Aappoor Sri Nithya Kalyana Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal

Aappoor is a tiny village situated about 5 kms from Singaperumal Koil. This village lies on the west side of Singaperumal Koil off the GST Road. One has to take right from Singaperumal Koil through the railway level crossing and drive about 3 kms and again take right and go about another 2 kms to reach Aappoor.

This is a hill temple and is visible from a distance itself on the right hand side of the road. The foot hill can be reached by going another half a km inside the village.

This hill is located about 2 km from Thirukkachur, where the hill is called Oushadhagiri and the deity Sri Oushadheeswarar. Similarly, this hill too is called as Oushadhagiri, as it contains lots of herbs in it.

Legend has it that on all full moon days Siddhars and Rishis gather here to worship the Lord. Also, Giripradhakshanam is popular in this temple.

There are about 500 steps to reach the temple on top of the hill. The stone steps are beautifully done and painted in white, which look beautiful when viewed from a distance. The steps are also a bit tedious to climb up. But one can stop in between to breathe some fresh herbal breeze and proceed.

The temple is very small and beautiful. The main deity here is Sri Nithya Kalyana Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal, also fondly called as Aappooraar by the local villagers. This temple is said to have been mentioned in many palm leaves of Naadi Astrology.

It is also said that, this is probably the only Vaishnava temple, where Sage Agasthiyar had stayed and performed penance.

The whole temple is just the sanctum and the mandapam around it. The main deity is seen facing east. Sri Garudan is seen in front of the sanctum, facing west towards the Lord.

Perumal here is said to bless the devotees for timely marriage and harmony within the family.

The Mandapam is decorated with Dhasavathara (10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu) images made of concrete, which is seen all around.

Pilgrims have to carry water or other refreshments with them, as nothing is available on top, after a strenuous climb.

One can have a scenic view of the villages around, from the temple on hill top. Lovely breeze embraces us and cools us down relaxing us to prepare for descending down.

This temple is open only till 11 am in the morning including Sundays, as there are not much people visiting here, except on festival days. But it is ideal to visit this temple on a normal day without much crowd. Also it is suggested to go in small groups, which will make the climb less painful.

Thirukkachur Sri Oushadheeswarar

Thirukkachur is a very small village situated about 3 kms from Singaperumal Koil. This village lies on the west side of Singaperumal Koil off the GST Road.

There is a small hillock in this village called Oushadhagiri. At the foot hill, there is this stunning, ancient temple for Lord Shiva called Sri Oushadheeswarar.

This is a beautiful temple which is said to be built by Kulothunga Chozha, where the main deity is Sri Oushadheeswarar (in Sanskrit ‘oushadha’ means medicine) also called Marundheeswarar and Goddess Andhaka Nivarani Ambaal (also called Sri Irul Neekki Ambaal). This temple is also called as Malai Koil by the villagers.

The entrance of this temple is facing south. There is no Rajagopuram for this temple. Soon after the entrance, there is a stone pillared Mandapam on which wonderful ancient carvings of Lingothbavar, Kamakshi, Pattinathaar, Dhandaayudhapaani etc, are seen.

It is said that this hill is rich in herbs containing very rare and precious herbs all over.

Legend has it that, as per the direction of Lord Indra, Aswini Devas came to this place to find some rare herbs and worshipped Lord Shiva here.

It is also said that Sage Agasthiyar worshipped Lord Marundheeswarar both at Thiruvaanmiyur and Thirukkachur and enriched his knowledge on Herbal Medicines.

Another unique feature of this temple is the deity Sri Marundheeswarar here is facing west. The outer praakaram is huge and has Dwajasthambha and Nandhi facing east towards the sanctum.

The people believe that the soil of this place itself is medicinal (மண்ணே மருந்து) and would cure one from ailments. There is a small pit near Dwajasthambha filled with mud. This mud is considered sacred and medicinal, which devotees apply on their forehead like Vibhuthi.

There is a separate shrine for Sri Andhaka Nivarani Ambaal, where She is in standing posture.

Sri Brahma, Sri Durgai, Sri Sandigeswarar and Sri Bhairavar are seen on the praakaram around the sanctum. Sri Sandigeswarar here is seen with 4 heads which is not seen in many temples. He is called Chathurmuga Sandigeswarar.

Sri Dhakshinamurthy is present facing south.

There is an ancient well at the north eastern side of this temple. This serves as the Theertham for this temple and is called 'Oushadha Theertham'. This water too is believed to have medicinal properties.

This well is made in such a way that, one can enter the well and reach up to the surface of water through the steps. This steps start at a distance from the well and goes inside the well even below the water level. It is said that there are 60 steps to this stair case. A very unique and a 'well designed well’.

The Sthala Viruksham for this temple is Palaa Maram (Jack tree).

Girivalam is very popular here. Devotees undertake Girivalam on Pournami (full moon) days and Tuesdays praying the Lord, to get cured of their illness.

Sundaramurthy Naayanaar, who had visited this village and composed hymns on Sri Kachabeswarar, has sung 2 hymns in praise of Sri Oushadheeswarar too.

Thirukkachur is definitely a sanctified place, possessing 3 ancient Shiva Temples.

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.

Singaperumal Koil Sri Ugra Narasimhar

Singaperumal Koil is about 25 kms from Tambaram and the temple is just 100 meters off the GST Road.

The village itself is named after the deity of this temple. The main deity here is Lord Narasimhar. This is a beautiful rock cut temple. The temple and even the deity is carved out of a small hillock. Here the Lord is known as Sri Paatalaadri Narasimhar. In Sanskrit Paatalaadri means a reddish hill. The original name of this place itself is Paatalaadripuram.

According to temple sources, this temple has been referred in Brahmaanda Puraanam. Lord Vishnu took the form (Avataar) of Sri Narasimha and killed the demon king Hiranyakasipu. At the time of Narasimha Avataar, this place was surrounded by dense forests. A sage called ‘Jaapaali’ was performing Thapas, praying Lord Vishnu. As wished by him, the Lord gave dharshan to him in the form of Ugra (fierce) Narasimhar.

The main sanctum itself is a rock cut shrine on which the deity too is carved out of the hill itself. So, whoever wants to circumambulate around the temple has to actually go around the small hillock as Giri Pradhakshinam. Hence, Giri Pradhakshinam is very popular here.

There are Bali Peetams seen at certain directions, while going around the temple.

The main deity is seen here as Ugra (fierce) murthy, holding Paanchajanya (conch) and Sudharsana Chakra, showing Abhaya Hastha in one of His hands. Sri Narasimha Swamy here has 3 eyes and the third eye is shown by the priest while performing Haarathi.

The Goddess here is Sri Ahobila Valli Thaayaar. There is a separate shrine for Lord Vishnu too.

The Urchavar here is called Sri Prahalaadha Varadhar.

While walking around the temple, there is an Azhinjal tree in this temple, which is considered most sacred. It is said that this tree has mentions in the ‘Naachiyaar Thirumozhi’ composed by Sri Aandaal. People praying for marriage or children tie a small piece of thread from their clothes on the branches of this tree. By doing this with a wish, it is believed that their wishes are granted.

Sri Anjaneyar (Hanuman) is seen on the pillar adjacent to Dwajasthambha, where many people light Ghee lamps for the God.

While entering into the street of this temple, there are 4 pillars welcoming us, which look too ancient having beautiful sculptures.

The Theertham for this temple is called Suddha Pushkarani and Sthala Viruksham is Paarijaatham.