Sri Kalatheeswarar Temple/ காளத்தீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோவில், Pazhamathur /பழமத்தூர் கிராமம், Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Kalatheeswarar Temple, at Pazhamathur, was a part of the 608^th week abhishekam by the Ancient Shiva Temples and Sivamayam Group on 28th June 2026. The temple is in the midst of a field, accessible only through the bunds.

Moolavar  : Sri Kalatheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Bhuvaneswari

Some salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces west with a temple tank on the north side. Balipeedam and a Rishabam are on the west side of the temple. Vinayagar and Murugan bas reliefs are on either side of the entrance of the ardha mandapam. (Both Vinayagar and Murugan are with thiruvasi. Murugan bas relief is seen in the reverse form of the usual form. Holding Sakthi ayudham and Vajrayutham in the upper hands, and the lower right hand is in kadi hastham, and the left hand is abhaya hastam. The Peacock is facing the left side of Murugan. Moolavar is on a square avudayar. There are no koshta murtis.  

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

In the praharam, damaged Nagars, balipeedam in front of Ambal sannidhi, structure of Vinayagar sannidhi without Vinayagar image, a round avudaiyar without banam, and damaged / beheaded Dakshinamurthy.

View from the back side of Moolavar

 Murugan with Munivars on both sides. Position of the weapons, peacock, and the right hand hastam are opposite to the usual iconography

 Beheaded Dakshinamurthy

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam, and does not conform to any temple architecture.  The temple adhistanam was constructed with stone, and the superstructure was constructed with brick. The sanctum sanctorum on a stone-built adhistanam. Provisions are given for the koshtams. There is no vimana or the superstructure over the bhumi desam.

 

Snake and fish reliefs are on the ceiling of the Ardha Mandapam. There is a bas relief of Ambal with undistinguished bas-reliefs on either side on the west wall (inside the ardhra mandapam). Based on the adhistanam, bas–reliefs of Kannappa Nayanar, Shiva Lingam, Natarajar, Ambal, and Anjaneyar.

Snake bas relief

 Kannappar

Petroglyphs of an erotic sculpture and Anjaneyar

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is said that the temple is more than 1000 years old, but there is no evidence to prove the same. Based on the architecture and the bricks used, the temple may be 200 to 300 years old.

The ardha mandapam might have been reconstructed (Based on the bas-relief inside the ardha mandapam) during recent years.

The Vinayagar Sannidhi was constructed with bricks donated by the residents of the village. Later, the Vinayagar Murti was stolen by the thieves. 

    

Uzhavaram was conducted on 05^th April 2026, by Sivaperuman Uzhavara Thirukoottam.

Vinayagar sannidhi

LEGENDS

It is said that the temple was abandoned without poojas, and the same was brought back to worship in recent years, after clearing the shrubs and weeds. This temple is one of the west-facing Shiva Temples, hence it is auspicious to worship Shiva of this temple.  

It is believed that Shiva of this temple was worshipped by the siddhars in the form of snakes (kala). To prove, villagers had seen snakes  and snake skins around the temple, while clearing the shrubs, during uzhavaram. The Shiva might have obtained the name of Kalatheeswarar due to this. Hence, this temple is a parihara sthalam for Rahu and Ketu. 

It is further believed that the sun also worships Shiva of this temple both morning and evening. There are provisions given for the sun rays to fall on the Shiva Lingam, on the front and back sides of the walls of the temple.  

 Holes on the east and west side walls, through which the Sun rays fall on the Moolavar

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

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

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open in the morning hours.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Sivanadiyar Mr Namasivayam, who does the poojas, may be contacted on his mobile number +919345048655. Alternatively, Mr Perumal may also be contacted on his mobile number +919787159023 for poojas and further details.

HOW TO REACH

The village Pazhamathur is just after Chengalpattu and Mamandur. The temple is about 800 meters from the GST road, 13.4 km from Chengalpattu Railway Station, 44 km from Tambaram, and 52 km from Kanchipuram.

The nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 A home-made perpetual lamp

 Temple tank

Sivamayam family

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Shri Agastheeswarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ அகஸ்தீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Siruvangunam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Shri Agastheeswarar Temple at Siruvangunam, in Chengalpattu District, was a part of the 604^th week abhishekam to Sri Vanmeeganathar and Sri Kanthaswamy Temples of Cheyyur by the Ancient Shiva Temples and Sivamayam Group on 31^st May 2026. When the Sivamayam group was preparing for the abhishekm,  I alone visited this Shri Aastheeswarar Shiva temple.

Moolavar  : Sri Agastheeswarar Temple

Consort    : Sri Akilandeswari

Some salient features of the temple are…

The temple faces east with an entrance arch. Stucco images of Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Vinayagar and Murugan are on the arch. Balipeedam and Rishabam are under the open mandapam. Moolavar is under a Rudraksha pandal with Nagabaranam, is a little big on a square avudaiyar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

In the praharam Nalvar, Chandran, Suryan, Vinayagar, Navagrahas, Chandikeswarar, Aiyyappan, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Bairavar, Saniswarar, Nagars with Rahu & Ketu, Somaskandar, Mummoorthys, Adhi Amman, and Jyeshta Devi.

Ambal is in a separate temple that faces south. Ambal is in a standing posture with Abhaya Varada hastam. In koshtam Gaumari, Maheswari, Vaishnavi, Brahmi and Durgai.

 Nagars with Rahu and Ketu

 Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar

The temple tank is on the north side of the temple. On the west banks of the temple tank, Saptakannis, Chandikeswarar and Durgai.

 Durgai.

Chandikeswarar 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and open mandapam. The total temple was reconstructed with bricks and cement concrete.  The sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam and pada bandha adhistanam. The adhistanam consists of Jagathy and vudha kumudam. The pilasters are of Brahmakantha pilasters with vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam. The vimanam over the prastaram consists of two talas, greevam and vesara sigaram. (Hope the construction does not follow the temple architecture). Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams.

The Somaskandar panel, also called the Parasivamurthy panel, consists of Shiva and Parvati in a sitting posture and Murugan as Kandar is sitting in the middle. Shiva holds acca mala and damaru in the upper hands, and the lower right hand is in Abhaya hastam, and the left hand is on the thigh. The jada makudan with a crescent moon adorns Shiva’s head. Padra kundalas are shown on Shiva's elongated Shiva’s earlobes. The dwarf Bhuta Gana under Shiva’s right leg looks at a parrot sitting near Parvati’s leg. Rishabam is shown on the back side of Shiva. An Angel is shown in flying posture holding an offering. An attendant is shown fanning Ma Parvati, and another attendant carries the offering 

The Mummoorthy panel is also special in this temple. Brahma, Shiva and Maha Vishnu are shown in a standing posture. Here, Shiva is shown in human form holding Trishul and Damaru instead of Shiva Linga. All three are shown in standing posture. Brahma is standing on the lotus peedam, Shiva stands on the abasmaram and Maha Vishnu on the padra peedam.

In the Jyeshta Devi panel, Rishaba Devar or Manthan is shown sitting on a raised level. Agni Matha is shown wearing ornaments over the neck and elongated earlobes. Whereas Manthi is in a standing posture held by Agni Matha with her left hand.  The crow is sitting on a little big stand. The broomstick is not shown.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is said that the temple belongs to 09^th – 10^th centuries Later Pallava period, and was reconstructed during recent years. There are no inscriptions found to prove its antiquity. Instead, A beautiful and unique Somaskandar panel, Mummoorthys and Jyeshta Devi sculptures are installed in the mandapam, which proves the original belongs to the later Pallava period. The Somaskandar panel, once adorned on the back side wall of the sanctum sanctorum, is now installed in the mandapam.

The temple was reconstructed, and Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 07^th September 2025.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, during the celestial wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati, all the Gods, Devas, Maharishis, and sages gathered at Mount Kailash. Due to this, the north side of the earth lowered, and the south side went up. To balance the earth, Shiva asked Agasthiyar to go to the south. From Mount Kailash to Podhigai Hills, Agasthiyar installed many Shiva Lingas and worshipped. It is believed that this is one of the Shiva Lingas installed and worshipped by the Sage Agasthiyar, where Shiva gave the kalyana kola darshan to the Sage Agasthiyar.  

 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

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

TEMPLE TIMINGS

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

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The place Siruvangunam is about 1.8 km from Cheyyur to Pavanjur Road, 9 km from Cheyyur, 12.4 km from Koovathur on ECR, 24 km from Kalpakkam, 36 km from Mahabalipuram, and 43 km from Chengalpattu Junction.

The nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Chandikeswarar

 Saniswarar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---