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 ---

Sri Vanavakoteeswarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ பானுகோடீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Valayamadevi, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Vanavakoteeswarar Temple at Valayamdevi, near Sethiathoppu, was part of the “Shiva and Vishnu Temples visit” in Cuddalore District on 13^th June 2026.

Moolavar  : Sri Vanavakoteeswarar

Consort    : Sri Balambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with entrances on the south and east. A single-tier Rajagopuram is on the south side. Rishabam and balipeedam are on the east side of the temple. Vinayagar, Nalvar, Bairavar, Suryan, and Chandran are in the mandapam. Moolavar is big on a round avudaiyar. In the koshtam, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. Utsavars are in the ardha mandapam.

In the praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Ambal, Chandikeswarar, and Navagrahas.

Ambal is in a separate temple that faces east, on the left side of the main temple. Ambal is in a standing posture with Abhaya Varada hastam. Gajalakshmi is in the Ambal temple’s ardha mandapam.

 Bairavar

Suryan

 Dakshinamurthy 

Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar

Subramaniar

Chandran

Nalvar

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The temple was reconstructed without following any temple architecture. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. An eka tala vesara vimanam is on the bhumi desam. Maha nasis are on the 4 cardinal directions. The greeva koshtas are empty. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is said that the original temple is more than 1000 years old. The Bairavar and Suryan may belong to the 12^th to 13^th Century Chozha period.

It is said that the original name of Moolavar Sri Banukoteeswarar was changed to Vanavakoteeswarar due to an error made in the Government records.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 14^th July 2025 after thirupani. 50 % of the thirupani was contributed by Tharumai Adheenam, which includes the construction of the south-side one-tier Rajagopuram, installation of Pancha Murthy images, Maha mandapam, stucco images of Ardhanareeswarar and Rishabam on the main sanctum sanctorum, Ambal Temple, installation of a pillar at the east-side entrance, and Panchavarna paintings. Tharumai Adheenam’s stucco image is on the top of the south-side entrance to the ardha /maha mandapam.

Tharumai Adheenam's participation in the 2025 kumbhabhishekam

Tharumai Adheenam's stucco image on the top of the mandapam

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Surya worshipped Shiva at this temple. It is said that from April 1^st to 10^th, sunlight used to fall on Moolavar and Ambal.

Since the Ambal temple is on the left side of the Moolavar Temple, worshipping Shiva and Ambal will get rid of marriage obstacles, will get the child boon, etc. It is advised that the newly married couple worship Shiva and Ambal for a happy married life.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

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

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Ravi Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile number +919976560922 for poojas and further details.

HOW TO REACH

This place, Valayamadevi, is on the Sethiyathoppu - Virudhachalam Main Road, about 5 km from Sethiyathoppu, 21 km from Virudhachalam and Vadalur, 26 km from Chidambaram, 50 km from Cuddalore, and 69 km from Kumbakonam.

The nearest Railway Junction is Virudhachalam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---