Sri Brahmapureeswarar Temple/ Brahma Purishvarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ பிரம்மபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Mamandur/ Mamandur Vadapathi Village, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The Sri Brahmapureeswarar Temple at Mamandur Vadapathi 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 Brahmapureeswarar Temple is in the midst of the village of Mamandur Vadapathi.

Moolavar  : Sri Brahmapureeswarar

Consort    : Sri Dharmasamvardini, Sri Aramvalartha Nayaki

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance arch on the south side. Stucco images of Dwarapalakas, Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar, are on the entrance arch.  Balipeedam and Rishabam are on the east side of the temple. Sri Annapoorani’s sannhidhi at the south side entrance. Vinayagars are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. Two Shiva Lingas and a Rishabam (Sri Adhi Shiva and Ambal), Utsava Murtis, and Ambal are in the ardha mandapam. In the koshtam: Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the praharam are Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, Navagrahas, and Suryan.

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

Ambal - Dakshinamurthy

 Vinayagar - Maha Vishnu

 Brahma - Chandikeswarar

 Durga - Bairavar

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The temple does not follow any temple architecture.  One tala, grevam and vesara sigaram is over the bhumi desam. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are on the tala and greeva koshtams.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the temple is more than 500 years old and received contributions from Vijayanagaras/ Vijayanagara Nayakas.

As per Wisdom Library, the temple owns 973 acres of dry and 170 acres of wet lands, which fetch a considerable income. This income is utilized for its expenses.

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

Ashtabandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 29^th April 2007.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Brahma, Narada Maharishi, and Sage Mandooga  worshipped Shiva of this temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

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

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since Oru Kala poojas are conducted, the temple will be open from 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Gurukkal's mobile number, +910444880630, may be contacted for further details and poojas. Also, the Gurukkal is staying near the temple. 

HOW TO REACH

The Mamandur Vadapathi is on the GST Road, just after Chengalpattu Palar Bridge, and the temple is 2 km from the GST Road.  

The temple is 10 km from Chengalpattu, 27 km from Madurantakam, and 38 km from Tambaram and 42 km from Melmaruvathur.

The nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu.  

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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 Jalakandeswarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ ஜலகண்டேஸ்வரர் கோயில், Kokilamedu/ Kokkilamedu, Mahabalipuram/ Mamallapuram, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Jalakandeswarar Temple at Kokkilamedu was part of the Mahabalipuram Adi Varaha Cave Temple and “Gajaprishta Vimana Temple Visit” on 20^th September 2026.

Moolavar  : Sri Jalakandeswarar

Consort    : Sri Akilandeswari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east. Rishabam and balipeedam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Vinayagar and Murugan are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is a little tall on a round avudaiyar. In the koshtam, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the inner praharam, Ambal (in antrala portion), Bairavar, Chandran, and Suryan. In the outer praharam, Vinayagar, Chandikeswarar, and Shiva Lingam made of mud.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi, in antarala, in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was built with bricks and cement concrete. The temple consists of Gajaprishta sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and maha mandapam. The entrance to the temple is from the south through the antarala. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and pattikai. The pilasters are Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, and palakai. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. The Gajaprishta vimanam over the bhumi desam is with greevam, sigaram, and 3 kalasas.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Before the construction of this temple, a Shiva Lingam made out of mud was worshipped by Ka. Chinnakannu Nayakar. When thinking of constructing a new temple, the mud Shiva Lingam was retained.

Mud Shiva Lingam

Ka. Chinnakannu Nayakar

LEGENDS

Shiva came in the dream of Ka. Chinnakannu Nayakar, who is the founder of this temple, to construct a permanent temple at the same place. As per the instruction of Shiva, the present temple was constructed as a Gajaprishta Vimanam, since the temple is close to 5 Ratas in Mahabalipuram and a copy of the Nakula Sahadeva Rata.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular or kala poojas, special poojas/ naivedyam are conducted on Pradosham and Maha Shivaratri days, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since Oru Kala poojas are conducted, the temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 08 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Mr Govindaswamy, one of the Sivanadiars and a descendant of the founder, Ka Chinnakannu Nayakar, performs the poojas, as there is no income to pay the Archakar.

Mr Govindaswamy’s mobile number +919710015505 may be contacted for poojas and other details.  

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Kokkilamedu is about 2.2 km from Five Ratas, 3.4 km from Mahabalipuram Shore Temple, 20 km from Kalpakkam, 21 km from Thirukalukundram, and 31 km from Chengalpattu.

The nearest railway station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Chandikeswarar - Brahma

Chandran - Suryan

Bairavar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Vinayagar worship. Vinayagar Chaturthi 2026. Chozha and Pandya period, Vinayagar images from as individual to bas reliefs in Rock Cut Caves, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

ஐந்து கரத்தனை ஆனை முகத்தனை
இந்தின் இளம்பிறை போலும் எயிற்றனை
நந்தி மகன்தனை ஞானக் கொழுந்தினைப்
புந்தியில் வைத்து அடிபோற்றுகின்றேனே! 

 One of the earliest 5th-century Vinayagar, with inscriptions at  Yamadhandeeswarar Temple, Alagramam, in Viluppuram Dist., Tamil Nadu

LEGEND OF GANESHA

Vinayagar (Lord Ganesha) was created by Goddess Parvati from turmeric paste to guard her door while she took a bath. Goddess Parvati wanted privacy during her bath, so she shaped a boy out of turmeric paste and gave him life. She told the boy to stand at the door and let no one enter. Lord Shiva returned home and tried to go inside. The boy stopped him because he did not know Shiva, and Shiva did not know the boy. Angry at being blocked, Lord Shiva fought the boy and cut off his head.

  

Goddess Parvati became very upset and angry when she saw what happened. Lord Shiva promised to fix his mistake and told his helpers to bring the head of the first living creature facing north that had passed away. The helpers found a baby elephant. Shiva placed the elephant head on the boy's body and brought him back to life.

 

Lord Shiva blessed him and said people would worship Vinayagar first before any prayer, new beginning, or journey. He is known as Vighneshvara, the lord who removes all obstacles and brings good fortune. People celebrate his birthday during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival by installing clay idols and later immersing them in water. After the celebration, the clay idol dissolves in water. It is believed that the Vinayagar idol made out of clay, i.e., earth, goes back to earth.

The different sects of worship in Hinduism are Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, Sauram (Sun worship), and Kaumaram (worship of Karthikeya)

Ganapatyam (also spelled Ganapatya) is a highly significant historic sect of Hinduism that centers on Ganesha (Ganapati) as the supreme, all-encompassing deity. While it is often grouped today under the broader umbrella of mainstream Hinduism or alongside Smartism, it historically stood as its own distinct and powerful denomination. In Ganapatyam, Ganesha is not just the elephant-headed god of new beginnings or the remover of obstacles. He is worshipped as Brahman—the supreme, absolute reality, creator, sustainer, and destroyer of the universe. Adherents primarily rely on these two sacred texts, which detail Ganesha's mythology, philosophy, and cosmic significance. Followers believe that meditating on Ganesha and reciting his mantras leads to liberation (moksha) from the cycle of rebirth.

 

In the 8th century CE, the philosopher Adi Shankara established the Shanmata system to unify various warring factions of Hinduism. He synthesized Ganapatyam into one of the six primary systems of worship alongside Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, Sauram (Sun worship), and Kaumaram (Murugan/Kartikeya worship. The sect reached its peak popularity between the 10th and 21st centuries, finding its strongest roots in western India, particularly in Maharashtra.

 

Vinayagars are worshipped in the form of Idols and bas-reliefs in rock-cut caves, as early as the 8^th century in India, especially in Tamil Nadu.

Vinayagar in Ladan, 8th-century Pandya rock-cut cave. 

Mahibalanpatti, Vinayagar, believed to be 9th century, Pandya period

Believed to be of 07th- 9th century, Panayapuram, Villupuram District

Vinayagar from Perangiyur, Viluppuram District

A 9th-century Pallava-period Vinayagar, at Periyavenmani

Pillayarpatti Vinayagar, a Pandya-period rock-cut cave, believed to be from the 2nd to 5th centuries 

Vinayagar Periyanai Ganapathy in the Southwest corner of the prakara is large, and a legend is associated with Vinayagar. When Avvaiyar knew that Sundarar was going to Kailash, she also wanted to go there and do pooja hurriedly. Knowing her urgency, Vinayagar asked her to do the pooja slowly, and he would lift her to Kailash before Sundarar reached Kailash. So Avvayar sang the hymns as "Seetha kalaba Senthamarai poo..."

LINK TO THE POST

சீதக் களபச் செந்தா மரைப்பூம்

பாதச் சிலம்பு பலஇசைப் பாடப்

பொன் அரை ஞாணும் பூந்துகி லாடையும்

வன்ன மருங்கில் வளர்ந்தழ கெறிப்பப்,

Thiruparaithurai, part of Saptamatrikas

Worshipped as Thumbikai Alwar, Thirumizhisai.

Vinayagar is also worshipped as Vinayaki, a female form

Uchista Ganapati, from Madambakkam 

A bas-relief from Vallam, near Chengalpattu, rock-cut cave.

A Ganga region Vinayagar brought as a war trophy, Nageswaran Temple, Kumbakonam

Kanakku Pillayar, Gangaikonda Chozhapuram, brought from the Ganga region as a war trophy

Vatapi Ganapati, Thiruvarur Thiyagesar Temple, brought from the north as a war trophy

Vinayagar at Jambai, believed to be brought from the Chalukyas as a war trophy

Kikeri Karnataka

Kasukalanju Vinayagar at Thiruvarur

Painting of Vinayagar at Sri Meenashi Amman Temple, Madurai

In addition, there are some big temples exclusively dedicated to Vinayagar, with a Rajagopuram, Temple Chariot, etc. The details are written in a separate post on our blog, and links are given below.

1. Uchishta Ganapathy Temple/ மணிமூர்த்தீஸ்வரம் உச்சிஷ்ட கணபதி கோயில், Manimoortheeswaram, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu.

2. Arulmigu Aayirathu Enn Vinayakar Thirukovil / அருள்மிகு ஆயிரத்தெண் விநாயகர் திருக்கோயில், ஆறுமுகமங்கலம்/ Arumugamangalam, Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---