VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT

Wednesday, 20 May 2026

Sri Kasi Vishwanathar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ காசி விஸ்வநாதர் கோயில், Karukkupettai, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Kasi Vishwanathar Temple at Karukkupettai was a part of the 602^nd week abhishekam, by the Ancient Shiva Temples, and Sivamayam Group, on 17th May 2026.

Moolavar : Sri Kashi Vishwanathar

Consort : Sri Visalakshi

Some of the salient features of this temple are...

The temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Entrance to the ardha mandapam is from the south. Moolavar is small on a round avudaiyar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamoorthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai. Nartarajar with Sivakami is in the ardha mandapam.

In the praharam 4 pillar mandapam, Utsavars Chandrasekarar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, in a mirror room, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Nagars with Rahu and Ketu, Bairavar, Navagrahas, and Suryan.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi, facing South in the ardha mandapam. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam

Maha Vishnu - Dakshinamurthy - Bairavar

Suryan

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam and adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters with vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. An eka tala vesara vimanam is over the bhumi desam. Shiva, Dakshinamoorthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the greeva koshtams.

The open mukha mandapam may be built during the Nayakas period. Some of the bas reliefs are Shiva with Parvati as Rishabarooder, Brungi Muni with three legs, Anjaneyar, Vinayagar, Donors, Dwarapalakas, etc. The ceiling also has the bas-reliefs of Solar and Lunar eclipse depiction, Egamrugam, fish, Lizard (Similar to the Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple at Kanchipuram - Believed that touch and worship will bring good fortune), Zodiac signs, tortoise, etc. The mandapa kodungai are Vijayanagara style with karukku on the top.

Donor - Brungi Muni

Egamrugam

Solar eclipse

Lunar eclipse - Tortoise and fish

Solar eclipse

Zodiac sign

Lizard

Kodungai

The Rishabam is under a mandapam with 3 tier stucco vimanam. The stucco images of Shiva, Ambal, Dakshinamurthy, Natarajar, etc., are on the vimanam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple is believed to be 700 years old. But there is no evidence found to prove the same. The present structure may belong to the 18th to 19th centuries.

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 04th July 1985 and 14th September 2008.

Rajagopuram was constructed and consecrated on 29th January 2010.

Utsavars Kannadi arai (mirror room) was constructed and consecrated on 07th July 2024.

LEGENDS

There are 5 Sri Kasi Vishwanathar Temples around this place, called "Pancha Kashi Sthalams". It is said that around 1454 CE, these 5 Shiva Lingas were brought from Kashi and installed by Shiva Devotees.

Those places are...

1. Karukkupettai

2. Thimmayanpettai

3. Pudupettai

4. Erivoy

5. Nawab Sahib Pettai

But some people claim that the Shiva temple of Baba Sahib Pettai is also part of "Pancha Kashi Sthalams".

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Kiruthigai, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Gurukkal Shanmugam and his son Ashok Kumar may be contacted on the mobile number +919042381875 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This temple at Karukkupettai is about 100 meters from Kanchipuram to Chengalpattu Road, 6.6 km from Walajabad, 12 km from Kanchipuram Railway Station, and 31.5 km from Chengalpattu Railway Station.

The nearest Railway Station is Walajabad.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Nagars with Rahu and Ketu

Sivamayam family

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Monday, 18 May 2026

Sacred Heart Basilica/ இயேசுவின் திரு இருதயப் பேராலயம், near Railway Station, MG Road Area, புதுச்சேரி/ Puducherry (A Union Territory).

The visit to this Sacred Heart Basilica, at Puducherry, was a part of “Shiva and Maha Vishnu Temple of Puducherry Visit” on 07th March 2026.

ARCHITECTURE

This Historical BASILICA is 50 mts. long, 48 mts. wide and 18 mts. high with Latin rite cross shape aerial view is in Gothic style. 24 main columns hold the structure in which we see the biblical word at the entrance written in Latin," I have consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there forever", which reveals the presence of the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. Also, the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mother Mary carved at the entrance door welcome us. Inside the Church, we can see Glass pictures of 28 saints who were related to the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

THE HISTORY OF THIS BASILICA

In the year 1895, the then Archbishop Mgr. Gandhi wished to build a new church in devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Rev. Fr. Telesphore Welter, the Parish Priest of Nellithope, had prepared the building plan, and the Parish Priest of Cathedral, Rev. Fr. Fourcaud, laid the foundation stone for the new Church in 1902 at the Southern side of Pondicherry Town.

The blessing of the Church and the first Holy Mass was held at the western wing of the present Church by Mgr. Gandhi on 17-12-1907, and the new parish surrounding this Church was established on 27-01-1908.

Our Lady of Lourdes was established in 1946. The granite pedestal was constructed in 1975. The prayer hall was constructed in 1993. The Church celebrates its centenary in 2008.

The Church was elevated to Basilica, through the order, on 24th June 2011, on the Feast of the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist and dedicated on 02nd September 2011.

This 100-year-old church has been led by twenty rectors. The Grotto for Our Lady of Lourdes, Parish Hall, Adoration chapel and the new parish community hall were some of the developments of this church in the last 50 years. After 2005, that is, after the arrival of the present Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Thomas, the church has been fully renovated both inside and out.

Ref:

The Basilica’s website:

https://sacredheartbasilica.org/history.php

Jesus the Sacred Heart

Jesus, the sacred heart on the door

Rev. Fr. G. Raja is listed as a former 13th parish priest of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Puducherry, having served from 1970 (Ordination in 1942) to 1980. He is recognised as one of the pastors who managed this historic Gothic-style church. His tomb is on the right side of the Basilica after the entrance.

Inscription on the left side of the entrance in the Latin Language…

DECRETUM DE TITULO BASILICAD

CONGREGATIO DE CULTU DIVINO ET DISCIPLINA SACRAMENTORUM

Prot.N.1105/09/L

PONDICHERIENSIS ET CUDDALORENSIS

Instante Excellentissimo ac Reverendissimo Domino Antonio ANANDARAYAR. Archiepiscopo Pondicheriensi et Cuddalorensi, litteris die 20 mensis Augusti anno 2009 datis, preces et vota cleri atque christifidellum expromente, Congregatio de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum, vigore facultatum peculiarium a Summo Pontifice BENEDICTO XVI tributarum, ecclesiam paroecialem Deo in honorem Sacratissimi Cordis lesu in Ipsa civitate Pondopoli dicatam titulo et dignitate BASILICAE MINORIS omnibus cum luribus atque liturgicis concessionibus rite competentibus perlibenter exornat, servatis vero servandis, iuxta Decretum "De Titulo Basilicae Minoris die 9 mensis Novembris anno 1989 evulgatum. Contrariis quibuslibet minime obstantibus.

Ex aedibus Congregationis de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum, die 24 mensis lunii anno 2011, in sollemnitate Nativitatis Sancti Joannis Baptistae.

Inscription on the left side of the entrance in translated to English Language…

DECREE ON THE TITLE OF BASILICA

CONGREGATION OF DIVINE WORSHIP AND THE SACRAMENTAL LINK

Prol.N.1105/09/L

OF PONDICHERY AND CUDDALORE

At the request of His Excellency the Most Reverend Lord Antonio ANANDARAYAR, Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore, in a letter dated 20th August 2009, and in response to the prayers and wishes of the clergy and the Christian faithful, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, by virtue of the special faculties granted by the Supreme Pontiff BENEDICT XVI, gladly adorns the parish church dedicated to God in honour of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in the city of Pondopolis with the title and dignity of MINOR BASILICA with all the privileges and liturgical concessions duly appropriate, subject to the observance of the following, in accordance with the Decree "On the Title of Minor Basilicas" published on 9th November 1989.

Notwithstanding any contrary circumstances,

From the offices of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, on June 24, 2011, on the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.

The inscription on the right side of the entrance…

CONGREGATION FOR

DECOFLINE OF SALENTO

TO THE FAITHFUL OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PONDICHERRY AND CUDDALORE

To His Excellency, the Most Rev. Antony Anandarayar, Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore, with regard to the letter dated 20th of August 2009, with requests and longings of the Clergy and the Faithful, the Congregation for Divine Cult and Discipline of the Sacraments, by the power of the special faculty given by the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI, adorns with pleasure, the Parochial Church dedicated to God in honour of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in the City of Pondicherry, with the title and dignity of MINOR BASILICA with rights and liturgical concessions rightly granted. Servatis Vero Servandis (whatever is to be preserved really should be preserved, no change) according to the Decree DE TITULO BASILICAE MINORIS promulgated on the 9th of November 1989

Anything contrary is strictly forbidden.

This is granted from the Office of the Congregation for Divine Cult and Discipline of Sacraments, on 24th of June 2011, on the Feast of the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist.