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 the “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. A 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 a 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  follow any Temple architectural style ( Gramiya Style ). The sanctum sanctorum is rectangular in shape with an eka tala Salakara vimanam on the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple with Saptamatrikas belongs to the 7^th Century Pallava period. It was said that the Saptamatrikas made of sandstone were in the sanctum Sanctorum till recent years along with Yogeswarar and Vinayagar. The same is 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 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 the Saptamatrikas temple to safeguard the Village, from evil spirits, forces, and diseases, entering the Village during the Pallava period. Later 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, and Thai month Fridays. During Chithirai month, the 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 times are unpredictable.  

CONTACT DETAILS

The temple is about 500 Meters from the 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.

The nearest railway station is Guindy.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---