Temple Visits of Parantharami Mani

           Vaikuntavasal  Perumal Temple, Koyambedu.  This temple is adjacent to Kurungaliswarar temple and is A Chola Era temple. The main deity Vaikuntavasa Perumal is in standing posture with his consorts Sri Devi and Boodevi. Kanakavalli Thayar has a separate shrine. It is said Sita  Ramas wife stayed here in sage Valmikis house along with her sons Lava and Kusa. They had worshipped Vaikuntavasa here. Rama and Sita are in a shrine outside the sanctum in ordinary robes with Sita having her " Kodali Kondai" hair do. There is also a separate shrine for Andal. The temple tank created by Ramas sons is shared  by Siva temple also. There is a separate shrine for Anjaneyar here outside the temple facing it.

    Somangalam Somanadheeswarar  Temple.  This temple is situated 12km from Tambaram  on the Kishkintha route. Somangalam was one of the Chaturvedi Mangalam which was donated to the Vedic Brahmins by the Chola rulers tax free for vedic propagation. The temple is a Navagraha sthlam dedicated to Chandran. The curse given to Chandran by Dakshan was cured by Chandran taking a dip in the Somatheertham nearby and worshipping Lord Shiva.  The temple was built during Kulothunga Chola I (1070-1120) period. The Amman here is called Kamatchi and there are separate shrines for Chandran, Subramanyar and Bairavar. Chola Era inscriptions here mention about donations made for repairing tanks  and for lighting temple lamps. A legendary temple to visit for temple lovers.

     Vedapureeswarar Temple, Tiruverkadu.  This is a Chola Era temple situated in Tiruverkadu 18km away from Chennai.  It is situated 1 km away from the famous Karumariamman Temple and is one of the Thondai Nattu sivan temples.  The presiding deity is Vedapureeswarar with his consort Balambigai.  The moolavar Vedapureeswarar is in Linga form and also in Kalyana Kolam with his consort Parvathi. The Kodi maram and the beautiful Nadi facing Siva are a treat to see.  The legend has it that Sage Agastiya who was sent to south by Lord Siva to set the Earth right  wanted to see the celestial wedding and Siva gave him dharshan in Kalyana Kolam here. This is a Padal petra sthalam by Thirugnanasambandar and Arunagirinathar has also sung about it in Thirupugazh. The temple is a Chola Era temple as evident from the scores of Inscription found on the outer walls of the Inner prakaram and the Gajaprahsta Vimanam.         The temple was renovated during the Nayak era.  The inner prakara

      Nageswarar Temple, Kunrathur.  This is more than a 800 year old Chola Era Temple. The temple was built by Sekkizhar who was also called Uttama Chola Pallavan.  He lived during the reign of Kulothunga Chola II (1113-1150) also called Anabaya Chola.  The temple is 500 metres from Kundrathur bus stand.  The presiding deity is Nageswarar facing East and Amman Kamatchi is facing south. Sekkizhar built the temple on the lines of Thiru Nageswaram at Kumbakonam and it is also called Vada Nageswaram.  It is a Ragu parikara sthalam and poojas are made by devoties during Ragu kalam and the god is offered rice made of Ulundu.         There is a separate shrine for Sekkizhar facing west and there are shrines for Karpaga Vinayaka and Valli Deva Samedha Subramanyar and Saneeswarar. There are many inscriptions on the walls of the temple dating to Chola period and inscription refering to Puliyur Kottam and Kulothunga Chola can be spotted. The Rajagopuram is relatively new built in 1