Sri Rathnambigai Sametha Sri Akshaya Rathna Lingeswarar Temple / ஶ்ரீ ரத்னாம்பிகை சமேத ஶ்ரீ அக்ஷய ரத்ன லிங்கேஸ்வரர் கோயில், கொளத்தூர் / Kolathur, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

As a part of Gajaprishta Vimana Temples Visit, had been to this Sri Akshaya Ratna Lingeswarar Temple at Kolathur ( Kanchipuram ), on 2^nd October 2023. This temple is small in between two lakes and reconstructed during recent years.

Moolavar  : Sri Akshaya Rathna Lingeswarar

Consort    : Sri Ratnambigai

Some of the Salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with balipeedam, dwajasthambam and Rishabam. Stucco images of Shiva with Parvati, Vinayagar, Murugan and Nalvar are on the top of mukha mandapam. The moolavar is in a elevated level. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

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

In praharam Nalvar, Ratna Vinayagar, Ratna Subramaniar ( Ratna Velan ), Chandikeswarar, Bairavar and a mandapam for Nagrahas.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam and Mukha mandapam. The total temple was re-constructed with bricks, cement concrete during recent years. The Sanctum sanctorum is on a upanam and adhistanam, square in shape. The two tala Vimanam is above the sanctum sanctorum. The Sigaram is of Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta style with 3 kalasas. Stucco images of Shiva & Parvati, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the greeva kostam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION

There is inscriptions found in the temple to prove its antiquity. It is believed that the temple may be 800 years old and built as a stone temple during Chozha period. The present temple was built  as per the olai Suvadi / palm leaf manuscript and prasannam during 2013-2014.

LEGENDS

As per the Palm leaf manuscript, the power of Shiva will be multifold on akshaya Tritiya day and temple was constructed and named as Akshaya Ratna Lingeswarar.

It is believed that, to get rid of debt, to flourish wealth, devotees worships Shiva, Ratnambigai and Pidari Amman.

A Pidari ( Varahi Amman ) Temple is on the North east corner of the temple ( Out Side )

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

No regular poojas are conducted and the poojas are conducted on pradosham and akshaya Tritiya day.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened on Pradosham and akshaya Tritiya days.

CONTACT DETAIL

NILL

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Kolathur is about 1 KM off from Tambaram – Sriperumbudur main road, 6 KM from Manimangalam, 8 KM from Sriperumbudur, 16 KM from Tambaram Railway Station and 49 KM from Chennai Central Railway Station.

Nearest Railway station is Tambaram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

The Temple With Lake

Sri Pazhandi amman Temple In the Village 

Sri Pazhandi amman Temple In the Village 

A Vinayagar Temple in the same Village

A Vinayagar Temple in the same Village

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Travellers Mandapam / வழிப்போக்கர் மண்டபம், அமரம்பேடு / Amarambedu, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Travellers Mandapam at Amarambedu was a part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples visit” – on 30^th April 2023. On the way to Kundrathur from Pillaipakkam happened to see this Mandapam on the North side of the main Road.

The Mandapam is of two parts, of which one part is 3 sides closed mandapam with a elevated floor. The second part is the open mukha mandapam, supported by 8 pillars. The Mandapam ceiling has the bas relief of solar & Lunar eclipse, snake catch the frog, Lizard like creature catches the frog, fishes, etc,. The Pillars has the bas-reliefs  related to Vaishnavism. The beams also has the bas reliefs. The Pillar has the bas relief of donors and their wives. The male donor names are engraved above the images.

Some of the donors are.. அமரம்பேடு நயினியப்ப.......குமாரன் முற்த்தியப்ப…(முதலி)யார் சதா சேர்வய்.

Another name as.. அமரம்பெட்டு முற்த்தியப்ப முதலியார் குமாரன் திருவேங்கடம் முதலியார் சதா சேர்வய்.

The mandapam pillar 1721 CE inscription  ( as per Sridaran K ) records the construction of this mandapam by Amarambedu Murththiyappa Mudaliar’s son Nayiniyappa Mudaliar, his son Rasappa Mudaliar. .   

சாலிவாகனன் பிறந்த சதசா….1643 வருடம் இத்தைக்கு செல்லும் பலவ வருஷம் அய்ப்பசி மாசம் 29 சோமவாரம்யிப்படி கொத்த சுபதினத்தில் சவள்வேளாளரில் அமரம்பெட்டு முற்த்தியப்ப முதலியார் குமாரன் நயினியப்ப முதலியார் அவர் குமாரன் ராசப்ப முதலியார் செய்வித்த தற்மம் மண்டபம்.

Now the Mandapam is in sad state and is being used by miscreants. Already the kodungai of the mandapam had fallen down. Trees are grown on the mandapam. A Support pillar was added for the beam to avoid further damage. A Shiva’s stucco image in the mandapam is in damaged condition.

LOCATION OF THE MANDAPAM      : CLICK HERE

ராசப்ப முதலியார்

Donors Wives 

 Shiva

 Fish & Rats

Snake catches the frog

Fish & Solar / Lunar eclipse

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Chelliamman Temple / Sri Selliamman Temple / செல்லி அம்மன் கோயில், குன்றத்தூர், Kundrathur, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Chelliamman Temple at Kundrathur was a part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples visit” – on 30^th April 2023. This temple is about 200 meters from Sri Thiruvooraga Perumal temple and on  the back side of Sri Kanthazheeswarar Temple.

Moolavar : Sri Chelliamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing North. Trishul, balipeedam and Simha vahanam are in the Mukha mandapam. Stucco image of Chelliamman is on the top of the  mukha mandapam entrance.   Stucco Dwarapalakis are on both sides of the sanctum sanctorum. Sri Chelliamman is in the sanctorum, on an elevated level. Amman is in sitting posture with 4 hands. Stucco images of Amman’s various forms are on the mukha mandapam pillars. Nagars and Saptamatrikas are in the praharam.

ARCHITECTURE

The complete temple was constructed with bricks and didn’t  followed any Temple architectural style ( Gramiya Style ). The sanctum sanctorum is in rectangular in shape with an eka tala Salakara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple with Saptamatrikas belongs to 7^th Century Pallava period. It was told that the saptamatrikas made of sand stone are in the sanctum Sanctorum till recent years along with Yogeswarar and Vinayagar. The same are replaced with a single Chelliamman. The old saptamatrikas are buried in the praharam itself after a long battle with devotees ( Mr Thiuchitrambalam of Kundrathur ) and historians by the local Trustees. These Saptamatrikas are the earliest ever found in Tamil Nadu. In place of old saptamatrikas, new stone idols are made and installed in a separate sannidhi on the west side of the main temple facing the same direction of North.

   

Ref:

*Tholliyal Nokkil Kanchipuram mavattam by Sa. Krishnamurthy

*Kanchipuram mavattam Tholliyal kaiyedu.

This new temple was constructed and maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 25th March 2015.

LEGENDS

It was a practice of establishing Saptamatrikas temple to safe guard the Village, from the evil sprits, forces, deceases, enters in to the Village during Pallava period. Latter the saptamatrikas are replaced with a Single Amman Temple as Ellai Amman temples, Selliamman etc. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pournami, Amavasya, Navaratri, Aadi month Fridays, Thai month Friddays. During Chithirai month, Chithra pournami day annual festival will be conducted. During that time Pal kudam will be carried to the temple in procession and abhishekam will be done to Sri Chelliamman.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS

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

CONTACT DETAILS

The temple is about 500 Meters from Kundrathur bus stand, and on the way to Kundrathur Murugan temple.

The temple is about 11 KM from Porur Junction, 17 KM from Guindy , 24 KM from Koyambedu and 30 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest railway station is Guindy.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---