுர மென்றென் றேத்தி

        யிறைவனுறை சுரம்பலவு மியம்பு வோமே.

….. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் ( 6-71-8 )

Moolavar  : Sri Agastheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Bhuvaneswari

Some of the Salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram ( Yet to be completed ) and an entrance from West side. Stucco image of Shiva and Parvati is on the top of the west side entrance. A Vinayagar sannidhi is on the west side entrance. Entrance to the ardha mandapam is from South side with a mandapam. Bas-reliefs of devotees ( Husband & wife )  worshipping Vinayagar and Murugan are on both sides of the ardha mandapam entrance. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are on east side after the rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar in the sanctum is small on a round avudayar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

In the inner paraharam Sarabeswarar, Suryan, Manickavasagar, Moovar, Nayanmars, Vinayagar, Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi, and Natarajar.

Ambal is in a separate temple like sannidhi facing east on the left side of the moolavar. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. Simham and balipeedam are in-front of Amman sannidhi.

In the outer praharam Vinayagar Chandikeswarar, Akarshana Bairavar, Bairavar, a Memorial Stone ( may be donors ), Vinayagar, Veerabhadra, Saniswaran, Navagrahas, Stucco Image of Shiva and Annapoorani, Ayyappan, Anjaneyar, Varahi, Saraswati, Nagars under vanni Tree and Ashtadikpalakas.

 Devotees worshipping Murugan as Arumugar

 Varahi

 Sarabeswarar

 Veerabhadra with Vinayagar

 Swarna akarshana Bairavar

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a Pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam and pattika. The bhitti starts with vedika. Brahmakantha pilasters are shown on the Bhitti. The prastaram consists of Valapi & kapotam. Lotus petals are shown in the valapi. A two tier stucco vesara Sigara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are on the tala and greeva koshtas.  Stucco images of Agasthiyar, Bairavar, Natarajar and various deities are on the Vimanam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The present structure may belongs to 16^th to 17^th Century CE and the Ambal’s shrine was constructed little latter. No inscriptions was found to prove its antiquity.

The temple is under the administrative control of Tamil Nadu HR & CE Department.

LEGENDS

This temple is considered on of the Shadaranya Kshetras ( Sameevanam ) with Vanni Tree as sthala vruksham around Arcot, worshipped by Agasthiyar. The other kshetras are Gudimallur worshipped by Athri Maharishi, Avarakarai, worshipped by Kasibar, Karai worshipped by Gowthamar, Veppur, worshipped by Vasishta Maharishi, MelVisharam worshipped by Valmiki Maharishi and Padi alias Pudupadi worshipped by Bhardwaj maharishi.  It is believed that worshipping all the seven temples on Maha Shivaratri days will be equivalent to worshipping of Kailasanathar of mount Kailash.

On 19^th August 2015, evening, Durgai came down in the form of light from the koshta and walked towards Sri Bhuvaneswari Ambals’ Sannidhi and dispappeared. It was witnessed by Chamraj  Lakshmi Ammal, Srimati Gangai Ammal and Palani Gurukkal, through the Ambal’s Pada / foot prints on the floor. The foot prints are preserved for Devotee’s darshan with kavasam. Special poojas are offered to these foot prints on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Durga's Padas

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular Poojas, Special poojas are conducted on Pournami, Sankatahara Chaturthi, Thaipoosam, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Sarabeswarar Pooja on Sundays ( 16.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs ), Varahi Poojas, Theipirai Ashtami, Nayanmar’s Guru Poojas, etc,.

This temple is believed to be a parihara sthalam for Rahu and Ketu. Special poojas are done of Rahu and ketu peyarchi days. 

 Symbolic representation of Lunar and solar eclipse - as temple a Rahu and Ketu

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 08.30 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Gurukkal May be contacted on his mobile   +919629372155 for Poojas, Mrs T Chamrajya Lakshmi Ammal  my be contacted on her mobile number +9442227867, +919443227864 and +919943314410  for the Sarabeswarar Poojas. 

HOW TO REACH

This Temple is on the   Madras- Bombay Trunk  Road, in Vannivedu a part of Walajah.

The Temple is about 5.6 KM from Ranipet Railway Station, 8.7 KM from Chennasamudram Toll Plaza, 5.0 KM from Arcot,  6.5 KM from Ranipet, 29 KM from Vellore and 109 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Ranipet.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

Stucco images of Shiva and Annapoorani 

 West side entrance with Vinayagar Sannidhi

An ant hill on west side entrance 

A Memorial stones - may be Chieftain with his wife or may be donars

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Gandhi Square, Homage Memorial and Maharnonbu Pottal, Karaikudi, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

On the way to Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, happened to see this Gandhi Square and Mahar Nombu Thidal, an important place of Karaikudi.  

Gandhi Square and Maharnonbu Pottal are in the heart of the City Karaikudi. Many historical events are happened in this place. Sri Subramania Bharati, the great Poet, freedom fighter visited karaikudi in 1906. Composed and sang a poem in praise of Nattukottai Chettiar Youths for their contribution for the development of Karaikudi region.

Mahatma Gandhi also visited in 1927 and delivered the two historical speeches. In 1948, the First Prime Minister of Independent India addressed from this place, when he came for the inauguration of CECRI ( Central Electro Chemical Research Institute ).

This Gandhi statue with the Mandapam was constructed and declared open by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 17th July 1955. The construction expenses are contributed by the employees of the Municipality 

A Lamp ( …? ) with a pedestal was also erected near the Homage memorial stupi. This was gifted by Mei. Aa. Annamalai Chettiar on 18^th February 1916.

A Homage memorial stupi was erected for those noble stalwarts  whose service and Sacrifice made India free independence day 15^th August 1947.

This place is also being used for observing Muharram, by Muslims community.  Also this place is being used for conducting, Circus, Exhibition, etc,.

LOCATION OF GANDHI SQUARE   : CLICK HERE

Exhibition 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---