Chelliamman Temple / Sri Selliamman Temple / செல்லி அம்மன் கோயில், குன்றத்தூர், Kundrathur, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Chelliamman Temple at Kundrathur was a part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples visit” – on 30^th April 2023. This temple is about 200 meters from Sri Thiruvooraga Perumal temple and on  the back side of Sri Kanthazheeswarar Temple.

Moolavar : Sri Chelliamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing North. Trishul, balipeedam and Simha vahanam are in the Mukha mandapam. Stucco image of Chelliamman is on the top of the  mukha mandapam entrance.   Stucco Dwarapalakis are on both sides of the sanctum sanctorum. Sri Chelliamman is in the sanctorum, on an elevated level. Amman is in sitting posture with 4 hands. Stucco images of Amman’s various forms are on the mukha mandapam pillars. Nagars and Saptamatrikas are in the praharam.

ARCHITECTURE

The complete temple was constructed with bricks and didn’t  followed any Temple architectural style ( Gramiya Style ). The sanctum sanctorum is in rectangular in shape with an eka tala Salakara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple with Saptamatrikas belongs to 7^th Century Pallava period. It was told that the saptamatrikas made of sand stone are in the sanctum Sanctorum till recent years along with Yogeswarar and Vinayagar. The same are replaced with a single Chelliamman. The old saptamatrikas are buried in the praharam itself after a long battle with devotees ( Mr Thiuchitrambalam of Kundrathur ) and historians by the local Trustees. These Saptamatrikas are the earliest ever found in Tamil Nadu. In place of old saptamatrikas, new stone idols are made and installed in a separate sannidhi on the west side of the main temple facing the same direction of North.

   

Ref:

*Tholliyal Nokkil Kanchipuram mavattam by Sa. Krishnamurthy

*Kanchipuram mavattam Tholliyal kaiyedu.

This new temple was constructed and maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 25th March 2015.

LEGENDS

It was a practice of establishing Saptamatrikas temple to safe guard the Village, from the evil sprits, forces, deceases, enters in to the Village during Pallava period. Latter the saptamatrikas are replaced with a Single Amman Temple as Ellai Amman temples, Selliamman etc. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pournami, Amavasya, Navaratri, Aadi month Fridays, Thai month Friddays. During Chithirai month, Chithra pournami day annual festival will be conducted. During that time Pal kudam will be carried to the temple in procession and abhishekam will be done to Sri Chelliamman.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS

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

CONTACT DETAILS

The temple is about 500 Meters from Kundrathur bus stand, and on the way to Kundrathur Murugan temple.

The temple is about 11 KM from Porur Junction, 17 KM from Guindy , 24 KM from Koyambedu and 30 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest railway station is Guindy.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---