Shri Arulmigu Lavapureeswarar Soundrambigai kovil/ ஶ்ரீ அருள்மிகு லவபுரீஸ்வரர் சௌந்தரிய அம்பிகை கோவில், Koyambedu, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Lavapureeswarar Temple, near Koyambedu Metro Station, was a part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples Visit, in Chennai and Tiruvallur Districts”, on 19^th April 2026.

Moolavar  : Sri Lavapureeswarar

Consort    : Sri Soundrambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an arch on the west and an entrance on the south. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are on the east side of the temple. Stucco dwarapalakas, Vinayagar, and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniam are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is a little big, on a square avudaiyar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

 

In the praharam, A Shiva Lingam with a Rishabam faces west; Ambal, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, Navagrahas, and Vana Durgai.

Ambal is in a separate Sannidhi that faces south. Balipeedam and Simha Vahanam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco dwarapalakis are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal is in a standing posture with Abhaya Varada hastam.

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Vana Durga (PC - website)

ARCHITECTURE

The whole temple was constructed as a Gajaprishta Vimanam from adhistanam to sigaram with bricks and concrete. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam and adhistanam with jagathy, muppattai kumudam, and pattikai. The pilasters are of Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai, veerakandam, and vettu pothyal.  The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. The vimanam over the bhumi desam is with one tala, greevam, and sigaram. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are on the greeva koshtams.  3 kalasas are on the sigaram.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is claimed that this temple belongs to the 8^th to 10^th century Pallava/Chozha period, but there is no evidence to prove this. The temple was reconstructed in recent years. 

This temple is under the control of the HR and CE Department and is a sub-temple of the Sri Kurungaleeswarar Temple in Koyambedu.

LEGENDS

It is believed that the Shiva of this temple was installed and worshipped by Lava, one of the sons of Sri Rama, to get rid of the sin caused by fighting with his father, Sri Rama.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

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

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.30 hrs to 11.30 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Gurukal refused to give his mobile number; instead, he asked to contact the landline number of Sri Kurungaleeswarar Temple.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is on the right side of the Koyambedu to Poonamallee road, 500 m from the Koyambedu Metro Station, 2 km from the Koyambedu bus Terminus/ Metro station, and 10.2 km from Chennai Central Station.

The nearest Railway Station is the Koyambedu Metro Station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Arulmigu Suyambu Theepanja Amman Kovil / அருள்மிகு சுயம்பு தீபாஞ்ச அம்மன் கோவில், Poonamallee High Road, Koyambedu, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Suyambu Theepanja Amman Temple on the banks of the Cooum River, near Koyambedu Metro Station, was a part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples Visit, in Chennai and Tiruvallur Districts”, on 19^th April 2026.

Moolavar: Suyambu Theepanja Amman

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces south with Stucco dwarapalakis. Vinayagar, Nagar, and a sati stone are on the west side of the temple. Theepanjamman is at the centre of the sanctum sanctorum under a pyramid-shaped sanctum. Above this, a Nagara-style vimanam is constructed.

Due to raise of road level, the temple has gone about 10 feet below the road level.  

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HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple is dedicated to a lady who took Sati. She is worshipped as “Theepanjamman”. After the Hero’s death, his wife took sati, jumping into the funeral pyre.

As per the experts, the Sati stone may belong to the 16^th to 17^th century. 

LEGENDS

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Fridays, Adi month, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Priest may be contacted on his mobile number +919952936812 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is on the right side of the Koyambedu to Poonamallee road, 1 km from the Koyambedu Metro Station, 2 km from the Koyambedu bus Terminus/ Metro station, and 10.2 km from Chennai Central Station.

The nearest Railway Station is the Koyambedu Metro Station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Sachithananda Eswarar Temple/ ஶ்ரீ சச்சிதானந்த ஈஸ்வரர் கோயில், Puduvallur, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Sachithananda Eswarar Temple at Puduvallur was a part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples Visit, in Chennai and Tiruvallur Districts”, on 19^th April 2026.

Moolavar  : Sri Sachithananda Eswarar

Consort    : Sri Santhana Eswari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance from the south. The temple tank, Thanthira Kulam, is on the opposite side of the Road. A Vinayagar sannidhi is on the left side before the entrance of the temple. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are on the east side. Stucco dwrapalakas, Vinayagar, and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniam are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is a little big, Swayambhu on a square avudaiyar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the praharam, Ambal, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, and Navagrahas.

Ambal is in a separate Sannidhi that faces south. Balipeedam and Simha Vahanam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco dwarappalakis are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal is in a standing posture with Abhaya Varada hastam.

ARCHITECTURE

The whole temple was constructed in a Gajaprishta Vimanam style, from adhistanam to sigaram, with bricks and concrete. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam and adhistanam with jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and pattikai. The pilasters are of Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai, veerakandam, and vettu pothyal. The koshtas are of the sala style. An upari talam, greevam, and sigaram are on the bhumi desam. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are on the greeva koshtams.  3 kalasas are on the sigaram. An angel with a garland is on the lalada nasi.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It was said that there was once a Shiva temple with a temple tank, Thanthira Kulam, in this place. The Shiva Lingam was the remains of the old temple, and a new temple was constructed in recent years.

Construction started on 27^th July 2007, and Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 30^th April 2009. The temple construction work was initiated by Arulalar Thiru Jagadheesanar, under the guidance of Siddhars.  

LEGENDS

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

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

10 days Brahmotsavam will be conducted in the Chithirai month.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.30 hrs to 09.30 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Gurukkal Hari Kannan may be contacted on his mobile +916369528697 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is in the midst of a mango tree forest, before the village of Puduvallur. The temple is about a km away from the main road, 14 km from Sriperumbudur, 17 km from Thirumazhisai, and 33 km from Tiruvallur.

The nearest Railway Station is Tiruvallur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Kaltheeswarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ காளதீஸ்வரர் கோயில்/ Sri Nerkalatheeswarar Temple, Nerkundram, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Kalatheeswarar Temple at Nerkundram was a part of the Shiva Temples visit on 07^th July 2026. The place Nerkundram is on the banks of the Kosasthalaiyar River.

Sri Kalatheeswarar Temple is considered one of the Thevara Vaippu Sthalam sung by Thirugnanasambandar. In Kshetrakovai, he mentions this place, Nerundram, along with some more temples. It is said that Shiva was called Nerkalatheeswarar; how this was changed to Sri Kalatheeswarar is not known.     

நெற்குன்றம் ஓத்தூர் நிறைநீர் மருகல்

          நெடுவாயில் குறும்பலா நீடுதிரு

நற்குன்றம் வலம்புரம் நாகேச்சுரம்

          நளிர்சோலையுஞ் சேனைமாகாளம் வாய்மூர்

கற்குன்ற மொன்றேந்தி மழைதடுத்த

          கடல்வண்ணனும் மாமலரோனுங் காணாச்

சொற்கென்றுந் தொலைவிலாதா

    னுறையுங் குடமூக்கென்று சொல்லிக்குலாவுமினே.   9 

…………. திருஞானசம்பந்தர் தேவாரம் (2-39-9) 1892.   

நெற்குன்றம், திருவோத்தூர், திருமருகல், நெடுவாயில், திருக்குற்றாலம், வலம்புரம், திருநாகேச்சுரம், மாகாளம், திருவாய்மூர் என்ற தலங்களில் கோயில் கொண்டுள்ளான் ஈசன். மலையை ஏந்தி மழையைத் தடுத்த திருமாலும், மாமறையோனாகிய பிரமனும் அறிய முடியா நிலையில் விளங்கிய  ஈசனே அடியார்களுக்காக குடமூக்கு என்னும் தலத்தில்  கோயில் கொண்டுள்ளான். அவனைப் புகழ்ந்து பாடித் தொழுவோமாக.

 

Moolavar  : Sri Kalatheeswarar, Sri Nerkalatheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Gnanaprasunnambigai.

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is on the north-east corner of the village, facing east with an entrance arch. Rishabam and balipeedam are in the mandapam. Stucco images of Dwarapalakas are on either side of the ardha mandapam entrance. Moolavar is on a square avudaiyar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.

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

In praharam, Nalvar, Vidhya Ganapati, Lakshmi Narayanar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Kala Bairavar Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas, Chandran Suryan. Nagar with Vinayagar is in front of the temple.

Vidhya Ganapati

 Lakshmi Narayana - Chandikeswarar (Maybe Chozha period)

VSri Valli Devasena Subramaniar

 Ambal Sri Prasunnambigai

  Suryan - Chandran 

 Bairavar

ARCHITECTURE

The total temple was constructed with bricks and cement concrete. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, the ardha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai, veera kandam, and pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. The Vimanam over the bhumi desam consists of one tala, greevam, and nagara sigaram. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since this temple is considered a Thevara Vaipu sthalam, the temple might have existed during the Thirugnanasambandar period. The Chandikeswarar belongs to the Chola period, 10th-11th century. The temple was reconstructed during recent years, and the Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 06th February 2012 and on 07th July 2025.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Shiva of this temple was worshipped by the siddhars in the form of snakes (kala). The Shiva might have obtained the name of Kalatheeswarar due to this. Hence, this temple is a parihara sthalam for Rahu and Ketu. 

In another legend, this place receives water from the Kosasthalaiyar River, and paddy is cultivated throughout the year. As a result, paddy was stored in the kalams (places for drying paddy) around the temple. Hence, Shiva obtained the name of Ner Kalatheeswarar, and why the name was changed as Kalatheeswarar is not known.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Kiruthigai, Amavasya days, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Fridays, 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

HOW TO REACH

The place Nerkundram is 6 km from Karanodai, 12 km from Red Hills, 14.3 km from Minjur, 23.7 km from Manali, and 28 km from Koyambedu.

The nearest Railway Station is Minjur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Ambal Temple - Navagraha

Chozha period Rishabam

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---