Shivan temple / சிவன் கோவில், பூரிவாக்கம்/ Poorivakkam, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

This Shiva temple is on the south side of Kannigaipair Lake, surrounded by paddy fields. The visit to this temple was part of the Gajaprishta Vimana temple visit on 23^rd August 2026.

Moolavar  : Sri Shiva

Consort    : Sri Parvati

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance arch on the east side. Stucco images of Shiva and Parvati are on the top of the arch; Balipeedam and Rishabha are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. No images are found in the deva koshtas.

In the praharam, two Ambal Temples, Vinayagar as Selva Ganapati, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Iyyappan, A Shiva Lingam, an Ambal, and two Rishabas. In the above, the last 3 are as loose sculptures.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi, faces east with balipeedam and a Simha vahanam. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

PC- website

PC- website

Iyyappan

ARCHITECTURE

The total temple was built with bricks and cement concrete. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam and open tiled roof mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a padabandha adhistanam with jagathy, muppattai kumudam. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with madhalai and kapotam. The superstructure, the vimanam, is missing. The mukha mandapam is constructed with wooden beams and the roof is paved with Mangalore tiles.   

PC- website (before renovation)

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is claimed that the temple is 1000 years old, and there is no evidence found to prove its antiquity. The present structure may be 300 to 400 years old.

The temple is in Palalayam, and the work is yet to be completed.

LEGENDS

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Before Palalayam, regular poojas are conducted along with special poojas like pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Karthigai Deepam,  etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since the temple is under palalayam, the opening and closing are unpredictable.

CONTACT DETAILS

 

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Poorivakkam is about 3 km from Kannigaipair bus stop on Tirupati Road. City buses are available from Red Hills and Koyambedu. Andhra Pradesh buses pass through this village stops here. From Kannigaipair, Share Autos are available.

The temple is about 10.3 km from Periyapalayam, 21.3 km from Koyambedu CMBT, 21 km from Ponneri, and 28 km from Madhavaram Bus Depot.

The nearest Railway Station is Ponneri.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Arulmigu Thiruvaranga Selliamman Temple/ அருள்மிகு திருவரங்க செல்லியம்மன் ஆலயம், கண்ணிகைபேர்/ Kannigaipair, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Thiruvaranga Selliamman is on the banks of Kannigaipair Lake, surrounded by paddy fields. The visit to this temple was part of the Gajaprishta Vimana temple visit on 23^rd August 2026.

Moolavar: Sri Thiruvaranga Selliamman and Selliamman.

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces north. A tall balipeedam and a simha vahanam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. In the sanctum, Thiruvaranga Selliamman is in a sitting posture with the right hand in Abhaya hastam and the left hand holding a bowl/ kapala. The upper hand holds lotus flowers. A Pallava-period Gajalakshmi is below the Amman. A Stucco image of Gajalakshmi is on the top of the mandapam.

Thiruvaranga Selliamman 

Pallava period Gajalakshmi

PC: Karthi

Selliamman

In the praharam, Selliamman and 7 Veeras/ warriors holding swords and shields. (Locals call this panel Saptakannis)

7 Veeras/ warriors

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and arsha mandapam. A Metacolour sheet mandapam is erected in front of the temple. Steps are built on the back side of the temple to reach the lake.

The temple was built with bricks. The sanctum sanctorum is on pada bandha adhistanam with Jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, and vettu pothyal. The prastram consists of valapi and kapotam. There is no super structure/ vimanam above the bhumi desam. Only provisions are given for the koshtams, and there are no images in the koshtas.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the original temple belongs to 09^th century Pallava period. The Gajalakshmi panel was unearthed during the reconstruction of the temple. It is said that the Archaeological Department personnel visited the site and told us that the Gajalakshmi panel belongs to the Pallava period.

Usually, the main Deity's stucco image will be there on the top of the mukha mandapam. On the contrary, here the Gajalakshmi image is there. Hence, we may conclude that this temple might have been constructed originally for Gajalakshmi. We have to note that a Selliamman's sannidhi is on the left side of the Thiruvaranga Selliamman temple.

 

Pallava period Gajalakshmi

LEGENDS

Selliamman is considered a Kula Deivam of Kannigaipair village people and also a guarding deity of this village.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

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

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala pooja is conducted, the opening and closing times are unpredictable.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 500 meters from Kannigaipair bus stop on Tirupati Road. City buses are available from Red Hills and Koyambedu. Andhra Pradesh buses pass through the village stops at Kannigaipair.

The temple is about 7.3 km from Periyapalayam, 18.3 km from Koyambedu CMBT, 18 km from Ponneri, and 25 km from Madhavaram Bus Depot.

The nearest Railway Station is Ponneri.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Thiruvuranga Selliamman sannidhi 

Selliamman Sannidhi

Two flat stones are erected in the lake, not at the water outlet, without any inscription or image. What is the purpose is not known.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Sundararaja Perumal Temple, ஸ்ரீ சுந்தரராஜ பெருமாள் கோயில், Kannigaipair, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Sri Sundararaja Perumal Temple is on the south side of the village Kannigaipair, about 500 meters from the bus stop. The visit to this temple was part of the Gajaprishta Vimana temple visit on 23^rd August 2026.

Moolavar  : Sri Sundarara Perumal

Thayar     : Sri Sundaravalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a balipeedam and Garudan. Anjaneyar and Thumbikai Alwar are inside the temple immediately after the entrance. Stucco images of Sundararaja Perumal with Sridevi and Bhudevi, and Krishna with Bama Rukmani are on top of the open mukha mandapam. In the sanctum, Moolavar Sri Sundararaja Perumal is in a standing posture with Sridevi and Bhudevi. Utsavars are in front of the moolavar.

In the praharam, Thayar Sri Sundaravalli, Andal, Nardhana Krishna (Nagar), Vishnu Durgai, and Kalyana Narasimhar.

Sri Sundararaja Perumal with Sridevi and Bhudevi

Sri Sundaravalli Thayar

Sri Andal

Sri Kalyana Narasimhar

ARCHITECTURE

The 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 an upanam and padabandha adhistanam with jagathy, muppattai kumudam. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam. The superstructure, the vimanam, is missing. The ardha mandapam is supported by Vijayanagara-style stone pillars.  

Vijayanagara-style stone pillars in ardha mandapam

The mukha mandapam walls have stucco bas-reliefs of the Epic Mahabharata, in which Krishna advises Arjuna, and Kalinga Nardhana. The mukha mandapam is painted with Maha Vishnu’s dasavatar.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple belongs to 09^th to 10^th century CE and later received contributions from the Cholas. The present structure was constructed in recent years.

The Pallava king Aparajitavarman (?), reign inscription on a slab near the well near the Sundararāja Perumal temple, seems to register an endowment of gold entrusted with the sabha of the village by a private individual, Sevviļai Nayagan, for burning a lamp in a temple (name lost) at Kanrigai......in Pular-kōttam 1

References

ARE, 1949-50, no. 215.

The inscriptions of Pallavas by T V Mahalingam.

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 18^th March 2023.

A Silver Kavacham for Sri Sundararaja Perumal, weighing 3 kg 532 grams, was gifted to this temple by S Saravanan Mudaliar, S Lalitha and S Abimaya family, and the same was handed over to the Trustees.

LEGENDS

Devotees worship Sundararaja Perumal and Sundaravalli Thayar for a child boon, to get relieved from marriage obstacles, etc.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikunda Ekadasi, Krishna Jayanti, Samsvastharabhisheka Mahotsavam, Thirukalyana utsavam, and important Vaishnava functions.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs. Since the Bhattachariyar lives adjacent to the temple, he may be contacted for poojas.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Bhattachariyar Thiruloganathan may be contacted on his mobile number +91 9444972647 for further details.

Face book

E-mail: krishhari317@gmail.com

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 500 meters from Kannigaipair bus stop on Tirupati Road. City buses are available from Red Hills and Koyambedu. Andhra Pradesh buses pass through this village stops at Kannigaipair.

The temple is about 7.3 km from Periyapalayam, 18.3 km from Koyambedu CMBT, 18 km from Ponneri, and 25 km from Madhavaram Bus Depot.

The nearest Railway Station is Ponneri.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Balipeedam with Garudan's sannidhi

Mukha Mandapam

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---