Shri Merkava Nachiar Amman Temple / Megathamman Temple, Kadalur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The  visit to this Sri Merkava Nachiyar Amman Temple at Kadalur, near Kalpakkam was a part of Shiva and Vishnu Temple and heritage sites along the East Coast Road, visit on 25^th December 2021. Thanks to Kesavan for accompanying with me to all these places.

Moolavar  : Sri Merkava Nachiar Amman / Sri Megathamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are..

The temple is facing north with an entrance arch. Stucco images of Amman’s various forms are on the top of parapet wall. Two Amman, Saptakannis with Nagars, Muniswarar on the Horse are in the prakaram. Balipeedam and Simham are in front of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a elevated pedestal. Stucco dwarapalakis are in front of the sanctum sanctorum.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam and open mukha mandapam. The prakaram is covered with concrete structure.

The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple padabandha adhisthana with jagathy, Threepatta kumuda and pattigai. The Bhitti starts with  vedigai. The koshtas are divided through brahmakantha pilasters. The prastaram comprises of valapi, kapotham and viyalavari. A two tier stucco vimana is on the prastaram.

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE

The original temple may belongs to 16^th to 17^th Century Vijayanaga period.  The prakaram was constructed during recent years through public donations.

LEGENDS

Devotees worships Amman to remove marriage obstacles, Child boon. Many Devotees worships Amman, treating as their Kuladeivam.  People offers vastharam to Amman and do abhishekam after their wishes are fulfilled.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Oru kala poojas is conducted with abhishekam in the morning hours. Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Wednesdays, Friday, Sundays, Aadi month Fridays, Annual festival days, New moon days and full moon days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 15.00 hrs to 16.00 hrs. On function days the time will be extended.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile no +91 9688320599 may be contacted for further details.   

HOW TO REACH

The Village Kadalur is about 2.6 KM from East Coast Road. All the buses To Pondicherry and Cuddalore will stop at Mugaiyur and Autos are available from there.

Kadalur is about 12.7 KM from Kalpakkam, 26 KM from Thirukazhukundram, 27 KM from Mahabalipuram, 40 KM from Chengalpattu and  81 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest railway station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE    : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Agneeswarar Temple / Shri Easwaran Koil / Hero Stone, Kadalur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The  visit to this Sri Agneeswarar Temple at Kadalur, near Kalpakkam was a part of Shiva and Vishnu Temple and heritage sites along the East Coast Road, visit on 25^th December 2021. Thanks to Kesavan for accompanying with me to all these places.

Moolavar  : Sri Agneeswarar

Consort    : Sri Parvati

Some of the salient features of this temple are..

The temple is facing east with balipeedam and a Rishabam.  Stucco image of Lord Shiva with Parvati, Vinayagar and Murugan are on the top of the entrance to the Maha mandapam. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

In Prakaram, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Ambal, Bhairavar, Nagar and an Ambal. Ambal is in a separate temple like sannidhi facing south.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a Maha Mandapam. The adhisthana is of simple padabandha adhisthana with jagathy, threepatta kumuda and pattigai. The Bhitti starts with Vedhigai. The Koshats and salas are separated by brahmakantha pilasters with square base,   thamaraikattu, kalasam, thadi, kudam, mandi, palagai, veerakandam and pothyal. The pothyals are of vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotham and vyalavari. Ekkathala stucco vimanam is over the prastaram. The greeva koshtam has the stucco images of Lord Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma. The Sigaram is of vesara style.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

There is no inscriptions found on the adhisthana or on the bhitti. One of the Chozha period style pillar is found in Murugan / Subramaniyar Temple. Based on this the original temple may belongs to Chozha period and reconstructed during Vijayanagara period. Again the temple is reconstructed during recent years and waiting for the consecration. Based on the above facts the original temple may belongs to 12^th to 13^th century.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Devas and Pancha Bhoothas worshiped lord Shiva of this temple especially Agni. Hence Lord Shiva is called as Agneeswarar.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Since Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted, no regular poojas conducted. But in Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar sannidhi regular oru kala pooja is conducted since, this temple seems to very old and was not taken for reconstruction.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala pooja is conducted at Murugan Temple, closing and opening times are unpredictable.

HOW TO REACH

The Village Kadalur is about 2.6 KM from East Coast Road. All the buses To Pondicherry and Cuddalore will stop at Mugaiyur and Autos are available from there.

Kadalur is about 12.7 KM from Kalpakkam, 26 KM from Thirukazhukundram, 27 KM from Mahabalipuram, 40 KM from Chengalpattu and  81 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest railway station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE     : CLICK HERE

Marugan Sannidhi

A Pallava / Chozha Pillar

Chandikeswarar  and Murugan 

Hanuman and Duragai

Brahma and Maha Vishnu

Dakshinamurhy and Vinayagar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Memorial & Arikanda Hero Stones, Kadalur near Kalpakkam and Hero / Sati Stone at Ozhalur, near P V Kalathur in Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The  visit to this Memorial and Hero stones, Sculptures at Kadalur was a part of Shiva and Vishnu Temple and heritage sites along the East Coast Road, visit on 25^th December 2021. The Hero / Sati stone at Ozhalur was covered during Thiruvanaikoil Visit. Thanks to Kesavan for accompanying with me to all these places.

Memorial Stone / Sati Stone ...

This memorial / Sati stone is installed in front of a Vinayagar temple on the way to the Kadalur Village from ECR. The Hero is standing in three bhanga posture with anjali hastam. He is wearing dress below his waist. The lady is holding a kalayam / pot in her left hand. She might have took sati by jumping in the in her husband’s funeral pyre. This memorial stone may belongs to 16^th to 17^th Century.

LOCATION OF THE SATI STONE    : CLICK HERE

Navakanda Hero Stone / Arikandam Hero Stone…..

This Arikanda hero stone is installed in front of Sri Subramaniyar Sannidhi of  Sri Agneeswarar Temple, in Kadalur near Kalpakkam. The hero is in standing posture, looking straight. He is cutting his head holding a sword in both hands. The hero is wearing padra kundalam in both ears. He is wearing dress below his waist and the frill is carved beautifully. This Arikanda hero Stone may belongs to 14^th to 15^th Century.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE : CLICK HERE

HOW TO REACH

The Village Kadalur is about 2.6 KM from East Coast Road. All the buses To Pondicherry and Cuddalore will stop at Mugaiyur and Autos are available from there.

Kadalur is about 12.7 KM from Kalpakkam, 26 KM from Thirukazhukundram, 27 KM from Mahabalipuram, 40 KM from Chengalpattu and  81 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest railway station is Chengalpattu.

HERO / SATI STONE, In a Perumal temple at Ozhalur, Near PV Kalathur

This hero/ sati stone is lying in the premises of a Perumal Temple of Ozhalur Village near Pon Vilantha Kalathur. The Hero is  holding his sword in the right hand and left hand is holding his wife. His wife is holding some thing which is not clear. 

LOCATION OF THE PERUMAL TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Pallava period Durgai Amman, Jyeshta Devi, Maha Vishnu, Ayyanar as Maha Vishnu Kunnathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The  visit to this Pallava period Durgai, Jyeshta Devi and Maha Vishnu Sculptures at Kunnathur was a part of Shiva and Vishnu Temple and heritage sites along the East Coast Road, visit on 25^th December 2021. Thanks to Kesavan for accompanying with me to all these places. The Jyeshta Devi and Durgai are in a shrine called Durgai Amman Temple on the banks a Tank. The Mahavishnu sculpture is in front of a Vinayagar temple.  All the three statues belongs to 9^th Century Pallava period.

Jyeshta Devi...

This Jyeshta Devi is in sitting posture. She is with big breasts, flabby belly and thick thighs. She keeps her hands on the head of her attendants. The crow flag and broom stick are shown on her back. Her son Mandhan and daughter Mandhi are standing on her back.

Durgai Amman....

This Durgai Amman is on the left side of Jyeshta Devi. This Durgai is in Unique posture. She is standing on Mahishan’s head. Conch and Chakra are in the upper hands. The lower right hand is Kadi hastam and left hand is in abhaya hastam. She is wearing ornaments on her ears and neck.

Maha Vishnu.....

This Maha Vishnu statue is installed in front of a Vinayagar Temple. Maha Vishnu is in standing Posture. He is holding Conch and Chakra in the upper hands and Right hand is in Abhaya hastam ( broken) and left hand is in kadi hastam.

Ayyanar as Maha Vishnu...

The Ayyanar temple is open to sky under a banyan tree. The Ayyanar is in sitting posture holding sendu on the right hand and his consorts are on both sides. Thiruman is applied of Ayyanar's forehead. Even though this is known to some people, many of the Villagers worships as Maha Vishnu. This Ayyanar may belongs to 14th to 15th Century Vijayanagara period or latter Pallava period. The complete details of the sculpture is not known since Chandan and Kumkum are applied on may places.

 

HOW TO REACH:

This place Kunnathur is 11 KM from Mahabalipuram, 14 KM from Thirukazhukundram, 27 KM from Chengalpattu  and 66 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest railway station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Panchamukha Kailasanathar Temple / Sri Panchamuga Kailasanathar Temple / ஸ்ரீ பஞ்சமுக கைலாசநாதர் கோயில், குன்னத்தூர் / Kunnathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The  visit to this Sri Panchamukha Kailasanathar Temple at Kunnathur was a part of Shiva and Vishnu Temple and heritage sites along the East Coast Road, visit on 25^th December 2021. Thanks to Kesavan for accompanying with me to all these places.

Moolavar  : Sri Panchamukha Kailasanathar

Consort    : Sri Kanakambigai

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

The temple is facing east, located in Middle school premises or the Middle school was built in the temple’s land. The temple tank of in front of the temple ie on the back side of the school. The moolavar Sri Panchamukha Kailasanathar is of unique in shape called “Thiriyambakeswarar”. In prakaram Ambal Kanakambigai, Bhairavar, Rishabam / Idabam and Balipeedam. A soolam in the form of petroglyphics   is on a boulder on the ground, may be a periphery stone for a land gifted to this temple.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple is under reconstruction. The original temple was completely dismantled and adhisthanam is built with new stone. The adhisthana of the original temple was with padabandha adhisthanam. The newly reconstructed adhisthana is of kapothabandha style. The sanctum sanctorum is being built keeping the moolavar in the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION

Looking at the inscriptions on the stones of the dismantled temple, the temple may belongs to 14^th to 15^th Century. The available inscription are Vijayanagar period and latter. The inscription are available in fragments and the details are not known.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Even though the temple is under renovation, oru kala poojas are offered during morning hours. 

CONTACT DETAILS

Sri Panchalinga Kailasanathar Sivanadiyar Thirukoottam may be contacted on their mobile numbers +91 86106 77685 and +919080852519 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

This place Kunnathur is 11 KM from Mahabalipuram, 14 KM from Thirukazhukunfram, 27 KM from Chengalpattu  and 66 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest railway station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

An unique Shaped Shiva Lingam 

Bairavars new and Old 

Soolakal

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---