Sri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Temple / Pallava period Maha Vishnu Temple at Kunnathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to the remains of Pallava period Maha Vishnu Sculpture and land gift inscription stone at Kunnathur was a part of Shiva and Vishnu Temples and heritage sites along the East Coast Road, visit on 25^th December 2021.

Moolavar : Sri Lakshmi Narayanar / Sri Sendaramaikkannan.

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

This temple faces east with Garudan. The temple tank is on the right side of this temple. Moolavar is in sitting posture with Lakshmi on the left lap.

A Pallava period  Maha Vishnu idol ( damaged ) is installed in front of a Vinayagar temple, in the same Village.  This idol may belong to this temple. Maha Vishnu is in standing Posture. He is holding Conch and Chakra in the upper hand and his Right hand is in Abhaya hastam and his left hand is in Kadi hastam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple may belong to the 9^th century and the Maha Vishnu at Vinayagar Temple may belong to this Sendamaraikkannavinnagar. 

A Fragment inscription ( SII 26 – 273) found at a Shiva Temple (Maybe Pancha Lingeswarar Temple ), belongs to Sundara Pandya’s 13^th reign year. The inscription mentions this temple's name as – "Sendamaraikkanna Vinnagar" and a Village name as Idaiyur.

On the corner of the temple tank, a land gift donation stone was installed. The inscriptions ( SII 26 – 270 ), belong to Virapratapa Srirangadeva Maharaya’s, saka year 1501 ( 1579 CE ) reign year. As per the inscription the king was ruling from Vijayanagaram. It records the grant of this Kunrathur Village to Talasayanaperumal Temple of Thirukadalmallai, for worship, offerings, festivals,  rearing gardens, and other services like, Sahasrarama Archana. As per the inscription this Village is situated in Perumbukka Sirmai in Tirukkalukkunrapparru in Mugandur nadu in Amurk-kottam,  in Padaividurajya in Gangaikonda Solamandala. This gift was made by the merit of Venkatapatideva Maharaja, the brother of the king, by the former agent Goppa (na) Dalavay Tirumalai Nayakkar.

HOW TO REACH:

This place Kunnathur is 11 KM from Mahabalipuram / Mamallapuram, 14 KM from Thirukazhukundram / Tirukalukundram / Thirukalukundram, 27 KM from Chengalpattu and 66 KM from Chennai Central.

The nearest railway station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---