Shri Merkava Nachiar Amman Temple / Megathamman Temple, Kadalur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Merkava Nachiyar Amman Temple at Kadalur, near Kalpakkam was a part of Shiva and Vishnu Temple and heritage sites along the East Coast Road, visit on 25^th December 2021. Thanks to Kesavan for accompanying me to all these places.

Moolavar  : Sri Merkava Nachiar Amman / Sri Megathamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are...

The temple faces north with an entrance arch. Stucco images of Amman’s various forms are on the top of the parapet wall. Two Amman, Saptakannis with Nagars, Muniswarar on the Horse are in the prakaram. Balipeedam and Simham are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on an elevated pedestal. Stucco dwarapalakis are in front of the sanctum sanctorum.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam, and open mukha mandapam. The praharam is covered with concrete structure. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple padabandha adhisthana with jagathy, Threepatta kumuda, and pattikai. The Bhitti starts with vedikai. The koshtas are divided through Brahma kantha pilasters. The prastaram comprises of valapi, kapotham and viyalavari. A two tier stucco vimana is on the prastaram.

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE

The original temple may belong to the 16^th to 17^th Century Vijayanagar period.  The praharam was constructed in recent years through public donations.

LEGENDS

Devotees worship Amman to remove marriage obstacles and child boon. Many Devotees worship Amman, treating it as their Kuladeivam.  People offer Vasthra to Amman and do abhisheka after their wishes are fulfilled.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Oru kala pooja is conducted with Abhishekam in the morning hours. Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays, Aadi month Fridays, Annual festival days, New moon days, and full moon days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 15.00 hrs to 16.00 hrs. On function days the time will be extended.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile no +91 9688320599 may be contacted for further details.   

HOW TO REACH

The Village of Kadalur is about 2.6 KM from East Coast Road. All the buses To Pondicherry and Cuddalore will stop at Mugaiyur and Autos are available from there.

Kadalur is about 12.7 KM from Kalpakkam, 26 KM from Thirukazhukundram, 27 KM from Mahabalipuram, 40 KM from Chengalpattu, and  81 KM from Chennai Central.

The nearest railway station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---