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Agastheewarar Temple, Pozhichalur

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Lesser Known Temples of Madras : 60 ============================ Agastheeswarar Temple, Pozhichalur (Vadatirunallar)      This temple is situated in Pozhichalur which is at a distance of 3 kms from Pallavaram railway station.  This temple is one of the Navagraha parikara temples of Thondaimandalam known for Saneeswarar. The legend of the temple is like this. The effects of Sani affects every devotee and gives them troubles and hardships. To get relief of these sins Sani Bhagwan prays to Lord Shiva to get relief of his Doshams.  Lord Shiva asks Sani Bhagwan to come to this place and worship him. As directed Sani Bhagwan worships the God at this place and cleanses himself the sins he has committed on others. He is worshipped in this temple as prime God next to Tirunallar and is called Vadatirunallar. Lord Sani is housed here on the Maha Mandapam of the temple.         This is a latter Chola period temple as seen by the architechture and the Gaj...
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Jalanadheeswarar Temple, Thakolam

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 Jalanadheeswarar Temple, Thakkolam  ============================        Thakkolam is a small Panchayat Town in Ranipet district around 70 kms from Madras. The nearest railway station is Thiruvalangadu  on the Madras -Arakonam line. The town is around 14 km from the station and can be reached by Auto. Thakkolam was the place which changed the history of succession of Imperial Cholas. It was here in the year 949 AD the famous Thakkolam war was fought between Cholas led by crown prince Rajaditya (son of Parantaka I) and the Rashtrakutas led by Krishna III.  It was a fierce battle were more than 3,00,000 people died on both sides.  Crown Prince Rajaditya was treacherously killed in the battle by an arrow while he was fighting on his Elephant. The Chola forces were forced to make a retreat after the death of their crown prince. This changed the history of Chola succession and the crown went to the remaining sons of Parantaka one by one and to Sun...
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Veeraraghava Perumal Temple, Tiruvallur

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         This temple one of the 108 Divya Desam is situated at a distance of 50 km from Chennai on the road leading to Tirupathi. It is a Pallava era temple with inscriptions dating to 9th century. The temple is under the control of hereditary trustees of Shri Ahobila Mutt and the present head  Sri Ranganatha Yatheendra  Mahadesikan Azhagiyasinger is running the affairs of the temple. The mutt has a hoary history of more than 600 years.      The presiding deity of the temple is Vaithya Veeraraghava Perumal who is in a Sayana kolam ( kidantha kolam)in the sanctum blessing his devotees. The right hand is positioned on the head of Salilhotra Muni and left hand in Gyana Mudra blessings Brahma. It is believed the lord here cures the illness of his devotees and they put rock salt and milagu in one of small mantap in the outer prakaram to get rid themselves of their illness.  The moola vigraham of solid granite is around 15 feet in width. ...
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Vijayalaya Choliswaram Temple, Narthamalai

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 Vijayalaya Choliswaram Temple, Narthamalai , Pudukottai, TamilNadu        This is an 9th century stone rock cut Shiva Temple situated on Narttamalai Hill in Pudukottai district of TamilNadu. The approach to the temple is through tiring journey up an hillock. The beautiful stone temple was constructed in second half of 9th century by a  local Mutaraiyar Chieftain Cattan Pudi who was ruling this part of the country and was aligned with the Pallavas. It was latter redeveloped by Tennavan Tamiladi Araiyan. There is also a view that this temple was constructed by the founder of Imperial Cholas Vijayalaya( 850-870 AD) and hence the name Vijayalaya Choliswaram. The controversy still survives to this day.        The stone temple is a beautiful piece of architecture of that era. The temple has a main shrine in the centre and eight sub shrines on the outside of which only six survive now. The main shrine which has the Shiv lingam inside is entere...
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Kote Venkatramanna Temple, Bengaluru

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Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai

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 Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar Temple        This more than 1000 year old Temple was constructed around 9th century initially by the Cholas and later developed by Pandyas, Hoysala, Vijayanagar and Nayak dynasties. There is also a belief that the temple was intially built in 7 th century by the Pallavas going by the architecture around the sanctum  from which the temple has developed . Had the opportunity to visit the temple recently . The temple occupies an area of 25 acres and consist of seven prakarams five in the temple  sixth on the mada veethi, seventh on the girivalam path around the hills.        There are nine stately Gopuram  in the temple with four big Gopuram on the four sides and remaining inside the temple. The east Gopuram is the Rajagopuram consisting of 11 tiers and 217 feet in height . It was started by Krishnadevaraya in 1516 and completed by Nayak  rulers later around 1580. The western tower is called...
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Vadaranyeswarar Temple, Thiruvalangadu

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Vadaranyeswarar Temple, Thiruvalangadu        This ancient Siva Temple is situated at a distance of 64 kms on the Madras - Arakonam railway line. The Temple is at a distance of 4 km from the railway station towards northern side. The presiding deity is called Vadaranyeswarar or Oorthuvathandaveswarar. Ambal here is called Vandar Kuzhali Amman.  This is one of the 276 Thevara padal petra temple and the three Saivite saints Sambandar, Appar and Sundarar have sung their Thevara hymns on the presiding deity of the temple. Lord Shiva in the temple is Swayambumurthi and it is one of the five places where the Lord competed with Goddess Kali in dance performance.  It is the home to “ Ratna Sabai”.  The Nataraja idol of the temple can be seen with its left leg almost touching the left ear.  The idol of Sivakami Sundari is expressive with astonishment on its face. Karaikal Ammaiyar has also sung about the Lord here.        The temple tra...
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