Sri Devi Ponniamman Temple/ ஸ்ரீ பொன்னியம்மன் கோயில், Madipakkam, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Ponniamman Temple was a part of “Madipakkam area temple visit on 12^th July 2026”. This temple is dedicated to Sri Ponniamman, the Grama Devatha of Madipakkam, and is located on the west side of the main road.

Moolavar: Sri Devi Ponniamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces north with a peepal tree. A 3-tier Rajagopuram is after the open mukha mandapam. Stucco dwarapalakis are at the entrance of the ardha mandapam. A balipeedam, the vahana simham, and a trishul are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco dwarapalakis are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. In the sanctum sanctorum, Amman is in a sitting posture with abhaya varda hastam.

ARCHITECTURE

The total temple was built with bricks and concrete. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with Jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and pattikai. The pilasters are of Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam and kudam. The vimanam on the sanctum sanctorum is with one tala, greevam, and vesara sigaram. Amman’s various forms are on the tala and greevas koshtams,

The open mukha mandapam parapet wall was built like hara with stucco images of Saptamatrikas.  The Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers with stucco images of Amman’s various forms.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple may belong to the 20^th century. Originally, the temple was of a small size with a Mangalore tiled roof mukha mandapam. The temple was renovated completely to its present status at the end of the 20^th century.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in recent years.

LEGENDS

This temple is dedicated to Sri Ponniamman, the Grama Devata of Madipakkam, and is located on the west side of the main road. It is believed that Amman is the protector of this village from evil spirits, which come from the north.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Fridays. The annual festival will be conducted in the month of Adi grandly.

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

HOW TO REACH

The temple is on the Ponniamman Koil Street in Madipakkam. The temple is about 2 km from Puzhuthivakkam MRTS railway station, 4 km from St Thomas Mount Railway Station, 14 km from Koyambedu Bus Terminus, 14 km from Tambaram, and 22 km from Chennai Central Railway Station.

The nearest Railway Station is Puzhuthivakkam MRTS.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Kalyana Kandhaswamy Temple / ஸ்ரீ கல்யாண கந்தசுவாமி கோயில், Puzhuthivakkam, Madipakkam, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Kalyanakandhaswamy Temple was a part of “Madipakkam Area Temple Visit on 12^th July 2026”. The Sri Kalyanakandhaswamy Temple is in Balaiya Garden, a part of Madipakkam.

Moolavar  : Sri Kalyana Kandhaswamy

Consorts  : Sri Valli Devasena

Some salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with an entrance arch. Stucco images of Kandhaswamy’s Marriage with Devasena. The Vahana peacock is in front of the temple. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. In the sanctum sanctorum, Kandhaswamy is with Sri Valli and Devasena, in koshtam Dakshinamurthy and Durgai.

In the praharam, Anjaneyar, Rama with Sita and Lakshmanar, A Shiva Lingam, Ayyappan, Shirdi Saibaba, Utsava Murtis, and Navagrahas.

ARCHITECTURE

The complete temple was built with bricks. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum only. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with Jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and pattikai. One tala with greevam and vesara vimanam is over the sanctum sanctorum. Kandhasamy’s various postures are in the tala and greeva koshtams.

PC - website

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple may belong to the 20^th century, and the present structure may be 50 years old. The maha kumbhabhishekm was conducted on 09^th July 2026.

LEGENDS

Devotees pray to Sri Kalyana Kandhaswamy to get rid of marriage obstacles and child boon. After getting married, the wedded couples visit this temple and do abhishekam to Sri Kalyana Kandhaswamy and Sri Valli Devasena.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Tuesdays, Sundays, Kiruthigai, Thaipoosam, Tamil New Year day, Month Sashti, Kanda Sashti, Thirukalyana Utsavam, etc.

PC - website

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 1a.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

https://www.facebook.com/KalyanaKandhaswamiTemple/

HOW TO REACH

The temple is at the Junction of Kalyana Kandhaswamy Temple Road and Kumaran Street in Puzhuthivakkam, a part of Madipakkam. The temple is about 2.3 km from Puzhuthivakkam MRTS railway Station, 4 km from St Thomas Mount Railway Station, 14 km from Koyambedu Bus Terminus, 14 km from Tambaram, and 22 km from Chennai Central Railway Station.

The nearest Railway Station is Puzhuthivakkam MRTS.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Buddhas of Melkavanur/ மேல்காவனூர் புத்தர் சிற்பங்கள், Melkavanur, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to these Buddha images at Melkavanur was a part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temple, Shiva and Buddhist Temples visit on 11^th July 2026”. This place, Melkavanur, is on the banks of the River Palar.

BUDDHA, KAVI NACHIAMMAN TEMPLE

This Buddha bas-relief is on the compound wall of the Sri Kavi Nachiamman temple. The Buddha is in ardha padmasana, dhyana posture. The Buddha is with elongated earlobes and ushnisha on the head. The Buddha’s bas-relief is in the middle of the makara torana.   

This bas-relief is applied with layer and layers of red paint; hence, complete details could not be seen. But some enthusiasts claim this bas-relief as Tirthankara. The bas-relief is definitely not a Tirthankara, and there is no mukkudai on the top of the bas-relief.

LOCATION OF THE BUDDHA BAS RELIEF: CLICK HERE

BUDDHA SCULPTURE, NEAR VINAYAGAR TEMPLE.

This Buddha idol is kept in front of a dilapidated temple in the same village. The Buddha is in ardha padmasana, dhyana posture, on a lotus pedestal. The Buddha has elongated earlobes and ushnisha on the head. A makara Torana is shown on the back side of the Buddha idol. The dress fold is shown on the left side of the shoulder.

LOCATION OF THE BUDDHA IDOL: CLICK HERE

Back side view

--- OM SHIVATYA NAMA ---   

Sri Kavi Nachiamman Temple, ஸ்ரீ காவி நாச்சி அம்மன் கோயில், Melkavanur, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to Sri Kavi Nachiamman Temple at Melkavanur was a part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temple, Shiva and Buddhist Temples visit on 11^th July 2026”. This place, Melkavanur, is on the banks of the River Palar. This temple is dedicated to the Saptamatrikas.

Moolavar: Sri Kavi Nachiamman and Saptamatrikas.

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance mandapam on the east side. A balipeedam and Dwajasthambam are on the east side of the temple. The entrance to the ardha mandapam is from the south side. Saptamatrikas are in the sanctum sanctorum. In koshtam, Icha Sakthi, Kriya Sakti, and Gnana Sakthi.    

In the praharam, a dilapidated mandapam, a Soolakal with Sun and Crescent Moon, and Nagars.

ARCHITECTURE

The total temple was constructed with bricks and cement concrete. The original temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The temple was reconstructed in recent years. The sanctum sanctorum does not conform to any temple architecture. But the old structure was maintained on the adhistanam part of the mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is rectangular in shape to accommodate Saptamatrikas. The vimanam consists of one tala, greevam, and vesara sigaram. Amman’s various forms are on the tala and greepa koshtams.

A Vijayanagara Nayakas-period mandapam is on the left side of the temple in a dilapidated condition. The pillars are with Dwarapalakas, a clown, dancers, musicians, a flower motif,  Nayaka/ Palayakars/ style bas-reliefs.

A Donor

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the original temple was constructed during the 13^th to 14th century Chozha period. Later, the temple received contributions from Vijayanagaras and Nayaka rulers.

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 10^th July 2007. The dwajasthambam was installed on 28^th May 2025.

LEGENDS

The temple is dedicated to Saptamatrikas, but one of the Matrikas is worshipped as Kavi Nachiamman. Devotees worship Kavi Nachiamman as their Kula Deivam.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Fridays, and the annual festival is conducted in the month of Adi.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and from 15.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The temple priest, K Manikandan’s mobile numbers +918270442765 and +919626681320 may be contacted for further details

HOW TO REACH

This temple at Melkavanur is 3 km from K V Kuppam, 7 km from Vaduganthangal, which is on the way from Katpadi to Gudiyatham, 8 km from Virinchipuram Sri Margabandheeswarar Temple, 14 km from Gudiyatham, 20 km from Katpadi, and 22 km from Vellore.  

The nearest Railway Station is Katpadi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Kailasanathar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ கைலாச நாதர் கோயில், Melkavanur, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to Sri Kailasanathar Temple at Melkavanur was a part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temple, Shiva and Buddhist Temples visit on 11^th July 2026”. This place, Melkavanur, is on the banks of the River Palar.

Moolavar  : Sri Kailasanathar

Consort    : Sri Parvati

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a three-tier Rajagopuram on the south side. A stucco image of Siva and Parvati is on the top of the south side entrance to the ardha mandapam. Balipeedam and Rishabam are on the east side of the temple. Vinayagar is on the left side of the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. In the koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the praharam, Ayyappan, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Ambal temple, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, and Navagrahas.  

Ambal Sri Parvati is on the north side of the main temple, in a separate temple that faces east. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

 Ambal Parvati

 Dakshinamurthy --- Maha Vishnu

 Chandikeswarar

 Bairavar

 Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar

ARCHITECTURE

The temple complex is about 6 feet below the outside ground level. The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The original temple’s adhistanam alone was retained during renovation, and the rest were reconstructed without following any temple architecture. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam. An eka tala vesara vimanam is over the sanctum sanctorum.   

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since layer and layer of paint were applied on the adhistanam, I couldn’t trace any inscriptions on the kumudam and jagathy. Based on the iconography of the Chandikeswarar, the temple may belong to the 13^th to 14^th century Chozha period. Later received contributions from Vijayanagara Nayakas.

The temple was reconstructed, and the Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in recent years.  

LEGENDS

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

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

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and from 15.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile number +919994473286 may be contacted for further details. Alternatively, the Kavi Navhiamman Temple’s priest, K Manikandan, whose mobile numbers are +918270442765 and +919626681320, may be contacted for further details

HOW TO REACH

This temple at Melkavanur is 3 km from K V Kuppam, 7 km from Vaduganthangal, which is on the way from Katpadi to Gudiyatham, 8 km from Virinchipuram Sri Margabandheeswarar Temple, 14 km from Gudiyatham, 20 km from Katpadi, and 22 km from Vellore.  

The nearest Railway Station is Katpadi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Vedapureeswarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ வேதபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Kilvilachur, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to Sri Vedapureeswarar Temple, one of the Gajaprishta Vimana Temples of Thondaimandalam at Kilvilachur, was a part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temple, Shiva and Buddhist Temples visit on 11^th July 2026”. This place is on the banks of the river Palar.

Moolavar  : Sri Vedapureeswarar

Consort    : Sri Vedanayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a Rishabam. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in the open mukha mandapam. Vinayagar and Murugan are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a square avudaiyar. Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai are in koshtam.

In the praharam, Vinayagar, Ambal, an unidentified image, Chandran, Bairavar, Navagrahas, and Anjaneyar. 

 Bairavar -- Durgai

 Chandran

 Chandikeswarar

ARCHITECTURE

The whole temple was constructed with bricks and concrete. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum in Gajaprishta shape and the ardha mandapam. The adhistanam, bhitti, and pilasters do not conform to any architectural style. An eka tala vesara vimanam is on the Gajaprishta-style sanctum sanctorum. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the greeva koshtam. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the Shiva Lingam and the sanctum sanctorum alone belong to the Pallava period, and hence the Gajaprishta vimana temple was constructed on the same sanctum sanctorum base. The open mukha mandapam and Ambal temples were constructed at the end of the 20^th century.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Shiva taught the 4 Vedas to Ambal; hence Shiva is called Vedapuri Eswarar Temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Kiruthigai, Ashtami Theipirai, Amavasya, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Gurukkal Lakshmi Narasimhan may be contacted on the mobile number +919080913179 for poojas. Alternatively, the Trustees may be contacted on the mobile numbers +919786322666 and +919786522666 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This temple is on the east side of the Vaduganthangal – Seduvalai Road at Kilvilachur. The temple is 2.4 km from Vaduganthangal, which is on the way from Katpadi to Gudiyatham, 4 km from Virinchipuram Sri Margabandheeswarar Temple, 15 km from Katpadi, 18 km from Gudiyatham, and Vellore.   

The nearest Railway Station is Katpadi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Both Rishabas are reworked

Both Rishabas are reworked

Anjaneyar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---