Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple/ Shivan Temple/ ஸ்ரீ மீனாட்சியம்பாள் சமேத ஸ்ரீ சுந்தரேஸ்வரர் கோயில், Amanampakkam, Padappai, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Kailasanathar Temple was a part of the 576^th week, abhishekam organised by the Ancient Shiva Temples & Shivamayam Team, on 16^th November 2025. Thanks to the Shivamayam Team. This temple is on the left side of the road from Padappai to Orathur.

Moolavar  : Sri Sundareswarar

Consort    : Sri Meenakshi Ambal

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

The temple faces east with entrance arches on the east and south sides. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the open mukha mandapam. Bala Vinayagar and Bala Murugan are on both sides of the entrance to the ardha mandapam/ antarala. Moolavar is a little taller under a Rudraksha mandapam. In koshtam Nirutha Ganapati, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Siva Durga.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi that faces south. Ambal is in a standing posture holding a lotus bud with a parrot in her right hand, and her left hand is in dola hastam. Ambal is similar to Madurai Meenakshi with a crown bent on the left side.  In koshtam, Maheswari, Sri Vaishnavi,  Bhuvaneswari, Brahmi, and Indrani.

In the open mukha mandapam, Bairavar, Chandran, and Siva Suryan.

In the praharam, Adhi Sivan with Rishabam, Chandikeswarar, and Navagrahas.

Bairavar and Suryan

Adhi Shiva is swayambhu with a nose-like face protruding on the east side. It is said that Shiva is with 8 faces in eight directions, and one on the east is visible.

Adhi Shiva

Adhi Shiva

ARCHITECTURE

The total temple was built with bricks and concrete. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala/ ardha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a upanam, and pada bandha adistanam, with jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and pattikai. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. An eka tala vesara vimanam is on the Bhumidesam. Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the tala koshtams.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was constructed in front of the Adhi Shiva Temple. Originally, Adhi Shiva Lingam and Rishabam existed in the same location. Shiva, in the form of an old man, came and told Parthasarathy, who takes care of the temple, to construct a temple. This was ignored, and again, Shiva came in his dream and reminded him in 2003. Then the present temple was constructed and consecrated. Without disturbing the Adhi Shiva Lingam, a new Shiva Lingam with Rishabam was installed.  

Again, on 4^th September 2025, Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Amavasya, Vinayagar Chaturthi, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala poojas are conducted, the temple will be kept open around 10.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Parthasarathy, Priest, may be contacted on his mobile number +918124761560 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

From Vandalur to Kanchipuram, at the end of the Padappai new bridge, turn left towards Orathur (Singaperumal Koil), and the temple is on the left side.

The temple is about 2 km from Padappai, 2 km from Sri Agastheeswarar Temple on the same road, 14 km from Singaperumal Koil, and 17 km from Tambaram.

The nearest Railway Station is Singaperumal Koil.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Lilly Pond

Maheswari 

Brahmi

PC: Mr Karthikeyan

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Valleeswarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ வள்ளீஸ்வரர் கோயில், மேவலூர்குப்பம் / Mevalurkuppam, Padur, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Valleeswarar Temple at Mevalur Kuppam, Padur, was a part of the Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram Districts, Shiva, Maha Vishnu, and Jain temples visit on 2^nd October 2025.

Moolavar: Sri Valleeswarar

Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temple faces east with an entrance on the south side. Balipeedam and Rishabam are on the east side. The parivvara sannidhis are empty, without images. Only Chandikeswarar is in the outer praharam.

ARCHITECTURE
The total temple was built with bricks. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with vrudha kumudam. A small vimana was built on the sanctum sanctorum, which is not proportionate to the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple belongs to the 11th-century Chozha period, and a slab stone with an inscription on both sides is erected on the south side of the temple. The inscription is very significant since this is one of the temples with Athirajendra's inscriptions, which is rare. 

The 11th-century Athirajendra Chozha’s inscription mentions Shiva’s name as Thiruvalleeswara mudaiya Mahadevar. The inscription records the gift of land to this temple, and the periphery limits are inscribed on the back side. The inscription given below was received from Mr. K. Sridharan, from the Archaeology Department. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr. K. Sridharan, Sir. 

பெருங்களூர்ப்பாக்கத்து ஊரார் கீழ்சேரி திருவள்ளீசுரமுடையார் கோயிலில் சிறுகாலைச் சந்தியில் திருமந்திர போனகப் படையலுக்காக அரிசி-2 நாழி, கறியமுது 1, நெய் 1 செவிடு, தயிர் 1 உரி, வெற்றிலை பாக்கு 2 வழங்க நிலம் கொடுத்துள்ளனர் நில அளவு உடைந்த கல்வெட்டு பகுதியில் மறைந்து விட்டது நிலத்தின் நான்கு எல்லைகள் கூறப்படுகின்றது. அளிக்கப்பட்ட நிலம் சாசனமாகக் கல்லில் பொறிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Adhirajendran’s 3^rd reign year (1067-1070 CE), inscription records a gift of land with periphery, to the Keelchery Thiruvalleechuramudaiyar temple by Perungalurpakkathu Urar. The land was gifted for the Sirukalai Sandhi (early moring pooja) naivedyam of rice 2 nazhi, Kariyamuthu 1, nei (ghee) 1 chevudu, Thayir /curd 1 uri, Vetrilai pakku 2. The original inscription reads as….

கல்வெட்டு,

1. ஸ ஸ்ரீ கோப்பரகேசரி பந்மரான (2)

2. டையார் ஸ்ரீ அயிராஜேந்தெர தேவற்கு யா

3. ண்டு மூன்றாவது ஐயங்கொண்ட சோ

4. ழ மண்டலத்துச் செங்காட்டுக் கோட்ட

5. த்துச் செங்காட்டுப் பெருங்களூ

6. பாக்கத்து ஊரோம் புலியூர்க் கோட்ட

7. த்து மாங்காட்டு நாட்டு எங்கள் கீழ்சேரியி

8. ...... வள்ளியூர் திருவள்ளீஸ்வரமுடைய ம

9.  ஹா தே வற்கு சிறுகாலைச் சந்தியில்ம

10. தேந்ர போநகமா இரு நாழி அரிசியால்

11. திருவமுர்துங் கறியமுர்து ஒன்றும் நெ.

12. ய்யமுர்து ஒரு செவிடும் தயிரமுர்து உ

13. ரியும் அடைக்காயமுர்துக்கு வெறுங்காயி

14. ரண்டும் ....... ங்கொண்டு

பின்பக்கம்

1. வாயிற்ச் சவ் நாற்பாக்கிழாந்

2. ணறு கீழ்பாற் கெல்லை படுவில் ஏ

3. க்கு மேற்கு தெந் பாற் கெல்லை கடல்

4. [ழிக்கு மேற்பாற்கெல்லையு

5. ங் கண்ணூற்றுக்கு கிழக்கும் வடபாற்கெல்

6. லை இக் கண்ணூறு முடிந்தவிடத்துக்குத்

7. இந்நாந் கெல்லைக்கும் ஊர்ப்பட்ட நில

8. தேவற்கே இந்நிமந்தம் சந்திராதித்தவ

9. ற் நிற்க ஸாஸனம் செய்து குடுத்தோம்

10. ருங்கணற் பாக்கத்து ஊரோம் இயந்தும் ஸ்ரீம

11. ரஹே ஸ்வர ரக்ஷை.

கல்வெட்டின் இறுதிபகுதியில் கீழிருந்து மேலாக சில (4வரிகள் வரிகள் காணப்படுகின்றன. சில வரிகள் சிதைந்துள்ளன. முன்பகுதியில் காணப்படும் கல்வெட்டு வாசகம் போலவே உள்ளது.

(கல்வெட்டினை படிக்க உதவியவர் முனைவர் சு இராசகோபால்).

The temple is with the Kanchipuram HR & CE Department and comes under the Chief Minister’s one kala pooja scheme. The notice displayed at this temple states that the temple will be renovated, for which donations are welcome. 

LEGENDS

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from the oru kala pooja, no special poojas are conducted.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
Sundaram Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile number +919003207949 for further details.

Alternatively, the trustee M Balaji may be contacted on his mobile number +919043103228.

HOW TO REACH
The temple at Mevalurkuppam is about 500 meters from Apollo College of Pharmacy and Arts and Science Colleges, 11 km from Thirumazhisai, 12.5 km from Sriperumbudur, 25 km from Tiruvallur, and 47 km from Kanchipuram.
The nearest Railway Station is Tiruvallur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Tirthankara Sculpture, Pichivakkam, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Jain Tirthankara at Pichivakkam Sri Vinayagar Temple was a part of the Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram Districts, Shiva, Maha Vishnu, and Jain temples visit on 2^nd October 2025.

This Tirthankara idol was unearthed in a field by Mr. Ravichandran, who was the retired Headmaster, on the back side of the Vinayagar temple at Pichivakkam in Kanchipuram District. The Tirthankara idol was identified as Mahaveerar, the 24^th Tirthankara of Jainism, due to the presence of a Lion lanchanam at the base.

This Tirthankara idol has unique features compared to the Tirthankara images unearthed from other places. The Tirthankara is with elongated earlobes, sitting in an ardha padmasana meditation posture on a simhasanam. The bottom of the three umbrellas / mukkudai is a little longer. The hollow behind his head is without jwala. Two celestial Devas holding garlands in flying posture are shown on the top, and two whisk bearers on both sides. The lion at the base is shown in full image with its tail pointing up.  The usual features of ashoka creepers, thindu on the back, and the makara thiruvasi are missing in this Tirthankara idol. As per the experts, this Tirthankara may belong to 08^th – 9^th century.

வேறு இடங்களில் கண்டெடுக்கப்பட்டதீர்த்தங்கரர் தனி  சிற்பங்களில் காணப்படாத தனித்துவமான சில அம்சங்களைக் கொண்ட சுமார் 1200 ஆண்டுகள் பழமையான மகாவீரர் சிலை இது. அமர்ந்த நிலையில் (அர்த்த பத்மாசனம்) உள்ள சிற்பம், மூன்று குடைகளில்  (முக்குடை) கீழ்க் குடை தலைக்கு மேல் நீளமாக  நீண்டுள்ளது. முக்குடையின் இருபுறமும் பக்கத்திற்கு ஒருவராக தேவர்கள் மாலைகளை ஏந்தியுள்ளனர். தோள்களைத் தொடும் அளவிற்கு நீண்டகாது மடல்கள் நீண்ட துளையுடன் உள்ளன.

 

தீர்த்தங்கரர் அமர்ந்திருக்கும் சிங்கபீடத்தில் இரண்டு சிங்கங்கள் உயர்த்தப்பட்ட சுருண்ட வால்களுடன் படுத்துள்ள நிலையில் முழு உருவத்தோடு உள்ளன. முக்கியமாக சுருள் கிளைகளோடு கூடிய அசோக தரு இதில் இல்லை தலை பின் பகுதியில் உள்ள ஒளிவட்டம் – (பிரபா வளையம் தீப்பிழம்புகள் இல்லாமல் எளிமையான விளிம்பைக் கொண்டுள்ளது. முதுகின் பின் திண்டு இல்லை முதுகுக்குப் பின்னால் இருபுறமும் மகர தலைகள் கொண்ட பட்டை/ திருவாசி இல்லை. இவ்வாறு இந்த சிற்பம் சிறிது வேறுபட்ட சிற்பக் கலைபாணியைக் கொண்டுள்ளது.

LOCATION OF THE TIRTHANKARA: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Kedhareeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ கேதாரீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Uthiramerur, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Kedhareeswarar Temple was a part of the 570^th week, abhishekam at Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Uthiramerur, organised by the Ancient Shiva Temples & Shivamayam Team, on 05^th October 2025. Thanks to the Shivamayam Team. Utilising this opportunity visited this temple, since this temple is about 200 meters from the Sri Kailasanathar temple.

Moolavar  : Sri Kedhareeswarar

Consort    : Sri Kedhara Gowri, Sri Maragathavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with an entrance from the north and west. Entrance to the ardha mandapam is from the south. Rishabam and balipeedam are on the east side facing moolavar. In the sanctum sanctorum, the moolavar is small on a round avudaiyar. There are no koshata images and parivara sannidhis.

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

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam and pradi bandha adhistanam with padma jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and pradivari. The pilasters are of Brahmakantha pilasters, with kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasikudu, and vyyalavari. An eka tala brick vimanam with greevam and vesara sigaram is on the bhumi desam. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the greeva koshtams.

 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This temple is believed to belong to the 12th-13th century Chozha period and later received contributions. The 16th-17th century Vijayanagara Nayakas period inscription is found on the back side of the sanctum sanctorum. The inscription ends on the vrudha kumudam. The inscription records

After renovations, Maha Kumbhabhiskem was conducted on 22^nd March, 2015.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Shiva manifested himself in the form of Shiva Lingam at Kedar. Hence called Kdhareeswarar. Ambal Ma Parvati worshipped Shiva, observing the Vrudham and the left half of the body of Shiva. Hence, Shiva and Parvati are called Ardhanareeswarar. The Vrdham is called Kedara Gowri Vradham. To get unity between husband and wife, devotees observe Kedar Gowri vradham.   

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Kedra Gowri Vrdham, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Mr. Rajappa Gurukkal at 94428 26482 or Mr. Subramanya Gurukkal at 97895 88522.

Mr. Dhinakaran Gurkkal may be contacted on his mobile number +919940858598 for poojas and more information.

The official of the HR & CE Department may be contacted on his mobile number +91 6332655221 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about a km from the Uthiramerur Bus Stand. Uthiramerur is 27 km from Kanchipuram, 31 km from Chengalpattu, and 90 km from Chennai.

Buses are available from Chennai Kilambakkam Bus Terminus, Kanchipuram, and Chengalpattu.

The nearest Railway Junction is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Aagneechurar Temple /ஸ்ரீ ஆக்னீசுரர் கோயில் , Gudalur, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

This post was written as a combined post along with the Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Uthiramerur. For easy access to this temple's details, this was deleted from the Uthiramerur post and written as a separate post.

After Pooja at Sri Kailasanathar Temple, we continued our journey to GUDALUR on 17th February 2013. We have lost around an hour due to a burst of the van’s back tire. After replacing the tire reached Sri AAGNEECURAR, Shiva temple (The name appeared from the Tamil inscriptions found under the base), which was in a dilapidated condition. The meaning of Aagneechurar is the son of AGNI AAGNI, who worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Since the temple is facing west, Lord Shiva’s name must be Abhimukeswarar, as assumed by the persons in charge of the reconstructions, which was wrong.

Inscriptions are found on base and pillar stones. The temple is about three feet below the ground level. Moolavar is visible only up to the top of avudayar. Moolavar is in a slanting posture. From the image of Chandikeswarar, the temple was constructed during the 10^th century during the Pallava period. The name of the village is the same as the one in the inscriptions. The temple was constructed first with bricks, and later it was reconstructed with stone. To prove this, the excavated bricks are square and rectangular with thin shapes. One of the inscriptions says there exists a Rajendra Chozha’s Cheppu Thirumeni in the temple. 

We have excavated outside the base and found Gomukha and a collection pot for the abhisheka tirtha made of stone, without any damage / intact. There is a chance of getting Ambal’s image and other parivara images if we excavate further. It was around 15.30 hrs, and team members got exhausted and very hungry. Returned to Chennai after having a late lunch at Hotel Highway Inn with sweet memories.

Chandikeswarar with Mazhu in hand

Rishabam

 Temple site with mandapam pillars

 Inscriptions on one of the slabs

 Mr. Ramachandran Sir is taking a copy of the inscription on the pillar

 Excavated bricks

  Gomukha and collection pot for Abhisheka tirtha

The idols recovered so far

Please visit the following site to get more about these temples and the activities of REACH FOUNDATION.

www.conserveheritage.org

http://templesrevival.blogspot.com
http://reachhistory.blogspot.com

  --- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---