Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple /ஸ்ரீ காசி விஸ்வநாதர் கோயில் / Sivan Temple, அறந்தாங்கி / Aranthangi, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple at Aranthangi was a part of Shiva, Vishnu Temples of Pudukkottai and Sivagangai Districts Visit on 23^rd & 24^th September 2023. This temple was once inside the Aranthangi Fort, built by the Aranthangi Thondaimans who ruled this area under Pandyas and Vijayanagaras.

Moolavar  : Sri Kasi Viswanathar

Consort    : Sri Visalakshi

Some of the salient features of this Temple are...

The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. A Vinayagar is in front of the Temple. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Stucco image of Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar is at the entrance of ardha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is very small on a round avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

Nalvar, Ambal and Utsavars are in the ardha mandapam. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. In praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Chandran and Suriyan.

ARCHITECTURE

The architecture seems to be similar to the Pallava period temples. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a upanam, kapota bandha adhistanam with vrutha kumudam. Sthamba panjaras are in between sala and karnapathis. The Bhitti starts above kapotam. The pilasters are with square base & Naga bandham, virutha body, malai thongal, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam and poo mottu pothyal. The Prastaram consists of lotus petals valapi, kapotam with plain nasi kudus & keerthi mukhas. Yazhi vari is above the kapotam ie in bhoomi desam. Makara thundam is on the corners of yazhi vari. No images found in the 1^st tala kostas and images are in Greeva kostas. The Sigaram is of Nagara Style.  

The temple was reconstructed in 20^th Century. The original temple was built completely with stone from adhistanam to sigaram.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Based on the inscription and construction the temple may belongs to 12^th to 13^th century, Pandya Period and the same was reconstructed without much modifications by Nattukkottai Nagarathar. 

LEGENDS

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Panguni Uthiram, Thaipoosam, Amavasya days, etc,.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

This temple is on the Kottai 2^nd Street ( 500 meters from Aranthangi Check post bus stop ), about 1.4 KM from Aranthangi Bus Stand, 14 KM from Avudaiyarkoil, 31 KM from Karaikudi and 416 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Aranthangi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Rathnambigai Sametha Sri Akshaya Rathna Lingeswarar Temple / ஶ்ரீ ரத்னாம்பிகை சமேத ஶ்ரீ அக்ஷய ரத்ன லிங்கேஸ்வரர் கோயில், கொளத்தூர் / Kolathur, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

As a part of Gajaprishta Vimana Temples Visit, had been to this Sri Akshaya Ratna Lingeswarar Temple at Kolathur ( Kanchipuram ), on 2^nd October 2023. This temple is small in between two lakes and reconstructed during recent years.

Moolavar  : Sri Akshaya Rathna Lingeswarar

Consort    : Sri Ratnambigai

Some of the Salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with balipeedam, dwajasthambam and Rishabam. Stucco images of Shiva with Parvati, Vinayagar, Murugan and Nalvar are on the top of mukha mandapam. The moolavar is in a elevated level. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing south. Ambal is standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

In praharam Nalvar, Ratna Vinayagar, Ratna Subramaniar ( Ratna Velan ), Chandikeswarar, Bairavar and a mandapam for Nagrahas.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam and Mukha mandapam. The total temple was re-constructed with bricks, cement concrete during recent years. The Sanctum sanctorum is on a upanam and adhistanam, square in shape. The two tala Gajaprishta Vimanam is above the sanctum sanctorum with 3 kalasas. Stucco images of Shiva & Parvati, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the greeva kostam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION

There is inscriptions found in the temple to prove its antiquity. It is believed that the temple may be 800 years old and built as a stone temple during Chozha period. The present temple was built  as per the olai Suvadi / palm leaf manuscript and prasannam during 2013-2014.

LEGENDS

As per the Palm leaf manuscript, the power of Shiva will be multifold on akshaya Tritiya day and temple will be constructed and to be named as Akshaya Ratna Lingeswarar.

It is believed that, to get rid of debt, to flourish wealth, devotees worships Shiva, Ratnambigai and Pidari Amman.

A Pidari ( Varahi Amman ) Temple is on the North east corner of the temple ( Out Side )

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

No regular poojas are conducted and the only pooja conducted is the pradosha pooja.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened  only on Pradosham day.

CONTACT DETAIL

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HOW TO REACH

The temple at Kolathur is about 1 KM off from Tambaram – Sriperumbudur main road, 6 KM from Manimangalam, 8 KM from Sriperumbudur, 16 KM from Tambaram Railway Station and 49 KM from Chennai Central Railway Station.

Nearest Railway station is Tambaram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

The Temple With Lake

Sri Pazhandi amman Temple In the Village 

Sri Pazhandi amman Temple In the Village 

A Vinayagar Temple in the same Village

A Vinayagar Temple in the same Village

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Thiruverkadu Hero Stones & Thiruverkadu Panayaathamman Temple/ திருவேற்காடு பனையாத்தம்மன் கோயில், Chennai Metropolitan area, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

This Panayaathamman Temple at Thiruverkadu is on the banks of Holy River Cooum, where the river changes its course from west to east to North to south, considered to be an auspicious place. Sri Panayaathamman is a village guarding deity or Grama Thevathai.  The temple is under the control of Siva Sri Ananda Swamigal of Sri Panayaathamman Charitable Trust.

Moolavar: Sri Panayaathamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east, with the sanctum sanctorum. The sanctum sanctorum is without a vimanam. Amman is in a sitting posture with 4 hands. The upper hands are holding Damaru and Pasam and Lower hands are holding Knife and bowl. Amman’s Vahana Simham with a Trishul is in front of the temple.

Vinayagar with Nagars and  Navagrahas are in the praharam.

HERO STONES.

The speciality of this temple is the presence of 3 Hero stones. All three hero stones are erected facing the north direction. These three hero stones are worshipped as Muniswaran, Katteri Amman and Ondi Veeran Swamy.  All three Hero stones may belong to the 14^th to 15^th Century, based on the style of inscriptions.

Muniswaran… This hero stone is a smaller one and is a Navakanda Hero Stone. The Hero is holding a knife (Cutting the head) in the left hand, and the right hand is holding a sword, which is resting on the ground. The Hero wears ornaments and a half-dress below the waist. A Broken piece of the hero stone with inscriptions is on the back side of the Hero Stone. The Hero must be a left-hander, based on the holding of the sword.

Katteri Amman …  Why this hero stone is identified as a female is not known. The hero is in a standing posture, holding a sword in both hands on the back side of the neck. He wears ornaments and a half-dress below his waist. A kattar is tied to his hip. His tuft is straight and tied. An inscription is found on the back side of the hero stone.

Ondi Veeran Swamy...  The hero is in a standing posture with both legs bent on the right side, but his face is facing the front. He is wearing ornaments on the neck and a half-dress below his waist. He holds the sword with two hands, similar to the central hero stone. Some inscriptions are found on the band above the hero’s head.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala Pooja is conducted, the opening and closing of the temple is unpredictable.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The Panayaathamman temple is about 50 meters from Thiruverkadu Shiva Temple, 1.3 KM from Devi Karumariamman Temple, 6 KM from Avadi, 12 KM from Koyambedu, and 20 KM from Chennai Central Railway Station.

The nearest railway station is Avadi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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 ---