Sri Picheesvarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ பிச்சீஸ்வர் கோயில், Mamandur/ Mamandur Thenpathi Gramam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

Sri Picheeswarar Temple at Mamandur Thenpathi was part of the “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples Visit” on 10^th October 2026. This place, Mamandur, is on the banks of the River Palar and comprises two small villages called Thenpathi and Vadapathi. This Sri Picheeswarar Temple is in the midst of the paddy fields in the village of Mamandur Thenpathi.

Moolavar  : Sri Picheesvarar

Consort    : Sri Nagavalli Amman

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance arch, and the temple tank is on the left side of the temple. Stucco images of Vinayagar, Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar, and Vinayagar are on the top of the entrance arch. A Vinayagar Sannidhi is on the left side of the entrance arch. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the entrance arch. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. In the koshtam: Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the praharam: Nalvar, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, two Shiva Lingas and a Rishabam, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Vinayagar with Nagars, Chandran, and Suryan.

Ambal Sri Nagavalli is in a separate Sannidhi that faces south. Ambal is in a standing posture with Abhaya Varada hastam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was constructed as a Gajaprishta Vimanam with bricks and cement concrete on a stone pedestal. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistan with Jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and a pattikai. The bhitti starts with pattikai. The pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasm, kudam, and vettu pothyal. The prastram consists of valapi and kapotam. An eka tala Gajaprishta sigaram with three kalasams is over the bhumi desam. Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the greeva koshtams.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the original temple with Gajaprishta Vimanam belongs to the Pallava period, built with bricks and later received contributions from the Cholas and Vijayanagaras.

Ashta bandhana maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 07th September 2005 and 1st February 2013. 

The temple is under the control of the Tamil Nadu HR & CE Department, under the Oru Kala Pooja scheme.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Sage Mandooga Maharishi did penance to Shiva and worshipped him. Hence, this place obtained the name of Mamandur.

Saraswati worshipped Shiva with Pichi poo (a kind of jasmine flower) to get his darshan. Hence Shiva is called Sri Picheeswarar.

As per another legend, during one of the Girivalam, Sathguru Venkatrama Swamigal pointed out two frogs worshipping Shiva, standing on their back legs. They came all the way to Thiruvannamalai from Mamandur. (In Sanskrit, Mandooga/ Mandukha means Frogs).

In another legend, Saraswati worshipped Shiva of this temple, playing Veena/ Yazhl. Hence, it is believed that worshipping Shiva of this temple will get rid of mental challenges and help excel in studies.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Amavasya days, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will open from 07.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Gurukkal Karthik may be contacted on his mobile number +919894026983 for further details.

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 Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple and Jala Sayana Perumal Temple (Shore Temple), Mahabalipuram / Mamallapuram, Chengalpattu District Tamil Nadu.

SRI STHALA SAYANA PERUMAL TEMPLE  

This temple is situated in front of Arjuna’s penance and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The carving and workmanship are not lavish and belong to the Vijayanagara Period. ie, 15th to 16th century. It is one of the 108 Diva Desams of Lord Vishnu. Mangalasasanam was done by Boothathalwar, Thirumangai Alwar, Nammalwar, Periyalwar and Andal. The place Mamallapuram is mentioned as Thiru Kadal Mallai in the hymns. 

Experts believe that the Shore Temple, ie Jalasayana Perumal  In between the two Shiva Temples) is the Divya Desam. For the Detailed post of the Jala Sayana Perumal temple at the shore, please click this link. Also, enclosing the details of the Jalasayana Perumal Shrine of Shore temple at the end of this post, with Pallava and Chozha period inscriptional evidence. 

கடி கமழும் நெடு மறுகின்  கடல்மல்லைத் தலசயனத்து 

அடிகள் அடியே நினையும்  அடியவர்கள் தம் அடியான்

வடி கொள் நெடு வேல் வலவன்  கலிகன்றி ஒலி வல்லார் 

முடி கொள் நெடு மன்னவர்தம்  முதல்வர் ஆவாரே.

PC- website

Moolavar : Sri Sthala sayana Perumal.

Thayar    : Sri Nilamangai Thayar

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

The temple faces east with a 4-pillar mandapam and an unfinished mottai–gopuram similar to Rayala Gopuram. The Rajagopuram is after the unfinished gopuram at the entrance to the main shrine. Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, and Garudalvar Sannadhi are at the front.

Thayar is in a separate sannidhi. There is a separate shrine for Narasimhar, Ramar, and Anjaneyar.

PC- website

ARCHITECTURE

The temple has a main sanctum, an ardha mandapam, and a maha mandapam. Moolavar is in a reclining/sayanam posture on a bare floor without a conch and a chakra in his hands. The sanctum sanctorum is rectangular in shape to accommodate Maha Vishnu's reclining posture. The vimana is of the sala style. The Rajagopuram is of 5 tiers and was built during the Vijayanagara period.

Semi-finished front Gopuram 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was originally near the seashore and is believed to have been built by the Pallavas. Later, the temple was expanded by Vikrama Chozha King from 1118 to 1125 CE (to be verified). As per temple authorities, during the 14^th century, the Vijayanagara King Parankusa built this temple at the centre of the village with mada street around the temple. Moolavar was installed in the presence of Pillailogam Jeeyar as per Srivaikanasa agama, on a Chithra month Visaka nakshatra day.  

As per the P V Kalathur Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple's sthala purana, the Utsavar Lakshmi Narasimhar was shifted to PV Kalathur near Chengalpattu to save from sea flood / Tsunami / Portuguese rule. 

One of the inscriptions at Kunnathur records the gift of that Village to this Temple.  On the corner of the Kunnathur Sri Lakshmi Narayana Temple tank, a land gift donation stone is installed. The inscriptions (SII 26 – 270) belong to Virapratapa Srirangadeva Maharaya’s saka year 1501 (1579 CE) reign year. As per the inscription, the king was ruling from Vijayanagaram. It records the grant of this Kunrathur village to the Talasayana Perumal temple of Thirukadalmallai for worship, offerings, festivals, rearing gardens, and other services like Sahasranama Archana. As per the inscription, this village is situated in Perumbukka Sirmai in Tirukkalukkunrapparru in Mugandur nadu in Amur Kottam, in Padaividurajya in Gangaikonda Solamandala. This gift was made by the merit of Venkatapatideva Maharaja, the brother of the king, by the former agent Goppa(na) Dalavay Tirumalai Nayakkar.

LEGENDS

It is believed that this is the birthplace of Boothathazhlvar, who was found in the temple tank. Lord Maha Vishnu gave darshan to Pundarika Maharishi.

Pundarika Maharishi drained the water of the tank to pluck the lotus flower, to submit the lotus feet of Maha Vishnu, at Thiruparkadal. Appreciating Pundarika Maharishi's bhakti, an old man came in the form of an old man and said that he would do that job if he was offered food. So Pundarika Maharishi went inside the village to get food. When Pundarika Maharishi returned with food, Sriman Narayanan gave darshan reclining on the floor. Hence, Lord Maha Vishnu is called Sthala Sayana Perumal. 

  

PC- website

Sri Sthala Sayanaperumal temple view from Arjuna's penance

East side Rajagopuram 

East side Rajagopuram view from the temple inside

Moolavar Vimanam - like Rajagopuram 

Simha Pallava Vishnu Gruham / Jalasayana Perumal Temple / Shore Temple, Mamallapuram

Behind the main Shiva Temple is a rectangular cell without superstructure, wherein is enshrined an image of Seshasayi Vishnu. On the outer floor are the Chozha inscriptions referring to this as a Vishnu temple. This shrine is called in different names like Jala sayana alias Kshatriya simha pallavesvara, Pallikondarulia Deva and Raja simha pallavesvara. Pallikondaruliya Deva refers to the image of Seshasayi Vishnu. The Sanctum Sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with three patta Kumudam. The sanctum sanctorum is rectangular in shape, without a superstructure above the prastaram. Moolavar Seshasayi Vishnu is chiselled on the mother rock itself. The beauty of the Seshasaye Vishnu is a little less compared to the Pallava sculptures. Gajendra Moksha and Krishna killing Asura in the form of horse sculpture panels are on the sanctum walls.

It is believed that the present Sri Thalasayana Perumal temple in the middle of the Mamallapuram village is one of the 108 Divya Desam, and the same was constructed in the 13^th Century by the Telugu Chozha King Thikkanakanda Goplan. But this Jalasayana Perumal was carved out of a natural boulder during Narasimha Varman’s period, and this present structure was built keeping Jalasayana Perumal as Moolavar during the Rajasimhan Period. From the Pallava Grantha inscriptions at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum, this temple was called “Narapathi Simha Pallava Vishnu Gruham,” and Narapathi Simha Pallava is another title of RajaSimhan. In the book Avanthi Sundarika, written by Thandi, it is mentioned that a sculptor called “Lalithalayan” rectified the hands of Jalasayana Perumal during Rajasimhan’s period. Hence, we may presume that the Jalasayana Perumal Temple on the seashore is the Divya Desam sung by Thirumangai Alwar.

 

Pallikondaruliya Perumal 

இரு சிவன் கோயில்களுக்கு இடையே கிழக்கு நோக்கி கட்டப்பட்ட கோயில் தான் “சிம்ம பல்லவ விஷ்ணு கிருஹம்” என அழைக்கப்பட்ட மகா விஷ்ணுகான கோயில். காலத்தால் அழிவுற்று, தற்போது அடித்தளம் மட்டும் எஞ்சியுள்ளது. இக்கோயிலின் நீள்சதுர கருவறையில் கிடந்தகோலத்தில் திருமல் சேவை சாதிக்கின்றார். காலத்தால் முந்தைய திருமால் சிற்பம் தாய் பாறையினின்று செதுக்கப்பட்டதாகும். சோழர் கால கல்வெட்டு ஜலசயன பெருமாள் என்றும், பள்ளி கொண்டருளிய பெருமாள் என்றும் அழைக்கின்றது.

திவ்யதேசம்... ?

தெலுங்குச் சோழ மன்னன் திக்கணகண்ட கோபாலன் காலத்தில் (பொயு.13ஆம் நூற்றாண்டு) எடுக்கப்பெற்ற ஸ்தலசயனப்பெருமாள் கோயிலும் மாமல்லபுரம் நகர பகுதியின் மத்தியில் உள்ளது. அந்த தலசயனப்பெருமாள் கோயிலே திருமங்கையாழ்வார் மங்களாசாஸனம் செய்த கோயிலாகக் கருதுகின்றனர்.

ஆனால் முதலாம் நரசிம்ம பல்லவன் காலத்திலேயே கடலலைகள் மோதுமாறு அங்கு ஜலசயனப் பெருமாளை உருவாக்கி இருக்கின்றனர். பின்னர் அங்கு திருமாலுக்கும், சிவனுக்கும் ராஜசிம்மனால் கட்டுமானக்கோயில் எடுக்கப்பட்டன. பள்ளி கொண்டருளிய திருமால் என்று சோழர்கால கல்வெட்டுக்களால் அறியப்படும் ஜலசயனப் பெருமாள் ஆலயத்தின் முகப்பு வாயிலில் உள்ள ‘‘நரபதி சிம்ம பல்லவ விஷ்ணு கிருஹம்” என்ற பல்லவ கிரந்த கல்வெட்டால் இவ்விஷ்ணு ஆலயம் நரபதிசிம்மன் என்னும் ராஜசிம்மனின் பட்டப்பெயரால் எடுக்கப்பெற்றது என்பதையும் அறிகிறோம்.

ராஜசிம்மன் காலத்தில் லலிதாலயன் என்ற சிற்பி ஒருவன் அத்திருமேனியின் கைப்பகுதியை சீர்செய்தான் என்ற குறிப்பு தண்டி எழுதிய அவந்தி சுந்தரிகதா என்னும் நூலில் உள்ளது. திருமங்கை ஆழவார் காலத்தில் (8 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டில்) தற்போதுள்ள தலசயன பெருமாள் கோயில் கட்டப்படவில்லை என்பது உறுதியாகின்றது. நடமாடும் பெருமானொடு திருமாலும் திகழும் கடல்மல்லை தலசயனம் எனத் திருமங்கை மன்னன் குறிப்பிடுவது இத்திருக்கோயில்தானோ...?

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION, MAMALLAPURAM SHORE TEMPLE

The name Mamallapuram was derived from the title of Narasimhavarman-I, also called Mamallan, who ruled between 630 and 670 CE. It was an old port city. The Shore Temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu. This temple was built between 700 and 728 CE by  Rajasimhan alias Narasimha Pallava-II. After the Tsunami in the year 2004,  a dike wall was constructed to avoid direct spraying of seawater on the temple structure.

The Pallava King’s Sanskrit Grantha inscription, on the lintel of the Vişnu shrine in the Shore temple, reads a Śri Narapatisimha-pallava-vişnugrham.

Reference :

ARE 1966 -7, No. 188.

The inscriptions of Pallavas by T V Maha Lingam
 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple is open from 07.00 Hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 15.00 hours to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The landline number is +91 44 2744 3245

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is very near the Mamallapuram bus stand.

Frequent buses are available from Chennai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Ref:

1. Article on this temple in Sarasvatam by Dr Sankaranarayanan G.

2. A Book on Mahabalipuram by Archaeological Survey of India.

3. A book on Mamallapuram by Prof. S. Swaminathan.

4. Article by Facebook group VVS.

5. South Indian Inscriptions – SII Volume – XII, Pallavas.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---