Saturday, 19 September 2026

Arulmigu Thiruvaranga Selliamman Temple/ அருள்மிகு திருவரங்க செல்லியம்மன் ஆலயம், கண்ணிகைபேர்/ Kannigaipair, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Thiruvaranga Selliamman is on the banks of Kannigaipair Lake, surrounded by paddy fields. The visit to this temple was part of the Gajaprishta Vimana temple visit on 23rd August 2026.


Moolavar: Sri Thiruvaranga Selliamman and Selliamman.

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces north. A tall balipeedam and a simha vahanam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. In the sanctum, Thiruvaranga Selliamman is in a sitting posture with the right hand in Abhaya hastam and the left hand holding a bowl/ kapala. The upper hand holds lotus flowers. A Pallava-period Gajalakshmi is below the Amman. A Stucco image of Gajalakshmi is on the top of the mandapam.

Thiruvaranga Selliamman 

Pallava period Gajalakshmi
PC: Karthi
Selliamman

In the praharam, Selliamman and 7 Veeras/ warriors holding swords and shields. (Locals call this panel Saptakannis)


7 Veeras/ warriors

ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and arsha mandapam. A Metacolour sheet mandapam is erected in front of the temple. Steps are built on the back side of the temple to reach the lake.

The temple was built with bricks. The sanctum sanctorum is on pada bandha adhistanam with Jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, and vettu pothyal. The prastram consists of valapi and kapotam. There is no super structure/ vimanam above the bhumi desam. Only provisions are given for the koshtams, and there are no images in the koshtas.




HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that the original temple belongs to 09th century Pallava period. The Gajalakshmi panel was unearthed during the reconstruction of the temple. It is said that the Archaeological Department personnel visited the site and told us that the Gajalakshmi panel belongs to the Pallava period.

Usually, the main Deity's stucco image will be there on the top of the mukha mandapam. On the contrary, here the Gajalakshmi image is there. Hence, we may conclude that this temple might have been constructed originally for Gajalakshmi. We have to note that a Selliamman's sannidhi is on the left side of the Thiruvaranga Selliamman temple.
 
Pallava period Gajalakshmi

LEGENDS
Selliamman is considered a Kula Deivam of Kannigaipair village people and also a guarding deity of this village.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from oru kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on Adi month Fridays, etc.


TEMPLE TIMINGS
Since oru kala pooja is conducted, the opening and closing times are unpredictable.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH
The temple is about 500 meters from Kannigaipair bus stop on Tirupati Road. City buses are available from Red Hills and Koyambedu. Andhra Pradesh buses pass through the village stops at Kannigaipair.
The temple is about 7.3 km from Periyapalayam, 18.3 km from Koyambedu CMBT, 18 km from Ponneri, and 25 km from Madhavaram Bus Depot.
The nearest Railway Station is Ponneri.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Thiruvuranga Selliamman sannidhi 
Selliamman Sannidhi

Two flat stones are erected in the lake, not at the water outlet, without any inscription or image. What is the purpose is not known.
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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