Chettippunyam Sri Varadharaja Perumal

Chettippunyam village is located about 30 kms from Tambaram on west of GST Road, after Singaperumal Koil.

Though the main deity of this temple is Sri Varadharaja Perumal, many people throng here to worship Sri Yoga Hayagreevar. One can see that the temple is always filled with school and college students coming here to worship Sri Yoga Hayagreevar, as He is the believed as the God for education, knowledge and wisdom.

It is said that, originally this temple had Sri Varadharaja Perumal only. Later during 1848, the idols of Sri Devanaadha Perumal and Sri Yoga Hayagreevar have been brought here from Thiruvaheendrapuram (near Cuddalore) to safe guard them from invaders.

Now, the main deity here is Sri Varadharaja Perumal and Goddess Sri Hemambuja Nayagi. The Urchavar of this temple is Sri Devanaadha Perumal. Sri Devanaadha Perumal is seen here with Prayoga Chakra on His right hand, which is a rare sight.

Usually Hayagreevar is seen along with Sri Lakshmi in many places. But here unusually, He is seen meditating in Yogic posture with his legs folded. Many students visit this temple praying for their good scores in examinations. One can see students coming here with their pens, pencils, hall tickets etc. keep them at the Lord’s feet before taking their exams.

Many of these students write their exam roll numbers and wishes to perform well all along the walls. Though the temple administration has announced on the walls, not to scribble on them, no one seems to respect that. Even such lines like “I want to get engineering seat” are seen in many places.

Dwajasthambha is made of stone here on which Sri Garuda is seen facing the Lord, towards the sanctum.

An Azhinjal tree is present at the northern side of the temple, where people tie a thread or a piece of cloth and pray the Lord for marriage, children and also to fare well in examinations.

A beautiful temple, especially granting wishes for students.

Thirumazhisai Sri Othaandeswarar

Thirumazhisai is situated about 25 kms west of Chennai. It can be reached on the road to Thiruvallur from Poonamallee.

Thirumazhisai is one out of 3 places where Sage Agasthiyar worshipped Lord Shiva under Azhinjal tree. The Lord here is called in many names viz. Agatheeswarar, Othandeeswarar, Manaanukooleswarar and Kai Thandha Piraan. Goddess here is Sri Kulirndha Naayagi or Sri Seethalambigai.

As this place was full of Azhinjal trees, it was called as Azhisai in olden days. Later, after God took abode here, the word ‘Thiru’ was added to it and came to be known as ‘Thiru Azhisai’, which later corrupted to become ‘Thirumazhisai’.

During the Shiva Parvathi wedding ceremony at Kailash, all the Devas, Gods, Rishis and Ganas gathered to witness the holy event. As everyone gathered at the North, that is Kailash, the whole earth tilted to one side towards North, because of the weight. To balance the Bhoomi, Lord Shiva directed Sage Agasthiyar to go to the southern part of the country. As Sage Agasthiyar felt sad that he would miss seeing the holy wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvathi, Lord Shiva granted him a boon that, from wherever Agasthiyar worships Him, he would get the dharshan of God’s complete wedding ceremony.

While traveling in Southern region, Sage Agasthiyar worshipped Lord Shiva at Velankaadu (today’s Thiruverkaadu), where he wished to see Sri Shiva Parvathi wedding ceremony. The Lord too gave dharshan of the whole wedding ceremony to Agasthiyar there. On realizing this, Pulasthiyar, who is the primary disciple of Agasthiyar and all other disciples, requested Agasthiyar that they too wish to see the wedding of the Lord.

Sage Agasthiyar along with his disciples came walking towards south of Thiruverkaadu and stayed in this place, which was a forest filled with Azhinjal trees. As Azhinjal tree is considered most sacred, Sage Agasthiyar installed a Shiva Lingam and worshipped Lord Shiva here. God, pleased with Agasthiyar’s prayers again gave dharshan of His wedding ceremony to Agasthiyar and all his disciples.

Sage Agasthiyar overwhelmed by the mercy of the God, requested God to take abode in this place in Kalyaana Kolam (posture as just wed couple). As wished by Agasthiyar, Lord Shiva and Parvathi took abode here as Uma Maheshwara just behind the Shiva Lingam, worshipped by Agasthiyar.

There are 3 places of then ‘Thondai Mandalam’, where Sage Agasthiyar had worshipped Lord Shiva under Azhinjal tree. They are Azhisoor near Kanchipuram, Thirumazhisai near Poonamallee and Chinnakkaavanam near Ponneri. The divine coincidence is all the 3 temples lie on a straight line.

As centuries rolled by, the place again became a dense forest. An ancient Chozha king called Karikaal Chozha was ruling this Thondai Naadu having Kanchipuram as his capital. He was troubled by people called Kurumbars near his frontier. He was passing through this forest on his elephant for a battle against them. While crossing this forest, he found that his elephant got couldn’t move further as some wild creeper encircled its leg. The king got down from the elephant, took his sword and whipped to cut the creepers off.

He was shocked to find blood oozing out from the place where he hit the sword. He found the beautiful Shiva Lingam, which was earlier worshipped by Agasthiyar at this place. Realizing the sin committed by him by slashing on the Lord’s idol itself, he immediately took his sword and cut his arm. The Lord was pleased by the devotion of the king and made him get his arm back to normal.

The king after winning the battle against his enemies came back here and built this temple for Lord Siva. Since, the Lord gave back the hands to the king the deity got the name 'Kai Thandha Piraan' (கை தந்த பிரான் - in Thamizh means 'God, who gave hands').

According to some inscriptions, it is said that this temple had been renovated later by Chozha Kings during 10th century. The sanctum is built in Gajabrishta or Thoongaanai Maadam (தூங்கானை மாடம்) shape, looking like the back of the sleeping elephant, which is seen in many of the temples built in Thondai Naadu, by Chozha kings.

Lord Ganesha gives dharshan here as Devaraja Ganapathi facing the main entrance. The main deity (Shiva Lingam) is facing east here, behind which Lord Shiva and Parvathi are seen here in Kalyaana Kolam, blessing the devotees. Many devotees come here and worship the Lord, praying for their sooner marriage.

Beautifully sculpted Dwarapaalakas are seen on either side of the sanctum, guarding the Lord.


The temple has a very vast outer Praakaaram with huge Dwajasthambha near which Sri Nandhigeswarar is facing the Lord.

The Goddess Sri Kulirndha Naayagi is facing South holding Angusam and Paasam (weapons) on hand and showing Abhaya Hastham, blessing the devotees. Sri Maha Bhairavar is present north east to Sri Ambaal and is facing south.


Other deities are Sri Dhakshinamurthy, Naalvar, Lord Brahma and Sri Durga in the Praakaaram.

In the outer Praakaaram, there is another shrine for Lord Shiva called Sri Gangadareswarar. It is believed that Sri Gangadareswarar was installed and worshipped by Sage Pulasthiyar, who was the disciple of Agasthiyar. The Goddess for this shrine is Sri Parvatha Vardhini.

There is a separate shrine for Lord Saneeswarar, facing west, at the north east corner of this temple. There is a well nearby, from which the water is used for Abishegams to the deities. This is called Kalyaana Theertham.

Originally Azhinjal tree was the Sthala Viruksham for this temple. But, as Azhinjal trees are not found here at present, Vilvam and Paarijaatham are considered Sthala Virukshams for this temple.

There is a very huge and beautiful temple pond on the eastern side of the temple. This pond is called Agasthiya Theertham.

Pournami, Amavasai, Pradhosham and Sivarathri festivals are celebrated well in this ancient temple.

Chinnakkaavanam Sri Ashtotheeswarar

Chinnakkaavanam is located about 40 kms from Chennai and about 3 kms from Ponneri. Chinnakkaavanam village is on the banks of Arani River just after crossing Ponneri town.

The main deity here is Sri Ashtotheeswarar, also called as Sri Nootreteeswarar (நூற்றெட்டீஸ்வரர்) in Thamizh.

This place was called as Chathurvedhapuram in ancient days and this temple’s main deity was Sri Chathurvedheeswarar and Goddess Sri Sivakami Amman. Sage Agasthiyar during his visit to this part of the country came here to worship the Lord. He was advised by a divine voice of Lord Shiva to install and worship Him under the Eru Azhinjal (ஏறு அழிஞ்சல்) Tree, which is called Angola Viruksham in Sanskrit.

It is said that, those days this entire district had lots of Eru Azhinjal trees, which is considered most sacred. It is believed that any spiritual act performed under the Eru Azhinjal tree would be most divine and fetch desired results. There are 3 places in the present districts of then ‘Thondai Mandalam’, where Sage Agasthiyar had worshipped Lord Shiva under Azhinjal Tree. They are Azhisoor near Kanchipuram, Thirumazhisai near Poonamallee and Chinnakkaavanam near Ponneri. Azhinjal Tree is the Sthala Viruksham for this temple.

The rarity of the Azhinjal tree is the certain seeds which fall from the tree gets attracted back to the tree and gets merges with the tree itself. It is also said that the tree has some medicinal values.

According to the legend, Sage Agasthiyar as per the order of Lord Shiva collected the sand from the nearby Arani River, which was then called Brahmaaranya River, made Shiva Lingam out of it and started worshipping Him under this Azhinjal Tree everyday for 108 days, thus creating 108 Shiva Lingams. But to his surprise, when he completed creating 108th Shiva Lingam, all the 108 Lingams merged to become Lord Ganesha’s idol. Then, he was told by a divine voice that he forgot to worship Lord Ganapathi before starting the Shiva Pooja and hence all the deities merged together to form an idol of Sri Ganapathi.

Later Sage Agasthiyar made another Shiva Lingam and worshipped, which came to be known as Sri Ashtotheeswarar and also as Sri Nootreteeswarar. The God was called so, as Agasthiyar worshipped 108 Shiva Lingams at this place.

The Azhinjal tree under which Agasthiyar worshipped, remains till today and is 2500 years old now. Also the Swayambhu Ganapathy which formed from the 108 Shiva Lingams is seen under the same Azhinjal tree and is called as Sri Angola Ganapathy, as He evolved Himself under Angola (Azhinjal) tree.

There are 2 main deities in this temple. First is Sri Chathurvedheeswarar, who was present even before Sage Agasthiyar came here. The Goddess is Sri Sivakami Ambaal.

Another deity is Sri Ashtotheeswarar which was created and worshipped by Sage Agasthiyar here. The Goddess is Sri Ashtothravalli.

There are 2 parallel shrines for both and each has separate Nandhi respectively.

It is said that the temple was renovated by ancient king Nandhivarman during his reign.
Other deities of the temple are Sri Subramanyar with Sri Valli and Sri Devasena, Sri Surya Bhagavan (called Siva Suriyar) & Sri Kaala Bhairavar.

A Splendid, ancient temple with rich heritage, Chinnakkaavanam is a feast to eyes and soul.