Maangaadu Sri Vaikunda Perumaal

Maangaadu is located at the outskirts of Chennai near Poondhamalli. While going from Chennai city on Mount Poondhamalli road, one has to take left from Kumananchaavadi junction to reach Maangaadu.

This temple is located very close to Maangaadu Sri Kamakshi Amman temple. This is a very ancient and beautiful temple for Lord Vishnu. The main deity here is Sri Vaikunda Perumaal.

According to the legend, when Goddess Sri Kamakshi performed Thapas here in Maangaadu, Lord Shiva came down to earth to marry Her. Lord Shiva appeared to Sri Kamakshi and directed Her to reach Kanchipuram where He can marry the Goddess.

Lord Vishnu, who is the brother of Goddess anticipating the wedding to happen at Maangaadu, came down here with maternal gifts for the bride and waited here.

But as the wedding did not happen here at Maangaadu, Lord Vishnu took abode here as Sri Vaikunda Perumaal with the Jewel (wedding ring) he brought for the Goddess and started blessing devotees.

The main deity Sri Vaikunda Perumaal is so beautiful with Sri Devi and Bhu Devi facing east. God is seen holding the wedding ring in his palm. Also He is holding Prayoga Chakra in one of his hands, which is believed to be so powerful.

Goddess here is Sri Kanakavalli Thaayaar having a separate shrine facing east on the outer praakaaram.

Aandaal shrine is found on the northwest corner of the temple, facing east.

The temple also maintains a beautiful Goshala with many cows.

Many beautiful statues like Sri Rama, Sri Anjaneya etc, are found on the outer walls of the temple.

It is said that people visiting Sri Kamakshi Amman temple should also have dharshan at Sri Velleeswarar temple and Sri Vaikunda Perumaal temple in Maangaadu, as all these three temples are interconnected with the history of Sri Kamakshi Amman.

Maangaadu Sri Velleeswarar

Maangaadu is a small beautiful village located at the outskirts of Chennai near Poondhamalli. While going from Chennai city on Mount Poondhamalli road, one has to take left from Kumananchaavadi junction to reach Maangaadu.

This temple is located very close to Maangaadu Sri Kamakshi Amman temple. This is a very ancient and beautiful temple for Lord Shiva. The main deity here is Sri Velleeswarar. There is no Ambaal in this temple, as Sri Kamakshi Amman is present nearby.

According to the legend, when Goddess Sri Kamakshi performed Thapas here in Maangaadu, Lord Shiva came down to earth to give dharshan to Her and marry Her. It is said that, Sri Sukran (Venus) worshipped Lord Shiva here. When Sri Kamakshi came here to have dharshan of Lord Shiva, she saw Sri Sukran worshipping the Lord. The Goddess went back as She did not want to disturb the prayers of Sukran.

Later Lord Shiva directed the Goddess to come to Kanchipuram and married Her there. As Sri Sukran (Velli in Thamizh) worshipped Lord Shiva here, the Lord came to be known as Sri Velleeswarar and also called as Sri Bhaargaveswarar.

This temple is Sukran Sthalam among the Navagraha Temples of Chennai (or Thondai Mandalam). Sri Sukran blesses people with wealth, prosperity, good family, vehicles, fame and social status.

The main deity Sri Velleeswarar is huge and looks very grand, facing east. Lord Ganesha and Lord Muruga are seen at either side of the entrance of the sanctum. Lord Ganesha here is holding a Mango fruit in His hand and is called ‘Maangani Vinayagar’. The place Maangaadu itself had got its name as it was once a vast Mango forest.

Lingothbavar is seen on the outer wall behind the sanctum. Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu are present on either side of Lingothbavar worshipping Him.

There is a separate shrine for Sri Veerabadhrar behind the sanctum. Sri Veerabadhrar is said to have got created from the sweat of Lord Shiva to defeat Dhakshan.

Sri Subramanyar shrine is present at the North West side of the outer praakaaram. Sri Subramanyar is so beautiful and seen with His consorts Sri Valli and Sri Dhevasena. All the 3 deities are made of a single stone. Lord Muruga’s Vaahanam (carrier) peacock is present outside the shrine facing the shrine.

A beautiful Nandhi is present outside the sanctum, facing towards west. It is said that people visiting Sri Kamakshi Amman temple should also have dharshan at Sri Velleeswarar temple and Sri Vaikunda Perumaal temple in Maangaadu, as all these three temples are interconnected with the history of Sri Kamakshi Amman.

Vallakkottai Sri Subramanyar

Vallakkottai is about 50 kms from Chennai and about 12 kms South of Sriperumbudur.

This small village houses a beautiful temple with presiding deity as Sri Subramanyar along with Sri Valli and Sri Devasena.

The main deity is about 7 ft tall and such tall murthy for Lord Muruga is not seen in any other Murugan temple in this country. This temple is over 1200 years old.

According to temple legend, a king called Bagirathan was ruling a place called Chalankondapuram. Sage Naradha once visited this king and the king didn’t offer any due respect to Naradha. Naradha, who got angry with him, saw an Asura (demon) called Goran, on his way in the forests, who was doing Dhig Vijayam to various territories to defeat various kings.

Naradha advised Goran that his trip would be fulfilled only if he defeats Bagirathan. Goran took Saint Naradha’s words and defeated Bagirathan. Bagirathan lost all his kingdom and started wandering in the forests. One day he met Saint Naradha on his way. He apologized and prayed the saint to show him the way to gain back his kingdom. Saint Naradha directed him to meet Dhurvasa Rishi to get back what he lost. Bagirathan with much pain went and met Dhurvasar, who asked him to fast on Fridays and worship Lord Muruga near Paadhiri tree to gain back the kingdom.

Bagirathan formed a temple for Lord Muruga near Paadhiri tree and started worshipping. After his sincere prayers, Goran, who captured his kingdom, met Bagirathan and handed it back to him.

The place where Bagirathan made a temple for Lord Muruga near Paadhiri tree is Vallakkottai.

Vallakkottai is named after a king called Vallan, who was ruling this part of the country and was atrocious to everyone. Everyone including Devas took refuge in Lord Muruga who fought a battle with Vallan and defeated him. Vallan realized his sins and apologized. He also prayed God that the place should be called after his name. From then this place was known as Vallan Kottai which later corrupted as Vallakkottai.

This place also has references by the name Kodai Nagar and Lord Muruga as Kodai Aandavar.

Once Lord Indra wanted to worship Lord Muruga and he requested Deva Guru Sri Brahaspathi to guide him to the right place. He was directed to Vallakkottai. He came here and made a pond out of his weapon Vajraayudham and performed Abishegam to the Lord. As Vajraayudham was used to create the pond, the Theertham here is called Vajra Theertham.

Arunagirinathar who was an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga once visited Thirupporur temple near Chennai. After his dharshan there, he wanted to go to Thiruthani for having dharshan of Lord Muruga the next day. He rested at Thirupporur temple for the night and Lord Muruga appeared in his dream and asked him “how did you forget to visit me at Vallakkottai?”

Arunagirinathar came here to Vallakkottai before proceeding to Thiruthani. He had stayed here and sung about 8 Thiruppugazhs praising the Lord here.

In his Thiruppugazh, Arunagirinathar mentions this place as Kodai Nagar.

Other deities of this temple are Sri Vinayagar, Utsava Murugar, Sri Shanmugar and Sri Ambaal. The Mayil Vaahana is seen near the Bali peetam outside the sanctum.

There is a beautiful Dwajasthambha on the praakaaram, has lovely carvings of Lord Muruga and Vinayagar.

There are also some beautiful sculptures on the pillars of Ardha Mandapam like Thapas Kamakshi (as in Maangaadu), Sri Rama embracing Sri Anjaneyar etc.

Auspicious occasions like Skandha Sashti, Sura Samharam, Aadi Krithgai, Masi Krithigai, Tamil New Year’s day and Thaippoosam are celebrated well in this temple.

Maangaadu Sri Kamakshi Amman

Maangaadu is a small beautiful village located at the outskirts of Chennai near Poonamallee.

As per the legend, one day in Kailash, Parvathi Devi playfully closed the eyes of Lord Shiva from behind, with her palms. As a result of this, the whole universe was surrounded with darkness and all the living beings suffered. Lord Shiva became angry and the Goddess craved for his pardon.

Lord Shiva guided her to the earth and asked her to perform a severe penance to join him again. As per the God’s instructions she came down to earth and reached this place of dense Mango grove called Maangaadu. (means ‘Mango forest’ in Thamizh)

She started her rigorous penance here in the standing posture on the Panchagni (Fire). She stood one legged on Panchagni with right leg folded. She was holding her right hand raised above her head holding the Japamala (Rudraksha). Even today we can see this Moorthi of Sri Tapas Kamakshi at Maangaadu.

This Panchagni Sadhana is not an easy task. This Panchagni penance is performed to kill five evils which dominate people and lead to misery. The five evils are Kama (Desire), Krodha (Anger), Lobha (Greed), Madha (Ego) & Maacharya (Attachment). If one wins over all these five they can attain the supreme bliss.

Lord Shiva, who was happy with her penance, came down to earth to marry her. He gave dharshan to her in Maangaadu and married her at Kanchipuram, where even today they both bless the devotees at Ekambareswarar Temple.

There is a temple for Lord Shiva where he came down to meet her. This temple is Velleeswarar Temple located nearby Kamakshi Amman Temple.

Also there is another temple for Lord Vishnu (Vaikunda Perumal temple) in Mangadu. It is said that Lord Vishnu, being the brother of Goddess Parvati came for the wedding with Kanayazhi (gem stone ring) for Parvati as his gift (சீர் வரிசை) is still waiting here, as the wedding didn't happen at Mangadu.

Even after Goddess left the place, the power of the Agni didn’t subside, out of which the whole place in and around Maangaadu suffered with unbearable heat and the Ugram of the Goddess.

Sri Aadhi Sankaracharya, during his visit here, installed an Ardhameru Sri Chakra and brought down the heat and ugram of the place. This Sri Chakra is a rare of its kind in the country and not seen anywhere else.

Even today, no abhishekams are performed to the Sri Chakra as it contains rare herbs. Only Kumkuma Archana is performed that too only to the Sri Chakra and not the idol, as the powers of Sri Kamakshi Amman has been instilled in the Chakra by Sri Aadhi Sankaracharya.

The idol Sri Aadhi Kamakshiamman made of Panchaloha (5 metals) was installed by Sri Kanchi Paramacharya Swami in the later years.

Six weeks worships are very popular here. The devotee who has some prarthana or wish can choose any one day of the week and to visit the temple along with 2 lemons, of which one will be retained at the temple and the other one has to be taken back home.

Again the following week, on the same day, he or she has to carry the old lemon from home along with 2 other fresh lemons. Like wise, if one visits on the same day for six weeks continuously, the Ambaal grants the wishes of the devotee.

Golden Chariot is very popular here which is pulled everyday between 6.30 and 7.30 pm.

Maangaadu is just 24 kms from Chennai city and is located off the Chennai Bangalore highway on the way from Poonamallee to Kunrathur.

Temple Address:
Mangadu Sri Kamakshi Amman Devasthanam, Mangadu, Chennai – 602101. Tel: 91 44 26272053. email : mangadukamakshi@sancharnet.in