Aarani Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar

Aarani is a small, beautiful village located about 70 kms north western side of Chennai near Gummidipoondi. To reach Aarani, one has to cross Red Hills from Chennai and take the road towards Gummidipoondi.

Aarani has a wonderful temple for Lord Shiva, called Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar. The Goddess here is Sri Sivakaamavalli. The place Aarani got its name as it lies on the banks of Aarani river which was known as Brahmaranya River in ancient days.

Lord Shiva has 5 faces; Isaanam, Thathpurusham, Vaamadhevam, Sathyojaatham and Agoram. There are 5 Shiva temples (Pancha Brahma Sthalams) near Chennai, representing each of the 5 faces of the Lord. Out of 5, this temple represents the Vaamadheva face of Lord Shiva. This place was also called as Vaamadhevapuram in ancient days.

The other 4 being Ramagiri Sri Vaaleeswarar (Isaanam), Suruttuppalli Sri Pallikondeeswarar (Thathpurusham), Ariyathurai Sri Varamoortheeswarar (Sathyojaatham) and Karungaali Sri Chinthaamaneeswarar (Agoram). Interestingly, these entire 5 temples lie on the banks of Brahmaranya (Arani) river, till the river merges into the ocean at Karungaali.

This temple for Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar is believed to be very ancient and is said to be over 2000 years old. The Rajagopuram is so elegant and antique which invites us towards the temple.

This temple has an interesting legend attached to it. It is said that this village had lots of Sampangi (flower) plants all over. A man who owned many cows in this village, saw one of his cows going alone in the bushes and pouring milk by its own. Surprised by this act of his cow, the man and few villagers curiously went and cut the bushes off including a Sampangi plant to see what’s under bush. To his surprise, he saw a beautiful Shiva Lingam in the ground which was bleeding as the Axe had hit while cutting off the Sampangi plants.

Guilty of his act, the man cut his own hand off as he felt he had done an irreversible sin. The man’s wife pleaded to Lord Shiva and with His blessings the man got back his hand. Since the Lord evolved from the Sampangi bush and gave the man’s hand as biksha (alm), He came to be known as Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar.

The temple is so big looking grand and strong. As we enter the temple, there is a spacious ‘Thirukkalyaana Mandapam’ on the right hand side, where the God’s wedding is performed.

A lovely Dhwajasthambham (flag staff) welcomes us towards the sanctum.

There is an ancient Nandhi Mandapam where Sri Nandhigeswarar is present, facing the Lord towards the sanctum.

Lord Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleeswar is present inside the sanctum, facing east. The inner praakaarams are too nice with pillars and carvings. Goddess Sri Sivakaamavalli is present adjacent to the sanctum.

A beautiful Sri Natarajar is present just outside the sanctum, facing south.

There is also a small peetam outside the sanctum, where Sri Ambaal’s Paadham (Goddess’ feet) is present, which is very rare.

The outer praakaaram has a very large space with shrines for many other deities. Sri Ganapathy is present on the southern side of the sanctum facing north.

Sri Dhakshinamurthy is present on the southern wall facing south.

There is a separate shrine for Lord Ayyappan which is present behind the sanctum (western side) facing east.

Also there are shrines for Sri Annamalaiyar and Sri Kaalahastheeswarar adjacent on the western side.

Sri Mahavishnu, Sri Brahma, Sri Durga devi are present along the praakaaram.

Beautifully sculpted Sri Rahu and Sri Kethu combined have a separate shrine too.

Also there is a shrine for Sri Sani Bhagawan on the eastern side, facing west.

Vimanam

Overall, it’s a lovely temple which will definitely take us through few centuries of the past. It is better if all the 5 temples (representing 5 faces of Lord Shiva) are visited, which will be an interesting experience.

Pon Vilaindha Kalathur Sri Munkudumeeswarar

Pon Vilaindha Kalathur is a small village situated about 60 kms from Chennai and about 8 kms from Chengalpattu. After Chengalpattu, one has to take the road towards left (eastern side of GST Road) and cross a level crossing to reach the road towards Pon Vilaindha Kalathur.

It is said that the village got its name as Gold was harvested in fields in the ancient days. Presently, the name of the village is shortened as PV Kalathur. Great poet Pugazhendhi Pulavar, who wrote Nalavenba was born here. One of the 63 Naayanmaars called Sri Kootruva Naayanar is also said to have lived in this village.

PV Kalathur has a small yet wonderful temple for Lord Shiva. The main deity here is called as Sri Munkudumeeswarar (முன்குடுமீஸ்வரர்) and Goddess Sri Meenakshi Amman. The temple was built by Rajendra Chozhan.

The legend of the God here is too unique and interesting. There lived a king who was ruling this part of the country in ancient days. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and had a habit of getting Prasaad (Prasaadham) from this temple every day before starting his routines.

The priest of this temple used to perform daily morning pooja to the Lord and carry the Prasaadham for the king at his palace. Once, as usual, the priest performed the pooja and went to the palace to submit to the king. The king was having his bath the priest had to wait for while for the king to return and accept the Prasaadham. Meantime, the queen saw the priest waiting and enquired him. The priest told that he had brought Prasaadham from the temple for the king. The priest was holding a plate carrying Vibhuthi (Holy Ash), Kumkum, fruits and some flowers offered to the Lord.

The queen liked the fresh flowers on the plate and out of curiosity took the flowers and wore on her head. The priest was shocked and told the queen that the first Prasaadham from the temple is meant only for the king and grabbed the flowers from her head and kept them back on the plate.

The king arrived and accepted the Prasaadham with much devotion. But he was shocked to see a single long hair stuck with the flowers of the temple. The king got angry and asked the priest on how the hair got mixed up with flowers from the temple and whether the Lord had a long hair. The priest got frightened as he cannot tell the king that the queen was the responsible for it. At the same time, he had to answer. So, the priest told the king that the Lord in the temple has a long hair and hence the flowers taken from the Lord’s idol had a hair mixed up among the flowers.

The king couldn’t believe it and told that he will visit the temple the next day morning during the Pooja and if he doesn’t find the hair on the Lord, the priest’s head will be cut off.

The priest returned to the temple, cried and prayed the whole day in front of the Lord to save him from the king’s punishment.

The next day both the priest and the king arrived at the temple for morning Pooja. When the priest opened the doors of the sanctum to start the Pooja, he was astonished to see a tuft near the forehead of the Shiva Lingam. The priest was in tears realizing the mercy of the God to whom he was doing Poojas with full devotion. The king, on seeing the tuft apologized with the priest for suspecting him. As the Lord has a tuft (Kudumi) towards his forehead He came to be known as Sri Munkudumeeswarar. Even today, we can witness the tuft on the Lord’s (Lingam’s) head.

The temple is situated on a vast area amidst the paddy fields in the calm village. The temple is now protected and maintained by Archeological department and is very neat and clean.

Sri Munkudumeeswarar is bold and beautiful and is facing the east. Sri Nandhigeswarar is seen present in front of the sanctum.

Goddess Sri Meenakshi Amman is so beautifully decorated and has a separate shrine near the sanctum facing south.

Koshta deities like Sri Dhakshinamurthy, Sri Brahma and Sri Durgai are present around the sanctum.

Sri Valli Devasena Samedha Sri Subramanyar is present at the north west corner of the outer praakaram.

Sri Surya Bhagawan and Sri Chandra Bhagawan are seen in front of the sanctum, facing the Lord.

Sri Bhairavar is present at the corner at the praakaaram around the Ambaal Shrine.

There is a small shrine for Sri Kootruva Naayanaar who is said to have lived in this village, worshipping Lord Shiva here.

There are many beautiful sculptures found on many of the pillars of the mandapam in front of the sanctum. There are also many inscriptions found on the walls of the temple.

There is a beautiful Panchamuga (5 headed) Lingam carved on one of those pillars.

Outside the compound wall of the temple, a huge and majestic Nandhi is found facing the Lord towards the sanctum. But the wall obstructs the Nandhi from facing the Lord. There are 4 strong pillars around the Nandhi which might have been the pillars for Nandhi Mandapam in ancient days.

The priest visits the temple only in the morning and evening for daily poojas to be performed. As there are no much of visitors, the priest leaves after his poojas. The temple is open and the sanctum is closed during the day. One can have dharshan of the Lord through the closed grill door at the sanctum. One will be lucky if the priest is present to perform a Haarathi to the Lord.

But during our visit the priest wasn’t around and we thought he must have carried the God’s Prasaadham to some king!!

Overall, Sri Munkudumeeswarar temple is an excellent masterpiece of ancient architecture.

Koyambedu Sri Kurungaaleeswarar

Koyambedu is situated at the north western side of Chennai. An ancient temple for Lord Shiva is located in Koyambedu where the main deity is Sri Kurungaaleeswarar and Goddess Sri Dharmasamvardhani (also called Aram Valartha Naayagi).

Inscriptions which date back to Kulothunga Chozha III and Vijayanagara kings, informs about various contributions made to the temple. Inscriptions also reveal the political bifurcation of the place as Kulothunga Chozha Valanadu, part of Puliyur Kottam belonging to Jayankonda Chozha Mandalam.

It is also said that the names of this place in ancient days were as Kosai Nagar, Koyattipuram and Prayachithapuram. Kulothunga Chozha is said to have ruled in the 12th Century and hence it is said that the temple was constructed during his period.

The main deity Sri Kurungaaleeswarar is also called as Sri Kusalavapureeswarar. It is said that Lava and Kusa, sons of Sri Rama stayed with Sage Valmiki in his Ashram along with their mother Sita Devi.

There are few other places too in and around Chennai like Thiruvaanmiyur and Siruvapuri, where Sage Valmiki had his Ashram when Lava and Kusa stayed with him.

The legend of this temple connects to Ramayana period, when Sita Devi was sent to forest by Sri Rama. Sita was under the care of Sage Sri Valmiki during that period and also gave birth to her 2 sons Lava and Kusa.

When Sri Rama sent the Aswamedha horse around the country, Lava and Kusa brought the horse to their custody. Without knowing that it was His sons who captured the horse, Sri Rama sent Lakshmana who fought a battle with them. As Lava and Kusa fought against their own uncle, they acquired a Dhosham called Gothra Dhosham. To be relieved of it, it is said that, they installed and worshipped Lord Shiva in this place.

The presiding deity Sri Kurungaaleeswarar is too small as it was installed by two small kids. This wonderful temple has stood strong across centuries and still has not lost its originality.

There are beautiful stone pillared praakaarams around the sanctum. Another beautiful stone pillared Mandapam is found in front of the temple, in which Sri Sarabeswarar is seen on one of the pillars facing west. Special Poojas are performed to Sri Sarabeswarar on all Sundays during Raahu Kaalam.
At the outer praakaaram Sri Vinayagar shrine is located at the south west corner of the temple.

Sri Visaalaakshi Samedha Sri Kaasi Viswanathar shrine and Sri Valli Devasena Samedha Sri Subramanyar shrine are located adjacent to each other behind the sanctum.

Sri Nandhigeswarar is seen on the outer praakaaram facing the presiding deity.

The temple also maintains a beautiful garden (Nandhavanam) along the outer praakaaram.

Ambaal Sri Dharmasamvardhani is beautiful and is seen in standing posture.

The Sthala Viruksham for this temple is ‘Palaa Maram’ (Jack tree) which is located on the outer praakaram.

The theertham for this temple is called Lava Kusa Theertham which is believed to have been created by the two sons of Sri Rama.

There are many beautiful sculptures all around the temple and on the pillars.

Few of them are Sri Rama performing Pooja to Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva punishing Yama to save Markandeyan and Kannappa Naayanar.

There is another temple adjacent to which is dedicated to Maha Vishnu called Sri Vaikunda Vaasa Perumal temple, which is again formed by Lava and Kusa.

Wonderful temple and worth visiting.

Thiruvalidhaayam Thiru Valeeswarar

Thiruvalidhaayam (which is called Paadi nowadays) is situated in the suburbs of Chennai, about 2 kms west of Villivakkam towards Ambattur.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is the main deity called Sri Valeeswarar and Goddess Sri Jagathambigai.

As the sage Baradhwaaj (not the one who is among 7 Saptharishis), had worshipped Lord Shiva here in the form of a Karunkuruvi (black bird) called Valian (வலியன்) the place came to be known as Thiruvalidhaayam and the Lord Valeeswarar.

This village had been a storage place of weapons during the war times. Such places used by the kings for storing weapons were called as Paadi Veedu in ancient days. Also the kings, before starting to the battlefield pick up their weapons from such Paadi Veedus and worship Sri Kaali and proceed to the battle. Hence the place could have become to known as Paadi in later days. As there is also a Padai Veettu Amman temple nearby this temple, which is believed to have been worshipped by the ancient kings.

It is said that, two daughters of Brahma, Kamalai and Vimalai were much fond of Lord Shiva and wanted to marry him. They went to Lord Shiva and prayed to grant their wish. Lord Shiva explained them that he is already married to Parvathi and can’t marry them again, but they can get married to his son Sri Ganesha who is blessed with equal divinity. Later Lord Ganesha, after killing the demon king Gajamukhaasura, came to this place and married both of them.

This wonderful temple has many inscriptional evidences right from the 12th century. Thirugnana Sambandar has sung hymns on Lord Shiva here.

Arunagiri Nathar has sung praise on Lord Muruga at this temple.

Another rare feature here is that, this is one among the just 3 temples where Guru Bhagavan had worshipped the Gods. The other 2 are Thiruchendur and Thenkudi Thittai.


Guru Bhagavan has a separate shrine here at the outer praakaram.

Lord Shiva here is worshipped by Saint Agasthiyar, Baradhwaaja Rishi, Lord Surya (Sun God), Lord Chandra (Moon God), Yama, Agni, Sri Rama, Sri Anjaneya (Hanuman), Sukreeva, Lava, Kusa, Manmadha & Lord Indra at various periods and each connected with a story here.


A beautiful Nandhi and a grand Dhwajasthambha (Flag Pole) fascinates while one enters the temple.

The sanctum is in a circular kind of shape at the back. This type of architecture is called Gaja Brishta Vimana or Thoonganai Madam (தூங்கானை மடம்) as this looks like a back of a sleeping elephant.

Ambaal Sri Jagadhambigai is facing towards South. A beautiful Simha Vaahana faces the Goddess from the outer Praakaram.

The inner praakaram is decorated with Sri Dhakshinamurthy, a Shiva Linga worshipped by Anjaneya, Nayanmars, Sri Durga, Brahma etc.,

Wonderful sculptures beautify the pillars of the inside Stone Mandapam. We can see the brilliant sculptures (in the pics) like Sri Parvathi embracing Shiva Lingam, Kannappa Naayanaar plucking out his eye for Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva stopping him, an ancient Sadhu or traveler with Thambura like musical instrument and some baggage on his head etc.,

The temple also maintains a Ghoshala, a rare sight in today’s temples and a Nandhavanam along the walls of outer praakaram which adds beauty to the temple.

There are mentions about this temple saying “Jayangonda Chola Mandalathu Puzhal Kottathu Ambathur Naattu Thiruvalidhaayam” (ஜயங்கொண்ட சோழ மண்டலத்து புழல் கோட்டத்து அம்பத்தூர் நாட்டுத் திருவலிதாயம்), in ancient inscriptions, which explains that, this place was under Ambathur & Puzhal territories in ancient days.

A beautiful Valampuri Vinayagar sitting under an Arasa Maram outside the temple, welcomes you in.

The Theertham for this temple is called Baradhwaaja Theertham and Sthala Viruksham (tree) is Paadhiri.

This temple is also a Guru Parihaara Sthalam situated in Chennai.