Rudrapathi Temple / Rudrakoteeswarar Temple / Keelakadambur Shiva Temple, Keelakadambur, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

Visited this Rudrapathi Shiva temple at Keelakadambur along with Melakadambur Sri Amirthakadeswarar Temple, which are close to each other. During my visit in 2012, the temple was under renovation. Shiva Lingam was kept outside the temple. It is said that this is one of the Thevara Vaippu Sthalam.

Moolavar: Sri Rudrapathi/ Sri Rudrakoteeswarar 

Some of the special features are….

The temple faces east. Rishabam is in front of the temple. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. In the koshtam, Lingothbavar and Natarajar. The other koshta images, such as Gangalar, Chandikeswarar, Saptamatrikas, Dakshinamurthy, Suryan, Ardhanareeswarar, etc., are not installed and kept as loose sculptures.

There are many special features in this temple. The stories of 63 Nayanmar sculptures are in this temple.  

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ARCHITECTURE

The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The adhitanam is on a lotus petal platform, Jagathy, silambu kumudam, kapota with nasi kudus, and Vyyalavari. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters with square bases, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veerakandam, and vettu/ poomottu pothyal. The prastratam consists of valapi with madhalai/ kodungai, kapotam with nasi kudus, and vyyalavari. The vimana is not there over the bhumi desam.

Some of the 63 Nayanmars’ bas reliefs are in this temple, and some of them are Karaikal Ammaiyar walking on hands to worship Shiva at Mount Kailash, Kannappa Nayanar, Chandikeswarar, Thadakai, one of the devotees worships Shiva, etc.

Rudrakoteswara Temple Kezha Kadambur

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that this temple was constructed during the 11th–12th–century Chozha period along with Mela Kadambur Sri Amirthakadeswarar Temple, which is about a km from this temple. As per the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department display board, the temple sculptures are earlier than the Darasuram temple constructed by Rajaraja II.

பொயு 12 – 13 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டு, சோழர்கள் காலத்தைச் சார்ந்த ருத்ராபதீஸ்வரர்கோயில் வடக்கு, தெற்கு, கிழக்கு, மேற்கு ஆகிய திசைகளில் மாடச்சிற்பங்களின் கீழ் பொறிக்கப்பட்டக் கல்வெட்டுகளாகும்.

இறைவன் பெயர்களும் சில நாயன்மார் பெயர்களும் குறிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. இக்கல்வெட்டுகள் அர்த்தமண்டபம், மகாமண்டபச் சுவர்களில் உள்ள தேவகோட்டம் மற்றும் பீடங்களின் கீழ் பொறிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.

Reference

தமிழ்நாட்டுக் கல்வெட்டுகள் தொகுதி – V

(கடலூர் மாவட்டக் கல்வெட்டுகள் தொகுதி – 1)

HOW TO REACH

The place Keela Kadambur is on the bus route from Chidambaram to Kattumannarkoil via Eyyalur

On the bus route from Kattumannarkoil to Eyyalur can reach Keezha Kadambur. 

The temple is 7.4 km from Kattumannarkoil, 34 km from Chidambaram, 41 km from Kumbakonam, 37 km from Sirkazhi, and 248 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Chidambaram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Rudrakoteswara Temple - Kezha Kadambur

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---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

 

Thiru Neelakandeswarar Temple/ திரு நீலகண்டேஸ்வரர் கோயில், Uthukottai, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Thiruneelakandeswarar Temple at Uthukottai was a part of the Gajaprishta Vimana Temples Visit at Uthukottai and Allikuzhi on 2^nd August 2026. Thiruneelakandeswarar Temple at Uthukottai is on the banks of the Arani River.

Moolavar  : Thiru Neelakandeswarar

Consort    : Sri Anandavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance on the east and North sides. Stucco images of Shiva and Parvati as Rishaba roodar, Sage Agasthiyar, Vinayagar, Murugan, and a saint (Manickavasagar..?) are on the top of the east side entrance mandapam. A stucco image of Natarajar is on the top of the north side entrance. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam are immediately after the entrance. Stucco dwarapalakas are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a square avudaiyar. In the koshtam, Agasthiyar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the praharam, Vinayagar, Murugan, Ayyappan, Maha Vishnu, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, and Nagar.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi and faces south. Ambal is in a sitting posture (A rare posture) with abhaya varda hastam.

Chandikeswarar

ARCHITECTURE

The total temple was built in Gajaprishta style from adhistanam to sigaram with brick and cement concrete. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala/ ardha mandapam, and open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum was built on Gajaprishta adhistanam. The pilasters are of brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. An eka tala Gajaprishta vimanam is on the bhumi desam. The vimanam is eka tala with greevam and Gajaprishta sigaram. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are on the greeva koshtam. Five kalasas are on the top of the sigaram.

Ceiling inside sanctum sanctorum

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is said that the original temple belongs to the 8th – 9th century Pallava period. Later, the temple received contributions from Chozha and Vijayanagaras. Telugu inscriptions are faintly visible on the beams of the sanctum sanctorum. We couldn’t apply powder/ vibuthi to confirm, due to lack of Trustee’s permission.  

The temple was reconstructed in 1990 century, and Gajaprishta Vimanam was added to the Gajaprishta Vimana sanctum sanctorum. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted after attending repair works on 12^th May 1994, 20^th February 2004, and 20^th June 2018.

Believed to be some Telugu inscription

Believed to be some Telugu inscription

 Believed to be some Telugu inscription

LEGENDS

It is believed that the Moolavar was installed and worshipped by the sage Agasthiyar.

In the process of churning Thiruparkadal for the Amirth, by the Devas and Asuras, using Manthara hill as Maththuu and Vasuki (Snake) as a rope. Couldn’t tolerate the pain, the snake vomits the poison. To avoid mixing the poison with the Amirth, Shiva drank the poison. Ma Parvati holds the poison at the throat by pressing it with her hand. Due to this, the throat changed to blue colour. Hence Shiva is called Neelakandeswarar.

Ambal Sri Anandavalli is in a sitting posture. It is believed that before Shiva lay down at Suruttapalli, Shiva kept his head on the laps of Ambal at this temple.

The Moolavar is made of green stone and changes colour from light green to dark green from morning to evening. Further, it was told that Shiva is being worshipped by the Siddhars. As proof, the Gurukkal showed the spot on the avudaiyar, where Vbhuthi appears in the morning.

It is further believed that the devotees worship Shiva and Ambal of this temple for a child boon.   

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, two days of Kandar Sashti, Amavasya, Kiruthigai, Ashtami Deipirai, etc.

The Gurukal Ilangaovan showed us the termite on the dwajasthambam and the fund required for its replacement and Somavara annadhanam.  The Devotees are requested to perform the above kaingaryams and get the blessings of Thiruneelakandeswarar.

Termite

TEMPLE TIMINGS

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

CONTACT DETAILS

The Gurukals Ilangovan +918680814853 and R Maharaja +919342598990 may be contacted for poojas and further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is on Kamarajar Street, in Uthukottai, about 200 meters from the Chennai – Tirupati Road, 3 km from Suruttapalli Sri Pallikondeswara Swamy Temple, 17.4 km from Periyapalayam, 28 km from Tiruvallur Railway Station, 50 km from Madhavaram Bus terminus, and 58 km from Koyambedu CMBT bus terminus.  

The nearest Railway station is Tiruvallur.

LOCATIONS OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Moolavar sannidhi

Ambal sannidhi

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Nagamalleeswarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ நாகமல்லீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Nalur, Minjur, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu

The visit to this Sri Nagamalleeswarar Temple, a Rahu and Ketu parihara sthalam at Nalur, Minjur in Tiruvallur District, was a part of the 615^th week abhishekam by the Ancient Shiva Temples and Sivamayam Group on 16th August 2026. 

Moolavar  : Sri Nagamaleeswarar

Consort    : Sri Swarnambigai

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

The temple faces with an entrance arch. The temple tank is on the east side. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam (Rishabam looks straight at Shiva with head up) are after the entrance arch. Stucco images of Shiva, Parvati, Vinayagar, Murugan, Nandi, a Rishi, Avvaiyar, and Naradar are on the top of the mukha mandapam. Stucco Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of antarala / ardha mandapam. Stucco images of Shiva, Parvati, Vinayagar, and Murugan are on the top of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a square avudaiyar (with perfect pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam, kandam, pattikai). In the koshtam, Durgai, Brahma, Maha Vishnu, Dakshinamurthy and Vinayagar.

In the praharam, Idampuri Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Arumugar, Nagar, Navagrahas, Bairavar and Suryan with his chariot pulling Horse.

Ambal is in a separate Sannidhi, faces South in the mukha mandapam. A Stucco image of Amman is on the top of the mukha mandapam. Balipeedam and Simham are in front of the Sannidhi. Stucco Dwarapalakis are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal is in a standing posture with Abhaya Varada hastam. A maha meru is in front of Ambal. Utsava Murtis are inside the sanctum santorum.

Rishabam looks straight at Shiva with head up

Nagar with an anthill is on the banks of the temple tank.

ARCHITECTURE

The whole temple was built with bricks and cement concrete. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala / ardha mandapam and open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a para bandha adhistanam with Jagathy, three patta kumudam and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, and palakai. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. An eka tala besara vimanam is over the bhumi desam. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are on the greeva koshtam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION

It is claimed that the original belongs to the Pallava period, and evidence is available in the temple. When the temple was in a dilapidated condition with a Shiva Lingam, Ambal and Rishabam, the villagers constructed the present temple, and Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 11^th June 2009. Again, the Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted after repairs, installation of a new Dwajasthambam, and construction of Mani Mandapam, on 07^th June 2012.  

LEGENDS

As per the legends, a Siddhar came to this temple and worshiped Shiva. After getting the prasad, he disappeared. When he was traced, couldn’t be found anywhere in the village.

A villager said that a Snake used to worship Shiva and Ambal without disturbing anybody. If anyone had seen the same on the premises or in their dream, Shiva would fulfil their wishes and relieve them of all their worries. Hence, this is a Rahu-Ketu parihara sthalam.

Devotees worship Shiva to get relieved from Marriage obstacles, Child boon, and to excel in studies.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Rahu Ketu peyarchi poojas, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Mondays, Kiruthigai, Pournami, Amavasya, Sashti, Sankada hara Chaturthi, Arudra Darshan, Natarajar Pooja, Ashtami Deipirai, Annabhishekam, Surya Poojas, Durga Pooja, Dakshinamurthy Poojas, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and from 19.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The temple Gurukkal Gurumurthy may be contacted on his mobile number +918667377959 for poojas and further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is at Nalur, a part of Minjur town, about 2.5 km from Minjur railway station, 9 km from Ponneri, 30 km from Koyambedu CMBT, and 32 km from Chennai Central Railway Station.

The nearest Railway Station is Minjur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Suryan with his chariot pulling a horse.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---