Sri Cholaipureeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ சோலைபுரீச்வரர் கோயில் and Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Sundara Cholapuraam / Avadi, Chennai Metropolitan area, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to This Sri Cholaipureeswarar Temple at Sekkadu was a part of Shiva, Maha Vishnu, Amman and Hero Stones Visit in and around Avadi, in Tiruvallur District on 17^th September 2023.

This is one of the Shiva temples constructed on the banks of Holy River Cooum.  Some of the Devotees as Kubera Lingam, one of the Ashta lingam temples  around Thiruverkadu Shiva temple, is not correct since the Kubera lingam temple is very nearer to this Temple. The details of a maha Vishnu Temple, on the way to this temple from Serkadu, is also added  at the end of this article.

Moolavar  : Sri Cholaipureeswarar

Consort    : Sri Kamakshi Amman

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple complex consists of a Shiva Temple, a Durgai Amman Temple, Madurai Veeran Temple and Vinayagar with Nagar under a Peepal tree.

Sri Cholaipureeswarar Temple….  This temple is facing East. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the temple. Vinayagar, Balamurugan and Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the temple. Stucco image of Shiva and Parvati are on the top of the Sanctum sanctorum entrance. Nagars with Vinayagars are under a peepal tree. A 3 tier Vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. The Chozha period temple was reconstructed during recent years.

Durgai Amman Temple…   Durgai Amman is in a sanctum sanctorum. Durgai Amman is in standing posture with sankha and Chakra in the upper hands  and Lower  hands, right hand is in abhaya and left hand is in kadi hastam. A Shiva and a Amman’s head is in front of Durgai Amman.  In addition to this there is an  in sitting posture. It was learnt the idol was damaged and covered with cloth. A Simha Vahana and Shiva Lingam is in front of this Amman.

Vinayagar…  Vinayagar with Nagars are under a peepal tree. This Vinayagar belongs to 12^th to 13^th Century. Even-though the idol is not perfectly finished, the head, ears, trunk and legs can be identified. Vinayagar is sculpted out of boulder.

Madurai Veeran Temple… Stucco image of Madurai Veeran is on a platform along with Sri Pommi Amman and Sri Vellai Amman. Madurai Veeran is with a big mustache and holding a sword in the right hand.  A Stone idol of Madurai Veeran also installed under the platform. Stucco horse is with a man is near the Madurai Veeran.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham and Maha Shivaratri, etc,.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala Pooja is conducted the opening and closing times are un predictable.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 2.6 KM from Thiruverkadu Karumariamman Temple, 4.7 KM from Avadi railway station, 16 KM from Koyambedu Bus Terminus and 23 KM from Chennai Central Station.

Nearest railway Station is Avadi

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal and Anjaneyar Temple…. This temple is on the right side of the road on the way to Thiruverkadu from Avadi. The Perumal may belongs to 12^th to 13^th Century.  Perumal is in standing posture with 4 hands. The Upper hands are holding sankha and chakra and lower right hand is in abhaya hastam and left hand is in kadi hastam. Anjaneyar is in-front of Perumal.

Location of the  Temple : Click Here 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Somanatheechurar Temple / சோமநாதீச்சுரர் ஆலயம் / Sekkadu Sivan Temple / Sekkadu Siddhar Jeeva Samadhi, Sekkadu, Avadi, Chennai Metropolitan area, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to This Sri Somanatheechurar Temple at Sekkadu was a part of Shiva, Maha Vishnu, Amman and Hero Stones Visit in and around Avadi, in Tiruvallur District on 17^th September 2023. This is one of the Shiva temples constructed on the banks of Holy River Cooum. The is also one of the Siddhar peedams of Chennai. As per Telugu Chozha period Inscription art Serathamman Temple,  The place Seru_Kadu means the mud mixed with abundant water, a fertile land. This place Seru Kadu, has got corrupted to the present name of Sekkadu.

Moolavar  : Sri Somanatheechurar

Consort    : Sri Vedanayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The Shiva Temple with the Sekkadu Siddhar Peedam are facing east with an entrance from west side. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the Temple. Again a balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of sanctum sanctorum. Stucco Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on an elevated level. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In the inner praharam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Arumugar, Chandikeswarar, Agasthiyar, Suryan, Chandran, Nalvar with Sekkizhar, Swarna Akarshna bairavar and Natarajar Sabha.

Ambal sannidhi is in the maha mandapam facing south. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. A Mahameru is in front of Ambal.

Sekkadu Siddhar….

Sekkadu Siddhar Jeeva Samadhi is on the right side of Balipeedam and Rishabam in front of Sanctum Sanctorum. Sekkadu Siddhar is in sitting posture. It was told that, no details like, name, where about, are available about this Siddhar. Hence he was called as Sekkadu Siddhar.

  

ARCHITECTURE

The total Temple from adhistanam to sigaram was built with bricks and cement concrete. From Adhistanam to Sigaram the temple was built with Gajaprishta style adopting the Pallava / Chozha architecture. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapaam. The Sanctum sanctorum is on a padabandha adhistanam with three patta kumudam. An ekatala Gajaprishta Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctum sanctorum. Shiva with Parvati, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the greeva koshtam. 3 Kalasas are installed on the sigaram.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It was told that the Shiva Lingam belongs to Chozha period and the same was installed on the Jeeva Samadhi of Sri Sekkadu Siddhar. In 2016, the Shiva Lingam was removed and installed in a separate temple. An idol of sekkadu siddhar was installed on the Jeeva Samadhi. The idols Iconography was as per the siddhar’s indications.  The 7 Years completion of Maha kumbabhishekam was celebrated on 26^th June 2023, in a grand manner with Thirukalyana Utsavam and Thirukalyana feast.

The temple authorities proposed to construct a rajagopuram. The trustees mobile numbers +91 9840043569 and +91 9841935012 may be contacted for more details and contributions.  

LEGENDS

It is believed that this is a siddhar peedam and do not know the age, etc. Many miracles happened in many devotees life after worshipping Sri Sekkadu siddhar.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from 4 Kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Pournami / Full moon day, Siddhar Pooja, Sankadahara chathurti, Theipirai ashtami, Kiruthigai, Thiruvathirai, Natarajar abhishekam, Manickavasagar guru Pooja, Thirugnanasambandar Guru pooja, Thirukalyanam, Vinayagar Chathurti, Sekkizhar Guru Pooja, Chitra Pournami, maha Shivaratri, etc. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Bala alias Balasubramanian, Sekkadu, may be contacted for further details on his mobile number +919841935012

HOW TO REACH

This Sri Somanatheechurar Temple is about 2.2 KM from Hindu College Railway Station, 4 KM from Avadi railway Station and 31 KM from Chennai Central railway Station.

Nearest Railway station is Hindu college.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Navahrahas 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Serathamman Temple / ஶ்ரீ சேராத்தம்மன் கோவில் / Chozha period Eri / lake Inscriptions, Sekkadu, Avadi, Chennai Metropolitan area, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to This Sri Serathamman Temple at Sekkadu was a part of Shiva, Maha Vishnu, Amman and Hero Stones Visit in and around Avadi in Tiruvallur District on 17^th September 2023. This Amman is considered as a village guarding Deity / Grama Devathai. This is one of the Amman temples constructed on the banks of Holy River Cooum and on the banks of Sekkadu Periya Lake.

Moolavar  : Sri Serathamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The Temple is facing north with a Simha vahana and Trishul. Stucco Dwarapalakis are in front of sanctum sanctorum. In Sanctum Sanctorum Amman is in sitting posture with 4 hands. Upper hands are holing Pasam & Damaru and lower hands holds bowl and a knife.  Sapta kannis are in the mandapam.

A Stucco image of Amman sitting on a snake under snake hood. The iconography  is very much similar to Moolavar.

An inscription pillar is in front of the Gate with   Taurmeic powder and Kungumam applied. Worshipped as Serathamman.

 

ARCHITECTURE

The total temple was constructed with bricks and cement concrete. The temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum with a front mandapam. The Sanctum sanctorum is square in shape on a upanam and a pada bandha adhistanam with threepatta kumudam. An ekatala vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Amman’s various forms are on the greeva koshtam. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that this Serathamman exists on the same place, more than 1000 years.  The present structure was built and consecrated on 06^th March 2011.

The inscription stone is irregular and found very difficult to read. Also the turmeric powder and the Kungumam made it more difficult.

As per Sridharan, former Archaeology Department, said that this inscription belongs to Telugu Chozha king Vijayakanda Gopalan’s 16^th reign Year. The inscription records the land on the Eri banks and the right to catch fish to the temple as gift. ( The temple mentioned inscription may be the near by Sri Agastheeswarar temple ). As per the inscription this place was called as Serkadu – சேற்காடு -  in Puliyur kottam of Jayangonda Chozha Mandalam. The place Seru means the mud mixed with abundant water, a fertile land. As per the inscriptions, this place  Seru Kadu, has got corrupted to the present name of Sekkadu and Amman as Serathamman   

LEGENDS

It is believed that this Serathamman is a Village guarding deity and worshipped for raising paddy using the lake water. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala pooja, Special poojas are conducted on Fridays, Tuesday, Amavasya Days / new moon days and Annual Festival days in the month Aadi.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened during morning pooja, Fridays and Pournami Days.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

This Sri Serathamman Temple is about 2.2 KM from Hindu College Railway Station, 4 KM from Avadi railway Station and 31 KM from Chennai Central railway Station.

Nearest Railway station is Hindu college.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---