Pidari Amman Temple/ Saptamatrikas Temple/ Hero Stones/ வீரக்கற்கள்/ நடுகற்கள், Mamandur, Mamandur/ Mamandur Thenpathi Village, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Pidari Temple, a Grama Devathai Temple, at Mamandur - Thenpathi, was part of the "Gajaprishta Vimana temple's Visit" on 10th October 2026. This temple is on the north side of Sri Picheeswarar Temple, a Gajaprishta Vimana Temple. This temple is also in the midst of the paddy fields, like the Shiva Temple.

Moolavar: Sri Pidari Amman

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces west with a trishul and a balipeedam. In the sanctum, Pidari is at the centre with jwala makuda, and on both sides are the Saptamatrikas. (Saptamatrikas – Brahmi, Maheswari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Chamundi). Usually, Vinayagar and Yogeswarar/ Shiva will be on both sides of the Saptamatrikas group.

There are 4 Hero Stones installed under a neem tree facing east.

 Pidari

 Varahi

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was built with bricks without vimanam. The construction does not follow any temple architectural style. No koshtas are provided.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Based on the iconography, the Saptamatrikas group may belong to the Pallava period. 

HERO STONES/ MEMORIAL STONES

TITLE              : Hero Stones  

PLACE             : Mamandur - Thenpathi

LOCATION       : In the midst of the paddy field.

PERIOD           :16th to 17th Century.

DETAILS         :

The Hero stones are in the form of bas-reliefs. This group consists of 4 hero stones. All Heros hold a sword in the right hand and a shield in the left hand. One Hero is shown riding on a horse with a raised sword.

As per the experts, these Hero Stones are erected in memory of the Heroes who were killed in a war.  

HOW TO REACH

The Mamandur Thenpathi is on the GST Road, just after Chengalpattu Palar Bridge, and the temple is 1 km from the GST Road. 

The temple is 11 km from Chengalpattu, 25 km from Madurantakam, and 40 km from Tambaram and Melmaruvathur.

The nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Vijayapuri Amman Temple/ ஸ்ரீ விஜயாபுரி அம்மன் கோயில், Vijayamangalam, Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

Vijayamangalam was once the capital of Kongu Nadu, and it was also the capital of Kuruppa Nadu, one of the 24 subdivisions (as Nadu) of Kongu mandalam. Kuruppa Nadu once flourished with Jains and their Culture. The Tamil grammar ‘Nannul’ was written by Bhavanandhi from Seenapuram; ‘Silapathikaram Urai’ was written by Adiyarku Nallar from Nirambaiyur; ‘Perungadhai’ was written by Kongu Velir, and "Kongu Sathagam" was written by ‘Karmeka Pulavar’. All are from Kongu mandalam, Kuruppa Nadu. Also, images of 5 sanga Pulavars with Palm leaves suvadi in their hands are available at the Vijayamangalam Jain temple. Hence, present Tamil scholars strongly believe that there might be a Tamil Sangam at Vijayamangalam. This Amman temple also exists along with Jain, Shiva, and Vishnu temples. 

Recently constructed Rajagopuram

Main Deity: Sri Vijayapuri Amman.

Some of the important features of this temple are...

This temple was built after the Vishnu temple. The Rajagopuram and Vimanam were built recently, keeping the original sanctum wall, and Kumbhabhishekam was also conducted. The Garuda Thoon and Oonjal are in front of the Rajagopuram. The Rajagopuram is of 5 tiers. The temple faces north.

In the praharam sannadhi are Kannimoola Ganapathi and Karupparayan.  In the outer mandapam, there are no silamoorthangal. In the artha mandapam, Adhi Amman and Saptamatrikas are in a single stone. The bas-relief sculptures or reliefs of various forms are on the sanctum outside the wall.

The sanctum walls have reliefs related to the epic Mahabharata. When the Pancha Pandavas were forced into exile for one year, they lived in Dharapuram near this place. Arjuna gave his bow to Vijayapuri Amman’s custody. The same was mentioned in Kongu Mandala Sathangam. The reliefs show that Arjuna came to this temple in a chariot and gave his bow to this Vijayapuri Amman.

 

கொங்கு மண்டல சதங்கம்,
" துளைமணி ரத்ன மகுடா சலத்தைவர் சூதில்நொந்தே
கிளையினை நீங்கி வனவாசம் செய்கையில் கீர்த்திபெற்ற
விளைவயல் சூழ்மங்கைப் பத்தினிக் கோட்டத்தில் வில்விசயன்
வளைவில் அடைக்கலம் வைத்தது வும்கொங்கு மண்டலமே "

In addition to this, on the back side of the temple, Navakanda statues and Simha - Lion Pillars – were removed during renovations and kept here separately. These Navakanda statues are part of Kongu Nadu Karkal, erected in memory of those who had their heads cut off and died. This is to win in battle, for a king, or for their family's well-being.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is claimed that the temple is about 500 years old, and there is no evidence or inscription to prove the same. 

1218/2003. The 1910 CE inscription on the wooden door of the temple records a gift of the door by an individual from Vijayamangalam.

பொஆ 1895 ஆம் ஆண்டு விசயாபுரியம்மன் கோயில் மரக கதவில் உள்ள கல்வெட்டு விசயமங்கலம் படைத்தலை வேளாளர்களில் கம்புளியம்பட்டி நாகப்ப கவுண்டர் விசயாபுரியம்மன் கோயிலுக்குக் கதவு கொடையாக அளித்துள்ளதைப் பதிவு செய்கின்றது. (இவர் தேவஸ்தானக்குழு உறுப்பினராக இருந்து நாகீசுவரர் கோயில் திருப்பணி செய்துள்ளார்). 

தழிலும் ஆங்கிலத்திலும் பதிவு செய்யப்பட்ட இக்கல்வெட்டில் வருடம் முரணாக உள்ளது. மன்மத வருடம் என்று எடுத்துக்கொண்டு 120 வருடங்கள் கணக்கிட்டால் பொஆ 1895 சரியாக இருக்கும்.

Reference

ஈரோடு மாவட்டக் கல்வெட்டுகள், தொகுதி – 3. 

HOW TO REACH :

Vijayamangalam is on the way from Erode, Perundurai to Coimbatore.

The town bus facility is available from Perundurai.

CONTACT DETAILS :

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:    CLICK HERE

 Garuda Thoon 

Nagars & Vinayagar under a banyan tree

Vimanam 

 Reliefs on the outside of the sanctum sanctorum wall 

 Reliefs on the outside of the sanctum sanctorum wall- related to the Mahabharata epic

 Reliefs on the outside of the sanctum sanctorum wall- related to the Mahabharata epic

 Reliefs on the outside sanctum sanctorum wall - Related to the Sthala Purana of Avinashi Temple 

 Reliefs on the outside of the sanctum sanctorum wall

 Reliefs on the outside of the sanctum sanctorum wall

 Reliefs on the outside of the sanctum sanctorum wall

 Reliefs on the outside of the sanctum sanctorum wall

Reliefs on the outside of the sanctum sanctorum wall

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Kariya Kaliamman Temple/ ஸ்ரீ கரிய காளியம்மன் கோயில், Velliraveli, Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

This is on the way from the native village to Vijayamangalam, about 2 km off Perundurai, to the Kunnathur main road. Visited this Sri Kariya Kaliamman Temple on 28th February 2015. The main profession of this village is weaving. This part of the combined post is separated and written as a separate post.

 Front mandapam with sanctum sanctorum

Moolavar: Sri Kariya Kaliamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces north with a small mandapam, Garuda thoon / Vilakku thoon, Gundam for fire walk during annual celebrations, and a mandapam. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Simham are after the entrance mandapam. Dwarapalakis are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Sri Kariyakaliamman is in a sitting posture in the sanctum sanctorum.

In the praharam, Vinayagar and stucco horses.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum and an open mukha mandapam. The temple was built with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The vimanam is of two talas over the bhumi desam, built with brick in salakara style. Amman's various forms are on the tala and greeva koshtams.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple may be 300 to 350 years old, on the outskirts of Velliraveli village.

1231/2003 On the west wall of Kariyakali Amman temple near Mankuttai, without the king's name, 1804 C.E., an inscription in Tamil records the renovation of Kaliamman temple by Subramaniya swamy, son of Subramaniya Goundar and grandson of Thiruvenkata Goundar.

வெள்ளிரவெளி மாங்குட்டையிலிருக்கும் கரியகாளியம்மன் கோயில் மேற்குச் சுவரில் உள்ள மன்னர் பெயர் இல்லாத பொஆ 1804, கல்வெட்டு குறுப்புநாடு குன்னத்தூர் வெள்ளிரவெளி வெள்ளோடு சேர்ந்த திருவேங்கடக் கவுண்டன் மகன் சுப்பிரமணியக் கவுண்டன் மகன் சுப்பிரமணியக் கவுண்டர் கரியகாளியம்மன் கோயில் முழுவதும் திருப்பணி முடித்துக் குடமுழுக்கு விழாவும் சிறப்பாக நடத்தினார். 

Reference

ஈரோடு மாவட்டகல்வெட்டுகள்  தொகுதி - 3

THE LOCATION OF SRI KARIYA KALIAMMAN TEMPLE:  CLICK HERE 

 Vimanam 

 Stucco horses - constructed by the devotees  after their wishes are fulfilled

 Simha vahana mandapam with Dwajasthambam

Vilakkuthoon or Garuda Thoon 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Kannudaya Nayaki Temple / Kannathal Temple/ நாட்டரசன் கோட்டை கண்ணாத்தாள் கோயில், Nattarasankottai, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Kannudaya Nayaki Temple at Nattarasankottai was part of the “Sivaganga and Pudukkottai Temples and Heritage Sites Visit” on 2^nd and 3^rd September 2026.

PC: website

Moolavar: Sri Kannudaya Nayaki

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces north with a big temple tank. A Vinayagar temple is on the west side of the mandapam. A massive stone pillared mandapam is in front of the 5-tier Rajagopuram. Two child cradles are in front of the Dwajasthambam. Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, Vahana Simham, and an Amman in a standing posture facing the main deity, Kannudaiya Amman, are in the mukha mandapam. Two big stucco dwarapalakis in sitting postures are on either side of the entrance to the ardha mandapam. Again, Dwarapalakis in stone are at the entrance of the antarala.

The Kannudaya Nayaki is in a sitting posture like Rajaleelasana with ashta bhujam (8 hands), holding articles like Damaru, Trishul, knife, bell, shield, pasam, bowl/ kapala, etc. She keeps her left leg on the Mahisha / Nisumba and kills with the trishul held in the right hand. Utsavar is in the ardha mandapam.

In the praharam, Vinayagar with Nagars, Veerabhadra and Bairavar.

ARCHITECTURE

A massive stone pillared mandapa with intricately carved simha and Vazhaipoo capitals is in front of the Rajagopuram. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. The temple was built of stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The sanctum sanctorum is rectangular in shape on an adhistanam with Jagathi, vrudha kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Vishnu kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam, and pushpa pothiyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with madhalai, kapotam with nasi kudus, and vyyalavari. The two-tala brick salakara vimanam is over the bhumi desam.

The sthala purana is painted on the praharam wall.

 Moolavar Vimanam

Vinayagar sannidhi

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the original temple belongs to the 12th to 14th century Pandya period, and the present structure belongs to the 18^th century, built by the Nattukkottai Nagarathars. Even though the temple is under the control of the HR & CE Department, effectively managed by the Sivaganga Samasthanam, the hereditary trust.  

Maha Kaliaytta Thiruvizha was conducted from 06^th April 2021 to 28^th April 2021.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 23^rd April 2023.

The 1936 inscription on a flat stone in the paraharam records that the stone thirupani of the flooring inside the praharam was done by Nattarasankottai Kazhanivasal Kudiyanmi A. Vi. Meettappa Chettiars’ wife Veerayi Achi.

LEGENDS

As per the sthala purana paintings on the praharam walls, the ladies selling buttermilk from the villages Pirandakulam, Allur, and Panangadi were hit at one place, and all the buttermilk was spilled on the ground. This was brought to the notice of the King. That night, the Goddess came in his dream and told the She is buried under a jackfruit tree.

The next day, the king ordered the excavation of the place mentioned by the Goddess. In the process of excavation, the crowbar of one man hit the eye of the Goddess, and blood oozed out; at the same time, the excavating man also lost his eyesight. When the other man was offered to continue the excavation, the first man said that he could continue the work. The Goddess idol was brought out, and at the same time the eyesight of the excavator was also restored. Hence, the Goddess was named Kannathal.

While the idol was taken northwards by the Yadhavas, they couldn’t move further and kept on the same spot in Nayanmarkulam village. The Goddess directed the Nattukottai Nagarathars to carry out the kaliyattam and sacrifice of 1500 sheep. After the sacrifice, the idol was shifted to Virakandan Urani and kept facing east. To their surprise, the idol was found facing north the next day. The goddess told them to build a temple on the same spot and carry out the poojas by the Uvachar community.

Sri Kannathal alias Kannudaya Nayaki Amman is popular for granting the boon of eyesight and relieving eye-related ailments. To get relief from eye ailments, devotees are requested to purchase “eye malar” made out of metal and deposit it in the Hundi.

Devotees also pray for a child boon. After the childbirth, the child is brought to the temple and circumambulates the main shrine through the silver cradle. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular 5 kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on Fridays, a 10-day Vaikasi Visakam, Muzha Kalliatta Thiruvizha in the month of Aadi, Navaratri in the month of Purattasi, and Thailakappu Utsavam in the month of Thai.

 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be open from 07.00 hrs to 13.30 hrs and from 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs on Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday. And from 07.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs and from 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

 

CONTACT DETAILS

The temple’s landline numbers +914575234220 and +914575241233 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This place, Nattarasankottai, is about 9 km from Sivaganga, 13 km from Kalayarkoil, 40 km from Devakottai, and 43 km from Karaikudi.

The nearest Railway Station is Sivaganga.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---