Sri Jaganatheeswarar Temple / Sivan Temple / சிவன் கோயில் / Chennasamudram / Poondi, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Shiva Temple at Poondi was a part of the Shiva and Vishnu Temples and Heritage sites at Thirumalaicherry, Gudimallur, and Kaveripakkam. My sincere thanks to Mr. Ramesh Krishnamurthy for taking me to all these places. 

Moolavar  : Sri Jaganatheeswarar 

Consort    : Sri Jagathambika

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a three-tier Rajagopuram on the north side. Stucco images of Nataraja with Sivagami, and Nandi playing the mridangam, are located immediately after the Rajagopuram. A Deepa sthambam, 2 Rishabas / Idabas, and a balipeedam are in front of the temple. Stucco images of Shiva with Parvati, Vinayagar, and Murugan are on the top of the entrance. In the sanctum, Moolavar is of 16 flat surfaces - Dhara Lingam, also known as Sodasha Lingam. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai. Ayyanar, Brahma Sastha, Jyeshta Devi/Thavvai/Mootha Devi (with Mandhan, Mandhi, and two attendants. Mandhan's side is found broken), Ambal, Vinayagar, and Chandikeswarar are in the praharam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. Ambal is in a separate sannidhi in the ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a padabandha adhisthana with jagathy, threepatta kumuda, and pattikai. An ekathala stucco Gajaprishta vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum with three kalasas. Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the greeva kostam along with thala vahanas rishabam. 

As per the sculptures of Arjuna and Lord Shiva’s fight on the pillars of ardha mandapam, the mandapam was extended during the Vijayanagara period.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the iconography of the Brahma Sastha and and style of vimana, the original temple belongs to the 8^th to 9^th century Pallava period. Later, the same was expanded and reconstructed during the Vijayanagara period.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosam, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chathurthi, Deepavali, Thai Pongal, New Year days, and Arudra Darshan days.

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.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

To reach Poondi,  from Chennai, just before the Kaveripakkam Toll gate, turn left and travel on Anaicut Road towards Palar Anaicut Walaja Entrance. 4.0 km from Madras – Bombay Trunk Road / Chennai to Vellore Road / Mumbai Hwy.

The temple is about 8.0 km from Walajahpet, 9.5 km from Kaveripakkam, 11.5 km from Arcot, 11.5 km from Ranipet,  32.5 km from Vellore, and 103 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Walajah Road Junction

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Ayyanar

Murugan as Brahma Sashtha

Amman - Jyeshta Devi - Brahma 

Murugan

Lord Shiva and Arjuna fight.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---