Sri Jalakandeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ ஜலகண்டேஸ்வரர் கோயில், Athur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Jalakandeswarar Temple at Athur, near Chengalpattu was a part of “Shiva and Vishnu Temples Visit” on 16^th January 2024.

This is one of the seven Shiva temples and 2^nd Shiva temple in and around Athur Village in Chengalpattu District. This temple is right on the banks of river Palar

1.  Sri MuktheeswararTemple

2.  SriJalakandeeswarar Temple

3.  Sri AdhiLingeswarar Temple

4.  Sri Vazhithunai Paneeswarar Temple

5.  Sri Muthapureeswarar Temple

6.  Sri SwarnapureeswararTemple

7.  Sri Thiraskarneeswarar Temple 

Moolavar  : Sri Jalakandeswarar

Consort    : Sri Akilandeswari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a balipeedam and Rishabam. The temple is with sanctum sanctorum only. Ambal is also facing east close to the Shiva Lingam. Balipeedam and Rishabam are also in the sanctum sanctorum.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was not constructed as per any temple architecture and looks like a shed built with brick and cement. The temple consists only the sanctum sanctorum with a grill gate. There is no kostas and Vimana.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple is missing now. The Shiva Lingam was abandoned  on the side of the road during the expansion of the  Chengalpattu to Kanchipuram Road. During Kanchi Maha Periyava’s yathra, he worshipped this Shiva Lingam and advised the villagers to reconstruct a temple for this Jalakandeswarar. 

Ref

1.   தமிழ்நாட்டுக் கல்வெட்டுகள் தொகுதி – IX, காஞ்சிபுரமாவட்ட கல்வெட்டுகள் தொகுதி - 5

2.  Inscriptions in the temple.

3.  Sri Muktheeswarar Temple Sthala varalaru, Sri Muktheeswarar Seva Sangam Published in 2019 ( This book is with full of mistakes, especially inscriptions ).

LEGENDS

As per the legend, since the original temple was on the banks of river Palar, the water will be always found in the sanctum sanctorum. Hence Shiva was called as Jalakandeswarar.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Maha Shivaratri days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala poojas is conducted the time of opening and closing are unpredictable. But one can do the darshan of Shiva and Ambal through the grill gate. 

CONTACT DETAILS

The details of the archakar is also not known.

HOW TO REACH

This Village Athur is on the Chengalpattu to Kanchipuram.  The Athur is about 7 KM from Chengalpattu, 35 KM from Kanchipuram, 40 KM from Tambaram and 64 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station Reddipalayam / Palur and Junction is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---