Ayyanar, அய்யனார், Chunampet, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The second visit to this Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at Villipakkam, near Chunampet, was part of the Epigraphy field study organized by R.E.A.C.H. Foundation on 2^nd November 2025. My sincere thanks to Thiru Ramachandran Sir, Mr. Ramanathan for Hospitality, and Mr. Chandrasekaran. The first visit was also organized by R.E.A.C.H. Foundation and was written as a combined post along with the Cheyyur and Vedal Temples visit.  

The Ayyanar temple (Shed) faces east on the banks of the Chunampet lily pond. Elephant vahanas are in front of the temple. Ayyanar is in the form of a bas-relief on a flat stone, sitting in an uthkudi asana. He is shown with ornaments around the neck, hands, pathra kundala in the elongated earlobes, and uthara bandham. The knot of the dress, located below the hip, extends below the platform. A kattar is tied to the hip. Two dogs are shown at the base of the bas-relief.

Dogs at the base

It is believed that Ayyanar worship, also known as the Yasta cult, is one of the forms of fire worship that originated in Persia. As per Wikipedia, Yaṣṭa (यष्ट) generally means "sacrificed" or an "instructor for priests during sacrificial rites". Zoroastrian practices, particularly fire reverence and sacrificial rituals (Yasna), share ancient common roots with Vedic Hinduism, going back to Proto-Indo-Iranian traditions. 

As per the experts, this Ayyanar is the earliest and may belong to the 7^th to 8^th century Pallava period.

LOCATION OF THE AYYANAR TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Agastheeswarar Temple, / ஸ்ரீ அகஸ்தீஸ்வரர் கோயில், கிராத மார்ஜாலேஸ்வரம், Villipakkam (Villivakkam), Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at Villipakkam, near Chunampet, was a part of the Epigraphy field study organized by R.E.A.C.H. Foundation on 2^nd November 2025. This place is also called “Kiratha Marjaleswaram”. My sincere thanks to Thiru Ramachandran Sir for the practical demo of taking estempage of inscriptions. Thanks to Mr. Ramanathan for the Hospitality, Mr. Chandrasekaran, and Major Narayanan.

Moolavar  : Sri Agastheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Muthambigal

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance mandapam. Stucco images of Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Vinayagar, and Murugan are on the top of the mandapam. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are in front of the mukha mandapam. Vinayagar and Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avudayar. In the koshtam, Nardhana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy (An antelope is on the base along with Muyalagan), Eka pada Murti, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai (with 6 hands, holding Shankha, Chakra, bow, arrow, sword. Lower left hand in kadi hastam. An umbrella with torana is shown on the top and samaratharis at the base.

In the praharam, Nalvar, Nagars with Vinayagar, Ammans, Sri Arunachaleswarar, Sri Kiratha Marjaleswarar, Suranathar, Annapoorani, Viswanathar, Visalakhi, Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas, and Suryan.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing south in the mukha mandapam. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

 Antelope at the base of the Dakshinamurthy Panel

 Ekapada Murthy with King / Donor

 Chandikeswarar

 Durga with 6 hands

Durga with 6 hands

 Suryan

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardhamandapam, and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple pada bandha adhistam with jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and pattikai on a lotus petals platform. The bhitti starts with vedilai. The pilasters are Vishnu kantha pilasters with square bases, malai thongal, thamaraikattu, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam, and pushpa pothyal. Kumbha latha is on the antarala wall. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam. The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The one tala vesara vimana is on the bhumi desam. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams.

Kumbha latha

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Damaged and fragmentary Chozha king Kulothunga Chozha and Pandya king Veera Pandya’s inscriptions are found on the jagathy. Also, based on the architecture, the temple belongs to the 12th to 13th centuries CE.

As per the inscriptions, this place was called Gangaikonga Chozha Nallur, Villipakkam, etc.

Gangaikonda Chozha Nallur

Villipakkam

LEGENDS

During the celestial wedding of Shiva and Parvati, all the Devas, Rishis, and Munis assembled at Mount Kailash to witness the marriage. Due to this, the earth, the South side, and the North side went down. Shiva asked Agasthiyar to go to the South to balance it. After getting a boon of Kalyana kola darshan, whenever he wanted it from Shiva, he started towards the South. On the way to Podhigai, Agasthiyar installed and worshipped Shiva Lingas at many places. It is believed that the Moolavar of this temple was installed and worshiped by Agasthyar, hence Moolavar is called Agastheeswarar.

This place is also called “Kiratha Marjaleswaram”. Here, Kiratha means a Hunter, and Marjala means a Cat. The two devas, due to a curse, were born as a Hunter and a Cat. They worshipped Shiva in this temple and were relieved of the curse. Hence, this place is called Kiratha Marjalaeswaram.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

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

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Rathna Sabapathi Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile number +919159571387 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This place, Villipakkam, is mentioned as Villivakkam in Google Maps.

The temple is 5.8 km from ECR, 17 km from Marakkanam, 27 km from Melmaruvathur, 35 km from Tindivanam, and 73 km from Mamallapuram.

The nearest Railway Station is Melmaruvathur. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Pichadanar

Naga bandham

Narasimha slaying Hiranyakasibhu

 Sarabeswarar

 Sarabeswarar

Dressed like dolls

 Bairavar

 Ayyanar

 Varunan

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Parakodi Kandan Sastha Temple/ஆரல்வாய்மொழி பரகோடி கண்டன் சாஸ்தா கோவில்/ Meenakshi Amman Temple / மீனாட்சி அம்மன் கோவில், Vadakoor, Aralvaimozhi, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Parakodi Kandan Sastha Temple/ Meenakshi Amman Temple at Vadakoor, Aralvaimozhi, near Nagercoil, was a part of the “Nanjil Nadu Heritage Walk”, organized by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department and the தொண்டை மண்டல வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம் “திருக்கச்சி” from 16^th to 18^th May 2025. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr. Velu Pillai and Mrs. Radha Balan Ruth for organizing this Heritage Walk.

This temple is dedicated to Sri Parakodi Kandan Sastha, and the rest of the sannidhis are parivara sannidhis, which include Shiva and Ambal sannidhis.

Moolavar  : Sri Parakodi Kandan Sastha

Consort    : Sri Poorna and Puskala

Some of the salient features of this temple are…..

The Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers with stucco images of Meenakshi Sundareswarar as Rishabaroodar, Sastha, Maha Vishnu, Vinayagar, and Murugan. The temple consists of Sastha sannidhi and Shiva sannidhi. The temple faces east, with an elephant vahana, balipeedam, and Dwajasthambam, which are in the mukha mandapam. Sastha is with his consorts Poorna and Puskala.

Parakodi Kandan Sastha Utsavar

Elephant vahana of Parakodi Kandan Sastha Temple

SHIVA’S SANNIDHI

Moolavar  : Sri Sundareswarar

Consort    : Sri Meenakshi

Some of the salient features of this temple are…..

Shiva’s sannidhi is on the north side of the Sastha temple. Rishabam is in front of the sannidhi. Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing south.

Chidambareswarar, Arumuga Nayinar, Kanni Moola Vinayagar, Sundareswarar & Meenakshi Amman Utsavars, Sastha Utsavar with his concerts, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Nagarajar,  Kizhakku Vasal Bhoothathar, Saniswarar, Bairavar, Navagrahas,  Merku vassal Bhoothathar, Kasi Viswanathar, Dakshinamurthy, Chandikeswarar, and Appar.

Vinayagar and Ayyappan are in the outer praharam.

Dakshinamurthy

Ambal Meenakshi

Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar

The entrance opposite to Ambal Meenakshi's sannidhi

ARCHITECTURE

All the temples are constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The vimanam above the prastaram was built with bricks. A 3-tier Vimanam is on the Sastha temple, a 2-tier Vimanam is on Shiva’s Temple, and a salakara Vimanam is on Ambal Sri Meenakshi temple.

The mandapam after the Rajagopuram was built during the Sree Chithira Thirunal, Maharaja of Travancore period. His image is on one of the Mandapam pillars.

A Shiva lingam in the makara torana

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the temple sanctum sanctorum was built during the Pandya period, the inner praharam was built during the Nayaka’s period, and the mandapam after the Rajagopuram was built by the kings of Travancore Samasthanam.

Maha Kumbhabhishakam was conducted on 2^nd February 1996 and 14^th September 2009.

மீனாட்சியம்மன் கோயில், முதல் பிரகார வடகிழக்கு மூலையில் உள்ள நான்குபுறமும் வெட்டப்பட தனிக்கல்லில் உள்ள கல்வெட்டு நாஞ்சி நாட்டைச் சேர்ந்த சாலியர், கைக்கோளர், ஈழவர் முதலான குடிகள் ஆரவாய்மொழியில் வந்து குடியேறும்படி கட்டளையிடப்பட்டதைப் பதிவு செய்கின்றது.

The 4 sides of the inscribed stone installed at the Meenakshi Amman Temple, northeast corner of the first praharam, record the order to the Saliyar, Kaikolar, and Ezhavar to shift Aralvaimozhi  

Ref:

கன்யாகுமரிக் கல்வெட்டுகள் ஐந்தாம் தொகுதி (தோவாளை)

LEGENDS

Parakodi Kandan Shasta was the Kula Deivam of the Thondaiman Paravar community. As per the historian's account, Kandan later became Shasta. The Kandan Sastha was installed and worshiped where blood oozed out from a rock.

In another legend, during the invasion of Malik Kapoor, the commander of the Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khilji, in 1311, the Meenakshi and Sundareswarar from Madurai were brought to Venadu. The Travancore historical notes state that Meenakshi Amman was in Aralvaymozhi till 1368 CE.

Madurai Meenakshi appeared in the dream of Vijayanagara Emperor Kumarakampana Nayakkar's wife, Gangamma Devi, and told her to reinstate the Madurai temple. Kumarakampana Nayakkar's army defeated Sikander Shah, the ruler of Madurai. Meenakshi and Sundareswarar were reinstated in Madurai after the Madurai temple was restored. The event is mentioned in Gangamma Devi's book Maduravijayam. But there is no other record available to prove that Meenakshi and Sundareswarar were brought to this temple from Madurai. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on the 10 days of the Panguni Uthira festival, and a 4-day Thirukalyana Utsavam. 

During Panguni Uthira Thiruvizha (Thamburan Vilaiyattu), Sastha, also known as Thamburan, will be taken in procession on a horse vahana, which will rotate at a high speed. It will be one of the colorful festivals conducted in this temple every year.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 05.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The Parakodi Kandan Sastha Temple is on the west side of the Aralvaimozhi Village.

The Parakodi Kandan Sastha Temple is about 500 meters from Aralvaimozhi, 2 km from Aralvaimozhi Railway Station, 16 km from Nagercoil, and 32 km from Kanyakumari.

The nearest railway station is Aralvaimozhi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Pathi Vilakku

The Travancore King

Donors

donors

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---