Manimangalam village is located about 10 kms from Tambaram on the western side of Mudichur Road leading towards Padappai. 
This village has a very high historic importance because of the huge battle fought here between Narasimhavarma Pallava and the Chalukya King Pulikesi II. This battle was fought in Manimangalam during 7th Century AD.
Manimangalam has an ancient temple for Lord Shiva called Sri Dharmeswarar. The Goddess here is Sri Vedhaambigai. According to the inscriptions, this temple is said to have got constructed by Chozhas. This temple has mentions in the inscriptions as Grama Sikhamani Chathurvedhi Mangalam, belonging to Kunrathur Naadu, a division of Puliyur Kottam in the district of Jayamkonda Chozha Mandalam.In ancient days, the lands along with temple were donated by the kings to the Vedic scholars for performing Vedic rituals for the well being of the country. Such villages were called as Chathurvedhi Mangalams. Manimangalam is one such village and was called as Grama Sikhamani Chathurvedhi Mangalam.
The temple is built on a very vast space amidst greenish paddy fields. A beautiful Peepul tree welcomes you as you enter the gates of the temple. This temple is maintained by Archeological Society of India and protected properly. The looks and the structure itself show the antiquity of the temple.
There is a small Mandapam outside the sanctum. Sri Vinayagar and Sri Subramanyar are seen on either sides of the entrance of the sanctum. The main deity, Sri Dharmeswarar is seen facing east. One can feel the divinity in this calm and cool ambience with the view of the Lord in natural light and the light from the temple lamps.
There is a small Nandhi facing the Lord in the sanctum, from this Mandapam.
There’s another small gated portion facing south, which is empty. There had been a beautiful Sri Natarajar here in ancient days and some miscreants had stolen the deity. While local people chased them, it is said that the miscreants had thrown Sri Natarajar in the nearby pond and ran off, in which Sri Natarajar’s idol was damaged.
In the inner praakaaram, Sri Vinayagar is found at the South western corner, under a tree in good shadow.
Along the walls of the praakaaram, Sri Vinayagar and Sri Dhakshinamurthy are seen facing South.
Lord Sri Mahavishnu is facing the west from the walls of the praakaaram.
Lord Sri Brahma, Sri Sandigeswarar and Sri Durgai are seen on the Northern side of the praakaaram.
A window, beautifully carved window with 12 openings is found on the eastern side wall of the praakaaram.
The Vimaanam is built of Gajabrishta shape called Thoonganai Maadam (தூங்கானை மாடம்) in Thamizh.
The whole temple is built on stone with wonderful architecture. Even the steps to reach the Mandapam outside the sanctum is done beautifully, but damaged in few places.
There are many dilapidated idols of Parivaara moorthies and Shiva Lingam kept safely in the inner praakaaram.
One can notice many inscriptions along the walls of the temple.
There is a Bali Peetam and another big Nandhi found at the outer praakaaram facing the sanctum. There is a wall obstructing Nandhi from viewing the sanctum, but for a small opening in it.
There is a separate shrine for Goddess Vedhaambigai at the outer praakaaram, facing south. Goddess is beautifully dressed and is so gracefully in blessing posture like a Mother blessing her children.
The temple pond is found adjacent to the temple, without any steps or bathing Ghats to it.
Festivals like Maha Shivarathri, Pradhosham, and Karthigai Dheepam are celebrated well in this temple, with much effort of the priests. People from various parts of the city visit this temple very often but unfortunately, not the local villagers.
Another rarity of Manimangalam is one can find many Vinayagar temples in this village, be it small or big. And all the Vinayagars have elephant as their Vaahana (Carrier) and not the Mooshikha (mouse). Manimangalam also has another ancient temple for Lord Shiva called Sri Kailaasanathar, which again is an ancient one and needs attention.
A beautiful Dhwajasthambham (flag staff) adds beauty to the temple at the outer praakaaram. There are separate sanctums for Lord Ganesha and Lord Subramanyar in the outer praakaaram. 
There is also a small sanctum just behind the sanctum for Sri Vedha Vyasar. 
There is a nice temple pond in front of the temple created by Sri Surya Bhagawan, called ‘Surya Pushkarini’.
Lot of pilgrims visit and worship the Lord here for want of relief from various illnesses and Dhoshas. 
This temple is one of the Navagraha temples of Chennai (or Thondai Mandalam) devoted to Sri Kethu Bhagavan. There is a separate shrine for Kethu Bhagavan on the southern side of the sanctum. Special Poojas and Homams are performed to Sri Kethu Bhagavan during Raahu Kethu Peyarchi. This is also a Parihaara Sthalam for people having ill effects in their lives because of Kethu’s position in their Horoscope.
Navagraham is present at the north east side corner of the temple. There are carvings of image of snake on the ceiling of Navagraha shrine, which indicates that this temple is a Parihaara Sthalam.
There is an old and vast temple pond adjacent to the temple, which definitely requires attention.
Kolappaakkam has a beautiful Shiva temple where the main deity is Sri Agatheeswarar (also called Sri Vaakeesa Mahadhevar) and Goddess Sri Aanandhavalli.
The color of Vasthram (clothing) meant for Sri Surya Bhagavan is Red. The Dhaanyam (grain) dedicated to Him is Wheat and the auspicious day to worship Sri Surya Bhagavan is Sunday. Worshipping Sri Surya Bhagavan on Sunday, by offering red cloth, red flowers and wheat gives success to one in all his deeds. Also, it is said that worshipping Sun God makes one gain the Thejas.
The temple is built facing south on a vast land. Sri Agatheeswarar is seen facing east. Ambaal Sri Aanandhavalli is facing south and is in standing posture. Nandhi is seen facing the Lord towards east.
Other deities like Sri Ganesha, Sri Dhakshinamurthy, Sri Mahavishnu, Sri Durgai and Sri Sandigeswarar are seen around the sanctum.
There is a separate shrine for Lord Ganesha called Raja Ganapathy here. Also, Sri Kaasi Viswanathar and Sri Visaalakshi have separate shrines facing east at the south west portion of the temple. Lord Subramanyar also has a shrine in the temple in which a Maragatha Mayil (Peacock made of green granite) is found.
Sri Kaala Bhairavar is very popular in this temple and is said to be more powerful. Special Poojas and Abishegams are performed to Sri Kaala Bhairavar every Sunday during Raahu Kaalam (4.30 pm to 6 pm) timings. It is said that people worshipping Sri Bhairavar here for 6 consecutive Sundays, get their wishes fulfilled.
Also Raja Raja Chozha I, Raja Raja Chozha II (1152 AD), Kulothunga Chozha III (1188 AD), Sundara Pandiyan (1200 AD), Veera Rajendra Chozha, a Telugu Chozha king called Vijayakanda Gopala are said to have contributed much to the temple, according to the inscriptions found in the temple.
According to another inscription, a king by name Sri Vijaya Maharaja of Sumatra Island (Indonesia) is said to have gifted 250 Kuzhi (
In the recent past, the ASI have explored the area and found ruins of a Buddhist shrine near the temple. A couple of Buddha statues and pillars were discovered near this temple, which is kept in the street sides of the temple. A carving of Lord Ganesha is also found on one of these pillars. Archeologists predict that Sri Vijaya Maharaja, who visited the Buddhist temple at Kolappaakkam, could have also visited Agatheeswarar temple and made donations to the temple.
The Sthala Viruksham for this temple is ‘Arasa Maram’ (Peepul tree) and Theertham is called ‘Amirtha Pushkarani’ (pic above) which is found adjacent to the temple and is less maintained.
This wonderful temple with great significance is now coming to light gradually. 
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 (
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, 
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 parallel shrines for both and each has separate Nandhi respectively.
Other deities of the temple are Sri Subramanyar with Sri Valli and Sri Devasena, Sri Surya Bhagavan (called Siva Suriyar) & Sri Kaala Bhairavar.