Sri Vaheesar/ Sri Agneeswarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ வாகீசர் கோயில் (எ) ஸ்ரீ அக்னீஸ்வர்ர் கோயில், Vazhuvathur, Near Thirukalukundram, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to Sri Vaheesar, also known as the Agneeswarar Temple at Vazhuthavur near Thirukalukundram, took place on 1st November 2026. This temple is adjacent to a Chola-period Shiva temple, where the 626th week’s abhishekam was conducted by the Ancient Shiva Temples and Sivamayam Group.

Moolavar  : Sri Vaheesar, also called Sri Agneeswarar

Consort    : Sri Soundaryavalleeswari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance on the east side. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the temple after the entrance. Sculpted images of Vinayagar, Shiva, Parvati, and Ambal are on the top of the mukha mandapam. Vinayagar and Murugan as Brahma Sastha are on either side of the entrance to the antarala. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. In the koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the praharam, Vinayagar, Chandikeswarar, and Navagrahas.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi that faces south. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varda hastam.

Murugan as Brahma Sastha - Vinayagar

 Dakshinamurthy

 Maha Vishnu - Brahma

 Chandikeswarar - Lotus bud in the left hand

 Durga

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was constructed with bricks and cement concrete. The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum, antarala / ardha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is in a gramiya-style adhistanam. An eka tala vesara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the greeva and koshtams.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is said that this temple was built in recent years on the same spot where the old temple existed. But Dakshinamurthy,  Chandikeswarar, and Brahma Sastha seem to be more than 500 years old. The Chandikeswarar is found with unique iconography. He holds a lotus in the left hand and mazhu in the right hand.

The above three sculptures may belong to the adjacent Sri Agnipureeswarar, Chola-period temple adjacent to this temple. As per Sri Agnipurreswarar temple inscriptions close to this temple, this place was called Srivaivazhuthur.

LEGENDS

The local landlord built this temple to see from his residence, considering Sri Agneeswarar as their kula theivam.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Oru kala poojas are conducted, and special poojas are conducted on Maha Shivaratri days. But the temple display mentions that special poojas are conducted on Chaturthi, Amavasya, Sashti, Ashtami, Ekadasi, Pradosham, Pournami, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple is open, and the priest may be contacted for poojas.

CONTACT DETAILS

The temple priest may be contacted on his mobile numbers +919551888108 and +917904744057 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Vazhuvathur is on the Thirukazhukundram to Madurantakam road.

The temple is 9 km from Thirukalukundram, 19 km from Madurantakam, 22 km from Chengalpattu, and 25 km from Mamallapuram.

The nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Vaidhyanatha Swamy Temple/ Shri Vaithiyanathaswamy Temple/ ஸ்ரீ வைத்யநாதஸ்வாமி கோவில், Pallikaranai, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Vaidhyanatha Swamy Temple, a Gajaprishta Vimana Temple, was part of the “Visit to the Eri kalvettu at Medavakkam and this Shiva temple at Pallikaranai” on Vijayadhasami day, the 20^th October 2026. The temple is on the Major Mukund Varadharajan Road / Velachery Main Road at Pallikaranai, about 500 meters from Sri Adhipureeswarar Temple.

Moolavar  : Sri Vaidhyanatha Swamy

Consort    : Sri Thaiyal Nayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with a Pillaiyar Koil pond on the south side. Nagas are under a peepal tree on the banks of the pond. Stucco images of a Shiva Lingam, Nandi, Shiva and Parvati, Murugan and Vinayagar, various forms of Amman, Shiva, Brahma, Maha Vishnu, and Agasthiyar are on the top of the parapet wall. Balipeedam and a Rishabam are on a pedestal in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. A small Rishabam and a balipeedam are in the antarala/ ardha mandapam. In the koshtam are Dakshiamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma.

In the praharam are Ashta bhuja Durgai, Kubera Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Shanmugar, Palliyarai, Chandikeswarar, Anjaneyar, Vinai Theertha Vinayagar, Angaragan, and Navagrahas.

Ambal Thaiyal Nayagi is in a separate Sannidhi that faces south. Ambal is in a standing posture with Abhaya Varada hastam. In the koshtam are Maha Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Varahi.

 Dakshinamurthy - Angarakan - Bairavar

Ashta Bhuja Durga - Maha Vishnu

Sri Valli Devasena Shanmugar

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was built with bricks and cement concrete. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala / ardha mandapam, and common mandapam for parivara deities. The sanctum sanctorum is on a raised level with an upanam and pada bandha adhistanam with Jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with pattikai. The pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters with kudam, kalasam, and palakai. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasikudus. The sanctum sanctorum is square in shape, but the vimanam over the bhumi desam is in Gajaprishta style with one tala, greevam, and Gajaprishta sigaram with three kalasas. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, and Brahma are in the tala and Greeva koshtams.

 

Stucco image of Dakshinamurthy on the talam

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the Gurukkal, the Shiva Lingam and Rishabam are more than 300 years old and came to the same spot as Swayambhu (may be unearthed during the process of new construction). The present temple was constructed in recent years.

Anticipating the antiquity of the Shiva Lingam, which may belong to the Pallava period, the temple was constructed as the Gajaprishta Vimana Temple.  

The Vinaitheertha Vinayagar sannidhi is bigger than Shiva’s Sannidhi, since the Vinayagar Sannidhi existed in the same place before the construction of the Shiva Temple.

LEGENDS

Since Shiva cures all kinds of ailments, called as Vaidhiyanatha Swamy and considered similar to Vaitheeswarankoil. Hence, devotees worship Shiva for good health and prosperity in life.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Sankadahara Chaturthi, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Thaipoosam, New Year, Navaratri (Kolu is displayed in the temple), and all important functions.

Navaratri Festival - Golu

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be open from 07.00 hrs to 10.30 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

On Tuesdays, Rahu kala poojas are conducted from 15.00 hrs to 16.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Raju Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile number +919840183397 for poojas and further details.

HOW TO REACH

This Shiva Temple is on the west side of the Major Mukund Varadharajan Road, Pallikaranai, also called Velachery Main Road, about 4.7 km from Velachery MRTS railway station, 5 km from Medavakkam Koot Road, and 12 km from Tambaram railway station.

The nearest railway station is Velachery MRTS railway station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Medavakkam Eri Sluice inscription/ மேடவாக்கம் ஏரி மதகு (தூம்பு) கல்வெட்டு, Medavakkam, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Eri Thoombu inscription stone was part of a visit to "Heritage Sites and a Gajaprihsta Vimana temple at Medavakkam and Pallikaranai" on 20^th October 2026.

 

This Eri sluice inscription/Eri thoombu kalvettu news was in social media and daily newspapers. The inscription stone was unearthed from a pond taken for deepening with JCB. Now the inscription stone is kept in “Kulakarai Vinayagar Temple”. 

 

The inscription belongs to Telugu Chozha Vijaya Kanda Gopalan’s 20^th reign year, 1268 CE. The place Modaipakkam has been corrupted into the present name of Medavakkam. As per the Archaeologist Rajavelu, this inscription records the installation of sluice / Thoombu by the Merchants of this place to regulate the flow of water, possibly for irrigation or for drinking.

The partial inscription in Tamil reads as….
01. ஸ்ரீ விசைய க
02. ண்ட கோபால
03. தேவர்க்கு யா
04. ண்டு 20 மோடை
05. பாக்கத்தில்
06. (ஏ)ரி தூம்பு இடு
07. வித்தான் இவூ
08. ரிலிருக்கும்
09. வாணிகரில்
10. ..ந்த தாமன்
11. ..ருக்கி..

This pond might have been a large eri during the 13^th century and might have been used for irrigation purposes. It is said by the locals that this pond water was used for drinking purposes, and the nearby hotels used to take water till recent years. The Google map given below shows that Vadukkupattu eri, Medavakkam lake,  and some ponds (presently a cricket ground) are close to this pond.

LOCATION OF THE TANK: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Krishnaswamy and Sri Kothandaramaswamy Temple/ அருள்மிகு கிருஷ்ணசுவாமி மற்றும் கோதண்டராமசுவாமி திருக்கோயில், மலையம்பாக்கம் / Malayambakkam, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

Even though I visited this Sri Krishnaswamy and Kothandaramaswamy temple at Malayambakkam, Nazarathpettai, more than three times, I could not have the darshan of Sri Krishnaswamy and Sri Kothandaramaswamy. Hoping that the temple would be open at least on Puratasi last Saturday, 17^th October 2026, to my bad luck, the temple was found closed.

Moolavar: Sri Krishnaswamy & Kothandaramaswamy with Sita and Lakshmana

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance arch/ Gopuram. The temple tank is on the north side of the temple. Nagar with Kalinga Nardhanar is under a peepal tree. Stucco images of Vinayagar with shankha and Chakra in the upper hands, Ramar with Sita and Lakshmana, Anjaneyar, Kalinga Nardhanar, Krishnaswamy, Garudan, and an unknown image may be Manavala Mamunigal, and dwarapalakas are on the entrance gopuram.  Deepa sthambam and Balipeedam are after the entrance. Garudan is in front of the sanctum sanctorum.

In the praharam, Anjaneyar, Garudan, Krishnaswamy, and madappalli.

Vinayagar with shankha and Chakra in the upper hands

Nagar with Kalinga Nardhanar

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, anatarala, and ardha mandapam. The temple was constructed with stone from adhisthana to prastara. A two-tala vesara brick vimanam is over the bhumi desam. Maha Nasis and alpha nasis are found on the sigaram. No stucco images are found on the tala and greeva koshtams. The kalasa is missing, and plants are grown on the kalasa pit.

Deepa sthambam

The temple tank’s side steps are constructed with laterite stones.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple may belong to the 16th – 17th centuries, Vijayanagara Nayakas period. But as per Tamil Nadu HR & CE’s notice, the temple belongs to the 19th century.

The last Maha Samprokshanam was conducted on 02 February 1969, and the renovation is in progress and yet to be completed.

LEGENDS

Since Rama holds the bow, called Kothanda Rmaswamy.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

The HR & CE Notice and the Vijayaraghava Bhattachariar’s affidavit: poojas are conducted as per Vaikansa agama at 08.30 hrs. The special poojas like Monthly Punarpoosam Rohini nakshatra poojas, Krishna Jayanthi, Saraswati Pooja, Deepavali, Karthigai Deepam, Vaikunta Ekadasi, Thai Pongal Makara sankaranthi, Maha Shivaratri, Thai Pongal, Tamil New Year, Sri Rama Navami, Thanur masa Utsavam, and Manavala mamunugal Poojas are conducted.

But actually, it is said that the temple poojas are conducted by Vijayaraghava Bhattachariar’s son-in-law; the temple will never open, and poojas are not conducted at 08.30 hrs. When the temple will be open, and when poojas are conducted, will be known only to Sri Krishna Swamy and Kothanda Ramar.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

As per the notice pasted at the temple entrance, poojas are conducted around 08.30 hrs, and the temple never opens.

CONTACT DETAILS

Vijayaraghava Bhattachariyar lives at Sannidhi Theru, Agaramel, Nazarathpettai.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is on Mepur Road, about 1.2 km from Pachai Varna Perumal Temple, 1.9 km from Nazarathpettai Bus Stop on Bangalore Highway, 5 km from Thirukachi Nambigal and Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Poonamallee, 13 km from Porur Junction, and 17 km from Koyambedu CMBT.

The nearest Metro Railway Station is Poonamallee Outer Ring Road.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

The temple vimanam with temple tank

The space in front of the temple

Deepa sthambam and balipeedam, PC- website

Happened to see this a long time back

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---