Sri Abhi Muktheeshwarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ அபிமுக்தீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோவில், Nenmeli, Chengalpattu, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Abhi Muktheeswarar Temple at Nenmeli, near Chengalpattu, was part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temple, in Chengalpattu District”, on 14^th April 2026.   

Moolavar  : Sri Abhi Muktheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Thirupurasundari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with the balipeedam and Rishabam. The entrance to the ardha mandapam is from the east. A stucco image of Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar is on the top of the entrance to the ardha mandapam. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. In the koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva Durgai.

In the praharam, Karpaka Vinayagar and Chandikeswarar. 

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

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was built with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The original temple was reconstructed in recent years without following the temple architecture style, keeping only the original adhistanam.

The sanctum sanctorum is square in shape on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The ekatala Gjaprishta vimanam is over the prastaram/ bhumi desam. No stucco images are found in the Grevava Koshtams. 

The original adhistanam

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the temple belongs to the 8^th to 9^th century Pallava period and later received contributions from Chozhas and Vijayanagaras. 10^th to 11^th centuries, Chozha and later Vijayanagara period inscriptions are found on the adhistanam in a damaged condition.

After the completion of Thirupani, Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1988, 2008, and 2021. Sponsored by the Villagers and P Subramania Aiyyar.

LEGENDS

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

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

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Gurukkal M Subramanian may be contacted on his mobile number +919789181873 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This place, Nenmeli, is on the Chengalpattu to Thirukalukundram road, and the temple is about 2 km away from the main road. This place is about 6.2 km from Chengalpattu Railway Station, and 10 km from Thirukalukundram.

The nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

The details of this symbol are not known

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Mangalanathar Temple / மங்களநாதர் கோயில், Kilapakkam, Kilapakkam, Ammanambakkam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to Sri Mangalanathar temple at Kilapakkam near Thirukalukundram was part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples”, a visit in Chengalpattu District, on 15^th March 2026.

It was a long wish to visit this temple after seeing the temple’s image on Google Maps as the Gajaprishta vimana temple. After the darshan of Sri Agneeswarar at Vazhuvathur, I reached this temple. It was a disappointment after seeing the temple. The temple is in the midst of the paddy fields, without any approach road, except the bund.

Moolavar  : Sri Mangalanathar

Consort    : Sri Mangalambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east, and the temple is under construction. The temple tank is on the south side of the temple. The old Shiva Lingams, Rishabas, Ambal, Chandikeswarar, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, an elephant, and Nagar.

ARCHITECTURE

The total temple is constructed with bricks and cement. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum and the ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. A single-tier vimanam, greevam, and vesara sigaram are on the bhumi desam. Shiva Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are on the tala and greeva koshtams. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Based on the iconography of the idols and the temple structures (dumped as debris), the temple may be 150 to 200 years old. The new temple is under construction.

LEGENDS

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Since the temple is under palalayam, regular poojas are not conducted.

CONTACT DETAILS

Mr. Raja of Kilapakkam may be contacted on his mobile number +918754852953 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This temple is in the midst of paddy fields. The temple is about

The temple is 12 km from Thirukalukundram, 25 km from Madurantakam, 25 km from Chengalpattu, and 27 km from Mamallapuram.

The nearest (easy) Railway station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

  Temple under reconstruction

Old mandapa stones are dumped in front of the temple

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Agnipureeswarar Temple / அக்னிபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Vazhuvathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Agnipureeswarar temple at Vazhuvathur near Thirukalukundram was part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples”, a visit in Chengalpattu District on 15th March 2026.

Moolavar  : Sri Agnipureeswarar

Consort    : Sri Soundarya Nayaki

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east. The Rishabam and balipeedam are in the mukha mandapam. Vinayagar and Murugan are on both sides of the entrance to the ardha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. In the koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. Utsavars, Suryan, and Chandran are in the ardha mandapam.

In the praharam, a soolakal, Nalvar, Sri Kalyana Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Maha Lakshmi, Ambal temple, Bairavar, Chandikeswarar, and Saniswarar. A Shiva Lingam with a Rishabam is under a tree on the back side of the temple.

The Ambal temple is on the north side of the main temple, which faces east. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple pada bandha adhistanam on a platform. The adhistanam consists of jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, mandi, palakai, and poo mottu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with lotus petals, kapotam with nasi kudus, and vyyalavari.

The vimanam over the bhumi desam was constructed with bricks. The vimanam is 5 tiers with greevam and a dravida sigaram.  Apart from the usual images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma, Shiva’s various forms like Natarajar, Sarabeswarar, etc, Vinayagar and Murugan are on the tala and greeva koshtam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

10^th to 12^th century Chozha period inscriptions are found on the walls of the sanctum sanctorum. The temple was reconstructed about 11 years ago, after clearing the encroachments. The Maha Vishnu sannidhi was on the south side of the temple, and a new temple was constructed outside the compound wall.

It is said that the temple had many lands in the same village, which are encroached by many people, and some soola kals are still in the fields. 

LEGENDS

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

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

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

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 (easy) Railway station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Agora Veerabhadran Swamy Temple, with Durga and Kotravai, Anaicut, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Agora Veerabhadran Swamy Temple at Anaicut was part of “Shiva Temples and Kotravai/ Durgai Temples Visit” in Chengalpattu District on 3^rd May 2026. Thanks to Mr Subramanian Viswanathan, a retired official from MAPS, DAE, and Mr Subramanian of DAE, Kalpakkam, for taking me to these temples.

This Sri Agora Veerabhadra Swamy Temple, where Sri Veerabhadra Swamy, Durgai, Kotravai, Murugan, and an enthra stone are installed open to the sky. Experts believe that the kotravai and Durgai may belong to the 8^th - 9^th century, Pallava period. Murugan and Veerabhadra Swamy belong to the 19th to 20th centuries. 

DURGAI

The Durga is in the form of a bas relief on a flat stone. Durga is in a standing posture on the Mahisan’s head. Durga is with 4 hands, while the upper hands hold the shankha and chakra; the lower right hand is abhaya hastam, and the left hand is kadi hastam. Two images are shown near her feet: an adiyar is in a worshipping posture, and another man offers navakandam (Cutting his head and offering it to Durgai).

KOTRAVAI

The Kotravai is in the form of a bas relief on a flat stone. Kotravai is in a standing posture on the Mahisan’s head with 8 hands/ ashta bhujam. Kotravai holds various articles/ weapons, such as Shankha and Chakra, Sword, Arrow, Bow, Shield, Plough, and a bell. Her vahana, an antelope, is shown on her back.  

Two men's images are shown near her feet: an adiyar is in a worshipping posture, and another man offers navakandam (Cutting his head and offering it to Durgai).

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Enthirakal

Murugan

Veerabhadra

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---